2017 Ford Escape facelift revealed

by Vivek Raju. November 22, 2015.

2017 Ford Escape 6

A refreshed Ford Escape, also called Kuga in certain markets, was unveiled at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show. Although it is only a minor update of the existing model, there are several changes.

Only the roof, windshield, rear glass and doors are being carried over in the exterior. The front fascia follows a similar design language to the new Ford Edge, although some might see traces of Hyundai’s Santa Fe and Nissan’s Qashqai. New exterior features include LED tail lamps, redesigned wheels, active grill shutters and a windshield wiper defroster.

The interior has several revisions, with a new steering wheel being the highlight. The a/c vents are revised, the USB ports are now capable of a two-amp fast charge and Ford’s Sync 3 is now available. Sync 3 offers faster performance, voice recognition and a smartphone-like touch interface. Ford also launched its Sync Connect app which allows owners to lock and unlock the car, start the engine and check the fuel level remotely.

The engine options include two new EcoBoost engines with Auto Start/Stop. A new turbo 1.5-litre replaces the previous 1.6-litre engine and now produces 180 hp and 250 Nm of torque. The new turbo 2.0-litre engine delivers 245 hp and 374 Nm of torque. The 168 hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated option with 230 Nm of torque is carried over for the base model. A 6-speed automatic transmission comes as standard across the range with paddle shifters available for SE and Titanium models.

Driver-assist features include blind spot Information with cross-traffic alert, hill-start assist, auto high-beam control and hands-free, foot-activated lift-gate. Also available are adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with brake support, enhanced park assist, lane-keeping assist and Driver Alert Systems, which can detect signs of fatigued driving and provide a warning on the instrument cluster.

Expect the new Ford Escape to reach UAE and other GCC showroom in the second half of 2016.

For price updates, visit the Ford buyer guide.