2014 ford escape lcd screen pricelist

Received in about 3-4 days. Removed instrument cluster from a 2015 Ford Escape SE. Disassembled instrument cluster with 4 Torx screws and came apart easily. Part was a little different than original. My original had no mounting ears and snapped into the cluster, but it fit just fine and the mounting ears didn"t get in the way of anything. The ribbon cable on the snap in type screen is a little tricky but is doable. Attached pictures show the blank screen (screen was also intermittent). The good picture is after new screen was installed.

A total redesign of the Ford Escape for 2013 moved the top-selling compact SUV into the contemporary era, courtesy of high-tech small engines, a smooth 6-speed transmission, aerodynamic front styling, and electronic wizardry. Ford claimed 11 features exclusive to the Escape in the compact SUV class: everything from a capless fuel nozzle to Torque Vectoring Control, which helps the Escape corner more securely.

Changes for the 2014 model year are modest, but worth noting. The 2014 Escape offers three model choices: Escape S, Escape SE, and Escape Titanium. (The previous SEL edition is gone.) A four-way manual passenger seat is standard in all 2014 Escape models; so is a rearview camera. 2014 Escape Titanium models have full leather-trimmed seats, as well as 18-inch wheels of sparkle nickel-plated aluminum. Ford SYNC, a voice-activated communications and entertainment system, is available with AppLink on the 2014 Escape. Late in the 2014 Escape model year, Ford"s hands-free liftgate will be available with the Class II trailer-tow package so you won"t have to choose between the two of them.

Fuel economy ranges from an EPA-estimated 23/32 mpg City/Highway with the 1.6-liter front-wheel-drive Escape, to 21/28 mpg with the 2.0-liter and all-wheel drive. We drove both versions in a spirited fashion and fell below those marks, averaging 22.7 mpg in the 1.6-liter and 19.7 mpg in the 2.0-liter. EPA figures for the 2014 Escape are slightly better than those of a comparably equippedHonda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 (and good enough, at least on the highway, to induce Ford to abandon the Escape Hybrid after 2012).

The 2014 Ford Escape offers a choice of three engines, all four-cylinder: The least expensive is the tried-and-true 2.5-liter, but it"s also the least powerful and the least efficient. Much more modern are the four-cylinder EcoBoost engines. There"s a 1.6-liter Ecoboost making 178 horsepower and a 2.0-liter Ecoboost that makes 240 horsepower. Their designs differ, but both are twin-turbocharged four-cylinder engines with direct injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT). Ford claims Ti-VCT improves peak power by up to 7 percent and low-speed torque by 5 percent, to quicken acceleration. Fuel economy is expected to be 4.5 percent better than a non-EcoBoost engine.

Drivetrain choice is important because it significantly affects the driving character of the Ford Escape. We found a 1.6-liter front-wheel-drive Escape feels completely different from a 2.0-liter all-wheel-drive model. The 1.6-liter with front-wheel drive is quick, lively and visceral, a blast to drive. The 2.0-liter AWD feels solid, heavier, more civilized, more grown-up. All of them offer a smooth ride, a benefit of this latest-generation Escape"s rigid chassis.

Creature comfort is impeccable, even with the standard fabric upholstery, rugged and handsome. Interior materials are soft, and the plastic high quality. Rear legroom is decent, at 36.8 inches, and rear climate control is standard in all but the Escape S base model. There"s excellent cargo space, 68.1 cubic feet behind the first row and 34.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and the standard 60/40 rear seat …

A quick look at the roster of powertrains for the 2014 Ford Escape can lead to confusion, but let us help you here: While there"s nearly a 75-horsepower spread between base versions and top turbo models, it"s not as vast a difference as it might seem, and much of the lineup checks in with fuel economy in the same ball park.

When it was redesigned for last year the Escape was offered in four trim levels; but for 2014 that has been whittled down to three (with the loss of the SEL model). The base carryover 2.5-liter four-cylinder, coupled to the same six-speed automatic found in all other 2014 Escapes, comes fitted only with front-wheel drive; it makes 168 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque, and an EPA-estimated 22/31 mpg, and it"s a perfectly fine, agreeable combination. Only ten percent of Escapes will come with this engine--primarily fleet vehicles--Ford estimates, and the automaker still hasn"t provided us with an extended drive of this version.

