Last year, after Ford Motor Company withdrew from direct involvement in the Malaysian market with the closure of the Ford Malaysia joint-venture with Sime Darby, it seemed as if the brand was going to fade out. There were no new products during the year and many were hesitant about buying a Ford for fear that after-sales support might become non-existent.

In 2009, it’s a different story altogether and it seems that you can’t stop hearing about new Fords being launched. Since the beginning of the year, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC) has launched the new Focus and then the new Ranger and now the new Escape… and before the year ends, another two more models are to be launched. SDAC spent last year reorganizing the Ford network, planning new strategies as a new importer and distributor and most importantly, negotiating for the best prices from Ford for the new models. It’s clear that the pricing prior to 2008 was on the high side and that was partly due to the government’s National Automotive Policy (NAP) which, instead of helping the industry do better, created problems with pricing for many companies.

Like the new Focus and Ranger, which have been launched with prices that appeal to customers, the new Escape also comes with a very nice pricetag of RM134,837 (without insurance). It’s actually quite amazing that 8 years after the first Escape was launched, this new generation still costs the same – and it has a bigger engine and more power! So this writer, who owned the first Escape wonders if he paid too much back in 2001! According to Rajan Thurairatnam, MD of SDAC, the pricing shows how determined the company is to get Ford back on people’s shopping lists. He hinted that the pricing is, in a way, 'introductory’ but did not say when it might go up. In any case, the first 50 units already have customers waiting for them as bookings were already made before launch.

The overall look could be said to be more 'elegant’ but there is still the DNA of a SUV evident which should make the new Escape acceptable to both the 'traditionalists’ who believe a SUV should be chunky and those who want a bit more curvy lines.

Mechanically, the platform is the same as before with the same suspension layout front and rear but for the rear wheels (still 16 inches), there are now disc brakes. It still uses the same 2.3-litre petrol engine as the previous generation, a proven 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve all-aluminium engine which Ford jointly developed with Mazda  as a modular global powerplant for the products of both companies (Mazda uses it in the Mazda6). However, the cylinder head now has electronic throttle control and variable valve timing (yes, the previous one didn’t have this mechanism!) which helps to refine the output, providing more balanced torque delivery at both ends of the rpm range. The power and torque ratings are unchanged though: 157 bhp at 6000 rpm and 200 Nm of torque at a lower peak of 4000 rpm. Actually, there was a bit of confusion about the output numbers which SDAC clarified was because of European (ECE) and Japanese (JIS) measurements being different but basically, the output is the same as before.

2.3-litre engine has more refined performance with variable valve timing	Rear wheels now have disc brakes

The 4WD system is also unchanged, an 'On-Demand’ system which Ford calls Control-Trac II. It runs in front-wheel drive most of the time which helps in fuel economy and keeping noise levels down. But when conditions get very slippery and the front wheels start to spin, then a rotary blade coupling directs some torque to the rear wheels for 4WD. The system does not have a high and low range so it is also lighter and the driver does not need to do anything.

In extremely slippery conditions, the driver can press a button which will lock the differential and create a 50:50 split between front and rear axles. It’s a feature which not all SUVs in this class have but its use is only for the most extreme conditions and a low speeds; it is not meant for normal driving.

Incidentally, the construction of the Escape is monocoque, like a passenger car’s, which means the floorpan and the bodyshell are welded as a single unit. That gives it more rigidity, lighter weight and less of the sway that you find in the 'traditional’ SUVs which have the body bolted to a heavy ladder-frame chassis.

Where safety is concerned, the Escape should score high marks although the strength has meant it is on the heavy side. This was an issue with the first Escape 2.0 with its limited power output but was no problem with the Escape 2.3 and certainly not with the Escape 3.0 V6 (now discontinued from the line-up worldwide). The new Escape comes with ABS plus Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist which comes into operation during emergency braking where the pressure is automatically boosted. There are also front and side airbags for the front occupants, the latter being installed in the outer sides of the seats.

Previous escape (left) had the shift lever on the steering column but the new one (right) has it between the seats

Overall, the new Escape still comes across as a good all-round package which many will find very pleasant. It’s not the most powerful in its class but it does offer almost everything you would want from a small SUV.

Talk about the new Escape in the MTM Forum

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