Kia has finally joined the booming city-SUV class.
Pros Modern design Perky economical engine Runs on regular unleaded Long list of standard equipment Roomy boot Seven-year warranty
Cons Service intervals are short at 10,000km Service costs a touch on the high side Rear camera is fuzzy at night Lacks rear cross-traffic alert and blind zone warning
Pros Easy to drive Reassuring seven-year warranty Colourful personalisation options
Cons Cramped back seats Rather noisy at speed Cabin feels cheap in places
PROS It's a great-looking little thing Well-sorted steering and handling Seven-year warranty wth no strings attached
CONS Gets a bit rowdy on coarse roads Cheap and reflective dash plastic $5000 hike over related Rio GT-Line
The 2021 Ford Escape's #10 ranking is based on its score within the Compact SUVs category. Currently the Ford Escape has a score of 7.9 out of 10, which is based on our evaluation of 26 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Good cargo capacity User-friendly infotainment system Well-balanced ride and handling
Cons Cheap cabin materials Transmission sometimes hunts for the right gear
Ford has expanded the availability of the hybrid powertrain to the SE and SEL trims for 2021; it's now standard on the top-spec Titanium model. Elsewhere, adaptive cruise control and a traffic-sign recognition feature join the optional Co-Pilot360 Plus package; a hands-free power liftgate and memory settings for the driver's seat and exterior mirrors are now part of the Technology package; and a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a keyless-entry keypad, and LED exterior lighting are now on the list of features in the Convenience package. A new 19-inch wheel design is optional on the Titanium model, and a Class II Trailer Tow package is now available on Escapes with the optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.
Pros Handsomely styled exterior, multiple powertrain options, safety tech comes standard.
Cons Cheap interior on base models, rough-edged base three-cylinder engine, high starting price.
For 2021 Hybrid powertrain now available on SEL trim.Traffic sign recognition added to models with adaptive cruise control.Minor shuffling of trim and package features.
Pros Roomy and comfortable seating Smooth ride quality Easy-to-use controls Available hybrid powertrain that gets around 40 mpg
Cons Transmission's abrupt shifts Lackluster handling