The Escape SE includes a 1.6-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine with direct injection. It spools up 178 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Performance is close to that with the base engine, but fuel-efficiency is better; the 1.6 get EPA ratings of 24/33 mpg, trouncing the non-turbo four.

At the top of the Escape lineup for performance is the 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbo four, putting out 240 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. Performance here is much stronger than it is in much of the compact-crossover set; we"d liken it to the Kia Sportage SX or the Range Rover Evoque, yet with a little more refinement than either of those models. And it delivers 22/30 mpg.

Escapes shift power to the front or all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. It"s mated well to the turbo engines, and the shift points strike a good balance between straight-line acceleration and gas mileage. Shift paddles are one thing that"s sorely lacking; instead you get a +/- rocker switch on the shift lever and a sport-shift mode that doesn"t quite live up to its name.

The 2014 Escape comes with front-wheel drive in nearly all of its forms, but if you"re not in the Snow Belt you shouldn"t think of all-wheel drive as necessary. A new layer of cornering sophistication comes with torque vectoring, which uses anti-lock braking to clamp an inside front wheel to tighten corners when slip is detected. With all-wheel drive (AWD) you get some added heft. In the Escape"s case, the relatively simple AWD setup splits power between the front and rear wheels to shift power up to 100 percent to the end that still has a grip.

If there"s clear evidence of a break from the Escape"s boxy, utility-vehicle past, a blast along twisty roads is proof enough that this Escape"s almost worthy of a new nameplate. You won"t find trucky motions; instead there"s a tightly damped ride, and weighty, fast steering that"s not too overly blessed with feedback. It can feel too tautly strung at times, since the seats are no longer thickly padded, the Titanium"s wheels and tires are big 19-inchers, and since there"s almost no body flex to absorb ride impacts in the way the old Escape"s doddering body structure used to soak up those things.

CD or DVD players, radio, speakers, GPS, communication system (e.g., OnStar), display screen freezes or goes blank, phone pairing (e.g. Bluetooth), voice control commands, steering wheel controls, portable music device interface (e.g., iPod/MP3 player), backup or other camera/sensors.

"for no reason the display freezes and there is no help available for a short period 4 or 5 times this has happened Once or twice the screen simply went blank"

"The center screen went blank sporadically. Dealer "fixed" it, but screen went out in Dealer"s parking lot. Two more visits were required to get the unit replaced by Ford. Dealer supplied loaner until fixed. Dealer was great, Ford not so much,"

"The entire instrument panel stopped working and the display screen went blank. The car still ran, but none of the instruments or electronics worked in My Ford Synch and My Ford Touch. The dealer fixed the problem by replacing the entire instrument cl"

"intermittently the display screen would go blank. the dealership found on the second service visit there was a technical bulletin re: reloading the most current software to the in car display"

"The phone radio connection box when bad. Could not make cell phone call hands free thru the car, really made my wife mad. Was going to cost ~800.00 dollars at Ford dealer as car is out of warrenty. My wife got mad and contacted Ford and a Regional rep responed. She was able to prompt them as we are longtime Ford owner the provide some relief. They extrended the Warrenty and then cost use ~150.00 and radio and cell phone communicate now and she is happy. I think they call it something like the MXE module or something like that. We kind of found out some of the info on the internet. All that matters is she is happy now!"

"Defective component confirmed, existing recall program, but 3 months out of eligibility. Impacted multiple features. $969 cost to repair. Ford has lost a lifetime customer."

"GPS froze up and wouldn"t release control until we shut down the vehicle. then wouldn"t respond to voice commands. Ford indicated a software issue and deal installed software update-issue has been corrected"

"The radio including smart phone interface stopped working. After several attempts to repair it under warranty, Ford replaced the system. The replacement turned out not to have been thee same quality as the original as I could not get Sirius traffic monitoring."

"Ford has apparently abandoned its SYNC service which allows for remote diagnostics(via phone). No communication from Ford about this issue and no workaround. Customer abandonment = no future sale."

"Ford dealer over-promised and under delivered on the electronic system. Especially in the area of making and receiving calls. As a whole, the electronic system is not anywhere as convenient and easy to use as on other cars same age."

"The rear hatch has opened (unlocked and opened enough to triger the alarm) three time while on the highway and closed down on me while loading groceries, not enough to hurt me. Ford has no resolve or enough complaints to investigate issue"

"As I sit in the driver seat, I always hear a sound as if wind or air is coming in. I don"t feel any air. Perhaps the cab of the Escape is not soundproof enough. Still, it bugs me!"

"I"ve had severe electrical problems. They have persisted despite numerous repair attempts. Ford is repurchasing the vehicle under Wisconsin Lemon Law. Keyless entry, remote start, push-button start inoperable. Able to unlock vehicle with physical"

"High mount LED brake light failed after 2.5 years. Not covered by warranty. Ford wanted $150 to replace. Ordered replacement online replaced myself for half the price. Still to much money. LED lights should not fail that soon."

"My right turn signal light went out. Although there were instructions for changing on the Ford website, the light is in such a tigjt spot that I had to take it to a repair shop to complete the work."

"Left rear seat belt retract mechanism was occasionally locking up during drives, preventing spouse from freely moving around to do things until it would let go after several attempts. Ford dealer had a hard time replicating exact issue, but as it"s a safety mechanism, it was replaced under Ford"s commitment on safety mechanisms. New one works fine."

"This failure occurred twice both while we were on long road trips. First time in Florida, we stopped at Ford dealer and they fixed it within 15 minutes. Second time was late evening when dealers were closed, waited until next day when we arrived home"

"Rear calipers misaligned themselves and were causing very uneven wear on brake pads and brake rotors (for probably last several thousand miles), with over a 3mm wear difference on the left vs right side of pads on both rear brakes. Firestone caught it and we took care of it, but the damage was enough that calipers and pads had to be replaced, with the extended MAS warranty (car was just over 50K miles so Ford wouldn"t cover) only covering caliper work and me having to pay for rest. The brake rotors, while being lowest grade soft junk, will wear out even over the grooves caused by the uneven braking. Once they"re done though, I will not replace with OEM garbage that Ford uses either. Should have bought a Subaru, Mazda or VW."

"Rear brake pads were worn out at 49,000 miles. Previous rear brake pads have lasted at least 100,00 miles.Front pads on the Escape are good with many more miles left."

"On most cars the fronts wear out first. On our Escape the front brakes are still goo, but the rear pads wore out early and metal on metal so needed new rotors."

"The transmission would not come out of park. It was on the real list from Ford and I got an appointment scheduled to take it to the dealership as soon as I got the notice, but the transition stopped before I could get it in. AND I had to pay to have it towed which i did not think was my responsibility"

"The transmission quit. It is not working anymore. The internal filter is clogged and there is no way to fix it without replacing it. Very poor design on Ford"s part. I will never buy another."

"tailgate paint bubbled while still under warranty, fought with Ford to get it repainted, 1 yr later it is bubbling again, also significant rust on bottom of door panels"

"After purchase, rust was noticed on the inside or both right side doors. Not pointed out at purchase. Ford dealer declined any liability. Repair cost $1000/"

"A noise from the rear differential. We were told this was a known fault with the Escape AWD. The dealership ordered all the parts and rebuilt the differential under warranty"

"it was causing a whining noise, I am just upset as I have never in all of years of owning a vehicle ever had to replace the driveshaft, luckly it was under the ford 5 year wareentee"

"Display screen would freeze up, making it impossible to change anything on the radio and/or change climate control temperature.. Backup camera would not display all information"

"System allows several phones to sync with My Ford Touch, but, you need to go online and switch the number that will be allowed to use sync services. All phones that are sync"d should be allowed to access sync services"

"The camera supposedly went bad which caused the rear view picture to display inverted; there were no fault messages displayed on the Ford SYNC. It could have been a s/w issue but there was no way to determine as a consumer. It cost over $800 to fix at a Ford dealership - I feel ripped off."

"Transmission and coolant leaks are a known problem with this vehicle, yet there are no recalls on it for this specific VIN. Broke down within 1 week of purchase. Our dealer was unable/unwilling to replace the transmission for free or offer us another vehicle. Extremely disgusted and disappointed. Do not feel safe driving it but cannot afford to replace it. Constantly on alert for another breakdown. Total cost nearly $15,000 on a vehicle worthless than $10,000."

"The Escape would just lose power or not go at all. It was a scary esperience but the service department at the dealership where we bought the car determined what the problem was and replaced the transmission."

"left front axle leaks nothing has been done though I was told that this is common complaint when this happened on my chev truck it was corrected immediately Why not with Ford?"

"Had an oil leak from the filter. service was done by the Ford garage. Either faulty seal or negligence by mechanic. Ford house replaced filter. no further problem"

"Ford dealer left old o-ring on during oil change. Took vehicle on road trip, bad seal caused all oil to drip out of engine on highway until check engine light came on & died on the side of the road"

"The rear suspension ruined a new set of tires which I had to replace after just 10000 miles, it’s an ongoing issue Ford has refused to recall. We have had nine recalls on this vehicle since buying it"

"Power steering failed at 12000 miles. Ford had to replaced the entire Electronic Power Assist steering rack. Steering rack failed suddenly without warning but I was able to drive the vehicle (without power steering) to the dealer for 2 days worth of"

"I purchased the car in March of 2018. Despite being a 2014 model, the car was 5 years old, according to the VIN. In the summer of 2018, the battery was run down to completely dead merely by having the doors open for 30 minutes while cleaning the car. I called AAA to jump-start my car. (Then I remembered that I own one of those lithium-ion jump-starter packs.) After that incident, merely leaving my phone"s battery charger plugged into the cigarette lighter overnight would cause the battery to fully discharge. Over time, I discovered that my car"s battery wouldn"t even hold a charge for five days, then four days, then three days, two days. I had to jump-start my car almost every time I went out. Finally, I complained to the dealership, wondering if they had sold me this used car with its original battery. Turns out, they had replace the battery while refurbishing the car for resale. The new battery (assuming that it was actually new) was, according the service manager, a bad battery. They replaced it with a brand new battery at no charge. It has worked fine ever since. I should have complained sooner."

"car would be driving on highway and engine would stop. After arguing with Ford for months, they finally admitted it was a general problem. Kept the car for two months and finally fixed it. This was similar to the ignition system problems that GM had, except Ford when out of their way to hide the recall. I wold never buy another Ford and they were totally unresponsive to what was a major safety recall"

"the pump failed and left us stranded 4 days before we received a recall notice, it took Ford over 3 WEEKS to fix the car, we also had to wait over 4 hours for a Ford contracted towing service arrive"

The 2014 model fixed several minor problems that plagued the first model year of the new generation, and Ford sold a staggering 306,212 units worldwide.

The NHTSA has 307 specific complaints related to the engine of the 2014 Ford Escape. Among these complaints are issues with coolant leaking into the engine bay and causing fires and problems with overheating at mileages as low as 65,000 and below.

Since the engine has many parts and pieces, it isn’t easy to pin down an exact repair cost. According to RepairPal.com, the average repair cost for a Ford Escape is between $476 and $582.

Owners on the 2014 Escape report consistent issues with tiny cracks or chips materializing into much larger cracks over a relatively short period. Users report that the windshield develops these cracks either entirely on its own or after getting hit by a rock on the open road.

The 2014 model was simply not a good year for the Ford Escape. With that said, below are some of the lesser-known problems for the 2014 Escape that you should know:

Apparently, many Ford Escape years have struggled with service brake issues – including the 2014 model. According to many reports, the Escape brakes would fail to engage at lower speeds (15 mph). In some complaints, drivers noticed a pulsating feeling as they applied the brakes. As the pulsating worsens, the harder it is to engage the brakes.

The 2014 Escape also has a problematic electrical system, resulting in issues ranging from annoying to downright dangerous. Many complained about the wipers not working at around 20,000 miles. In some reports, the dual-zone A/C unit tends to malfunction and turns on by itself.

Although you may not be able to avoid issues with any vehicle you own completely, there are plenty of ways you can prevent major issues upfront. The most basic defense against major issues starts with a thorough test drive and ends with a complete check-up by your local, trusted mechanic. If you take the due diligence necessary, you can pick up a 2014 Escape that will serve you well for many years.

Your second defense against picking up a car that is flush with problems is taking it to a trusted mechanic for a complete check-up. Even if you feel like there are no issues with the test drive, a mechanic will be able to either confirm that thought or detail any issues with the vehicle before you put down your hard-earned money. For a few hundred dollars, you gain peace of mind and guard yourself against any significant, upfront issues by bringing in an impartial third party. Any legitimate dealer or individual should have no problem allowing you to do this before purchase. If you’re ready to take an Escape for a test drive, download the CoPilot app to see all of the used listings in your area.

The 2014 Ford Escape is a compact SUV with a price range of $11,343 to $16,422. Frequent transmission failures and a high cost of ownership make the Escape an SUV shoppers should avoid.

Transmission failures are very common on the 2014 model. The infotainment system is difficult to use, and there’s less safety technology than other compact SUVs.

Safety is average for a compact SUV, getting a 4-star rating in government crash tests.The 2014 Escape ranks in the middle of the compact SUV class, based on owner reviews. There are too many serious problems to recommend the 2014 model to buyers.

I like my car since it is a larger version of the ford focus and it has had no issues mechanically. There are plenty of features such as sync and that is when your car is able to listen to you and take orders so that it may perform in a correct way to your liking. Read more chevronRightAlternative

I love that it"s a decent size , not too big not too small. The inside is beautiful, I do however wish the back up camera screen was a bit closer or maybe bigger. The overall car is a great selection. Read more chevronRightAlternative

I really enjoy my car. It is the perfect size if you do not have a lot of kids. The touch screen adds a great touch to the car. I have had my car for about four years now and have not had any problems with it. The trunk is a little small if you have a bigger family and want to store stuff in the trunk but if not it is the perfect size. Read more chevronRightAlternative

I loved the back up camera clarity and view. Now only after 41/2 years the camera either is upside down or black screen only rarely does it work. All based off-when my original battery decided to die with no notifications and had to have it jumped and it immediately started having this issue.Local dealer said it just went bad and need to replaced for $700. In researching I see this is very common and apparently they aren’t wired very well. This is not the first issue with this car either. It’s just a money pit. I will never buy a Ford again Read more chevronRightAlternative

Multiple recalls. Too small to be comfortable. Very low power when needing to pass on interstate. Difficult to connect phone to its media sources. Recall for coolant problem that still continues to give a problem. Will no longer purchase any ford product. Read more chevronRightAlternative

The Worst Love Lost I thought this car would be a great fit for me, boy was I ever wrong! Being I have a 2002 Ford Escape that has hardly costed me anything in the time since purchase, seeing a 2014 and having a need for a easier to access car for my then mother to get in and out of would be a great choice. After all, several government agencies use Ford Escapes and being I believe in buying American I opted to purchase an extended warranty on my new yet used Ford Escape. Good thing I did , cause at 90K miles the transmission just went out, no bells or whistles or lights just noticed a hard slip while driving and drove to the dealer (again Thank God I had the Warranty) that was 5K in repairs for a new transmission. With that behind me I was feeling a bit better. UNTIL, at 116K no lights, no smoke, no water dripping no service warning did the dang thing run hot and cracked the head ( so we tried the blue block) never do that cause the whole motor is shot at that point . Here"s the kicker it cost as much to replace the heads it is does the whole engine cause of the way they have everything crammed under the hood. And a new motor is 8K from Ford and 4,500.00 best used with acceptable mileage below 60K . Heart broken to say the least , can"t afford a FORD they don"t make them like the old ones, the ones that last. I"ll never buy another for sure! What stinks , is all the mechanics and people I"ve spoken too in recent months say Ford knows they have issues with this SUV and should recall it but haven"t yet. Im holding out hope they will do the right thing and fix peoples SUVs . For now still driving around the 2002 with almost 300K miles.I understand mechanical things happen but why have a on board computer that doesn"t alert you to a problem is not right. Read more chevronRightAlternative

The 2014 Ford Escape has more serious mechanical problems than other compact SUVs. It is an improvement from the 2013 model, but is not as good as the 2015.

The 2014 Ford Escape has a price range of $11,343 to $16,422, depending on the mileage and model. When new, the retail price was $23,100 to $30,850. Depreciation is average, dropping about 45% in value during the first 5 years of ownership.

S is the entry-level model with 17-inch steel wheels, cloth seating, MyKey, cruise control, a 4.2-inch infotainment screen, rearview camera, and a 6-speaker stereo system with Sync voice commands, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity.

Titanium is the flagship model with 18-inch alloy wheels, leather seating, keyless entry, push button start, 8-inch infotainment screen, power liftgate, and 10-speaker Sony stereo system.

A properly maintained 2014 Ford Escape will last about 150,000 miles, worse than average for a compact SUV. Repair costs are more expensive than the competition. Repair Pal estimates them to be about $640 per year.

My ford escape is incredibly reliable, and I have used it for long distance road trips numerous times. The only trouble I have had is the air conditioning breaking down a few times.

Yes, the 2014 ford escape titanium is a very reliable vehicle. I have over 100,000 miles on it and we have not had any problems with it. Finally put new brakes on after 100,000 miles.

Technology is average for a compact SUV, but the standard infotainment screen is a welcome improvement from the competition.Base technology includes a 4.2-inch infotainment screen with a 6-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo system, and also has USB and Bluetooth connectivity.

For safety, the 2014 Escape comes standard with a rear view camera, airbags, anti lock brakes, and stability control. Optional upgrades include parking sensors, and a blind-spot monitoring system.

Performance is good in the 2014 Escape, with more power than the competition. The upgraded 2.0L turbo engine takes the SUV from 0 to 60 in 7.0 seconds. The towing capacity is higher than other compact SUVs, at 3,500 pounds.The base engine is a 2.5L 4-cylinder with 168 horsepower.

The 2014 Ford Escape is similar in size to other compact SUVs. Passenger room is good in the front and back seats, especially with the reclining second row, which has enough room to fit adults comfortably. Cargo space is good, but not class leading, with 34.3 cubic feet of room behind the second row, there’s enough room to fit 5 suitcases easily. The space increases to 67.8 cubic feet when the seats are folded flat.

Higher in the lineup is the Toyota RAV4, which is more expensive than the Ford. Technology and safety scores are better in the Ford. Where Toyota stands out is with much better reliability and technology. The RAV4 is a better choice since there are less mechanical problems.

Another competitor is the Honda CR-V, which is only slightly more expensive than an Escape. The Honda has better reliability ratings, and technology. The Ford has higher quality interior materials, and more horsepower. Overall, the Honda wins with a lower cost of ownership and fewer problems compared to the Escape.

After completing our research including 1,481 owner reviews, and information from 18 government and automotive websites, no, the 2014 Escape is not a good SUV. There are positives including a powerful engine, and a roomy interior. Where the Escape loses is with serious transmission problems, and a hard-to-use infotainment system. Overall, if you want a compact SUV, there are better choices for your money.

Enter the 2014 Ford Escape SE, a midsize crossover that"s been mated with an engine no larger than that which you"d find under the hood of a Ford Fiesta. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, but surprisingly, with the magic of turbocharging, it"s not.

The engine isn"t the aspect of this SE model where Ford has delivered more from less. We also learned that when it comes to Ford infotainment tech, sometimes the simpler dashboard package is also the best way to go.

Walking up to a vehicle as big as the Escape is and then getting in and driving around for a bit, you might not believe that the engine under the hood only displaces 1.6-liters. I know didn"t believe, but it does.

Under most around-town driving conditions, the 1.6-liter doesn"t behave like a turbocharged engine, that"s because Ford has done a remarkable job of tuning turbo lag out of the EcoBoost"s delivery. The engine just feels like a larger displacement engine, the only hint that forced induction is at play is a slight whistle that can be heard when driving with the windows open.

Helping the engine to do its thing is the six-speed automatic transmission -- the only option available on the Escape -- which always seemed to be in the right gear. Downshifts for passing happened at logical times and upshifts were smooth. I liked that though the default shift program is economy oriented, it didn"t hop in to too high a gear too soon, leaving the Escape outside of its power band.

Drivers who want to drive a bit faster will be happy to learn that the Escape SE offers a manual shift program, but will be disappointed to see that the gears are selected with a rocker switch atop the shift lever, rather than with paddles or gates. Fortunately, the Escape offers a sport program that is a bit more aggressive with holding each gear higher into the power band -- where the turbo can deliver best power -- and downshifting more frequently for more responsive throttle pedal feel and slightly faster acceleration. This was the mode that I defaulted to for most of my driving.

A variant of this same engine will be found in the upcoming Ford Fiesta ST, but with output bumped to 197 horsepower and 202 pound-feet of torque. I can"t wait to drive that little hot hatch, but I digress.

Speaking of the performance envelope, I was pleased with our front-drive Escape SE"s handling. (An all-wheel-drive option is available, but not equipped.) The steering was responsive with good initial turn-in that makes the crossover feel pretty nimble at parking lot and city speed. Being based on the same platform as Ford"s Focus, the Escape garners a lot to the same praise that"s been heaped on the compact -- a controlled ride that"s not too mushy, predictable amounts of grip, and a general feeling of responsive handling that automakers like to call "European tuned" in their marketing materials.

Only in the larger, elevated Escape the element of sportiness is slightly dulled. Very slightly, I feel I should emphasize. There"s no beating the laws of physics, but Ford"s engineers have done a good job making the Escape feel more carlike and accessible than ever. However, I did notice that the Escape feels noticeably less planted at highway speeds than its smaller platform-mate. Over rough and cracked asphalt, I could feel the vehicle seemingly moving around beneath me and twitching about, requiring lots of small corrections and concentration.

That said, the Escape wasn"t as twitchy as, say, the Mazda CX-5, and certainly not as swayed by crosswinds on the freeway. On roads with a bit more space to move around in within the lane -- unlike San Francisco"s sometimes cramped local highways -- drivers may not even notice the slight twitchiness, but I feel it bears mentioning.

We usually get cars loaded up with all of the tech packages: The last time we tested an Escape, it came loaded up with MyFord Touch and all sorts of bells and whistles. The SE trim level that arrived in the Car Tech garage came without all of that, so we were able to interact with Ford"s basic level of Sync with AppLink, which is in some ways superior to the fully loaded setup.

Ford Sync AppLink boasts well over 22 compatible apps just for Android and about as many for iOS. These apps add functionality such as navigation, audio playback and streaming, news broadcasts, and more to the Escape"s dashboard.

When you fire the Premium version of the Scout app up via the Sync voice commands, "Mobile apps, Scout," you"re greeted by onscreen text that indicates that you"re ready to start giving the app voice commands. From here, you can access your saved locations, get traffic updates, or just initiate turn-by-turn directions by say something like "Drive home." The app will think for a bit and then report that it has downloaded directions and that you"re now free to use your phone. What it won"t do is start giving turn-by-turn directions. After a bit of fiddling with the system while parked (safety first) I got annoyed and just drove away, without the directions.

Here"s what I learned was actually happening behind the scenes. When you ask Sync and Scout to get directions home, the app pulls your GPS location and your home address and plots a route home. But instead of proceeding to give you the directions, it uploads the route to the internal memory of the Escape"s Sync system and then goes back into standby. When you start driving, Sync keeps track of your GPS location and reads the directions when you approach the preprogrammed turns.

The advantage of this method is that you can use the Sync AppLink connection -- which can only communicate with one app at a time -- to listen to music while navigating, for example. This I like, it"s actually a very clever use of the technology in the vehicle to get around the limitations of the Bluetooth connection. The disadvantages are that if you get off of course, Sync will have to stop what it"s doing to temporarily reconnect to the Scout app, which is the brains of the whole navigation experience. There"s also the slight confusion that dealing with two systems can cause on those first few trips. I"d like to see better explanation to the driver from either Scout or Ford in this respect. Perhaps if the system said, "Begin driving for guidance" instead of "You can now use your phone," I wouldn"t have been as confused about what to do next.

Safety tech is pretty much limited to the standard rear-view camera that makes use of the tiny 4.3-inch dashboard screen that comes standard with the Sync system. This color display overlays distance and trajectory markers onto the video feed to help estimate how far obstructions are and where the vehicle will end up while reversing, but for more advanced safety features, such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, or automated parallel parking, you"ll have to step up to the Titanium trim level and its plethora of tech packages.

When choosing cars, the knee-jerk reaction is to get the most. More is better, right? Well, the 2013 Ford Escape SE is a good example of the old adage that less is more.

The basic Sync with AppLink infotainment system is arguably better in many ways and less distracting than the MyFord Touch tech package that is optional at this trim level, despite having less screen real estate to work with. The 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine offers less power than the optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost, but still offers acceptable amounts of power and performance for what I believe are most drivers" needs; the Escape SE is no slouch despite the lack of displacement. And it comes at a good price: $25,550 plus $895 in destination charges to get out of the door as equipped for our review at $26,445.

At that price, it compares favorably with the 2013 Mazda CX-5 Touring -- though for my money, the Mazda is probably a better buy. The CX-5"s TomTom-powered tech offering at this price point is just a hair better than the at times temperamental Ford AppLink and, for what it"s worth, its handling is a bit more dynamic.

If you simply can"t help yourself, you can add MyFord Touch, navigation, a panoramic moonroof, a power liftgate, premium audio, and all-wheel drive either a la carte or as parts of packages. If you"ve got an extra $10k burning a hole in your pocket, there"s also the fully loaded, tech-laden Escape Titanium to tempt you with its hands-free tailgate and automatic parallel parking wizardry.