Besides the mediocre base powertrain, Ford’s 2013 Escape offers 1.6L and 2.0L EcoBoost engines that output 178 and 240 hp, which is impressive for a compact SUV. However, owners have reported engine-related problems, such as overheating and unexpected stalls.
Key Points
- The 2013 Ford Escape base model comes with a 2.5L Duratec inline-four that produces 168 horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. of torque, sufficient for urban drivers.
- The SE and SEL trims offer a 1.6L turbocharged engine that outputs 178 horsepower while keeping the fuel economy at 26 mpg, but overheating is reportedly one of its design flaws.
- The 2.0L turbocharged inline-four available for the SE, SEL, and Titanium trims boasts 240 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque while putting out 25 miles to the gallon, making it the best engine option for the 2013 Escape.
- Although the 2013 Ford Escape offers impressive specs, severe engine problems and transmission failures turn the tide against the 2013 Escape in favor of a newer model.
2013 Ford Escape Base 2.5L Inline-four Offers Sufficient Power for Urban Drivers with 168 Horsepower
Offered for the base S trim, the 2.5L Duratec inline-four is the 2013 Ford Escape’s least powerful engine but gets the job done as a daily urban driver with 168 horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. of torque.
In terms of fuel economy, the numbers are above the competition’s average. The 2013 Escape puts out 22 miles to the gallon in the city and 30 on the highway (25 combined). The 2.5L engine can only be configured with a front-wheel drive, and a six-speed automatic transmission pairs up with the motor to power the front wheels.
Other compact SUVs of the same year can put out more impressive numbers with their base engines. However, they can cost you a couple of thousand dollars more. The 2013 Honda CR-V base model, for instance, provides you with 17 more horsepower than the Escape while keeping the fuel consumption rate at 25 mpg.
Based on Kelley Blue Book prices, a used 2013 Escape base model with the 2.5L engine can cost you as low as $9,186. Though the price tag might be eye-catching, the 2.0L turbocharged inline-four available for higher trims provides much more value for your buck.
1.6L and 2.0L EcoBoost Engines Provide 2013 Escape Much More Horsepower without Compromising Fuel Economy
Available for SE and SEL trims, the 1.6L EcoBoost inline-four outputs 178 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque while adding one combined mpg to the fuel economy (23 city/33 highway) with front-wheel-drive configuration. All-wheel drive is available with the 1.6L engine that reduces the fuel consumption rate by a hair.
The most potent 2013 Escape engine is a 2.0L EcoBoost inline-four featured in SE, SEL, and Titanium trims. With 240 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque, 2013 Escape’s top-of-the-line engine option stretches your dollar the furthest by providing impressive power.
Although the 2.0L boasts 62 horsepower more than the 1.6L engine, it manages to keep the fuel consumption rate at 24 combined mpg (22/29). The fuel economy doesn’t change that much with the all-wheel-drive configuration.
Compact SUVs often don’t offer anything impressive when it comes to towing capacity. However, when properly configured, the 2013 ford Escape’s 2.0L engine can tow up to 3,500 pounds, adequate for towing a jet ski or a fishing boat.
Turbocharged Engines on 2013 Escape’s Upper Trims are Decent but have Issues Like Failing Transmissions and Overheating Engines
Of the model’s 2,039 registered NHTSA complaints, over 1,000 concern the engine, and out of the 16 recalls, four (one being the second recall for the same issue) pertain to what’s under the hood. Problems include spliced wires causing stalls, fuel lines leaking, and overheating leading to fires, all three of which don’t especially mix well, either, and can result in serious harm coming to passengers. The overheating issue is specific to the 2013 Escape and affects as many as 139,917 units with the 1.6L engine.
Both EcoBoost engines are paired with the same six-speed automatic transmission in the base model, which is also prone to some severe problems, like premature failure. Many owners reported transmission failures around 75,000 miles. Replacing the transmission can cost as much as $4,500.
According to Repair Pal, the 2013 Escape’s estimated annual maintenance costs sit at $708 per year, more expensive than other compact SUVs on the market.
2013 Escape’s Powertrains Deliver Good Performance, but Serious Problems Make Newer Models a Safer Choice
The 2013 Ford Escape’s base trim features a mediocre 2.4L inline-four capable of producing 168 horsepower. On the other hand, the two EcoBoost engines available for higher trims offer a lot of horsepower for a compact SUV. The 2013 Escape does a great job in fuel economy by offering up to 26 combined mpg.
The 2.0L EcoBoost engine offers the best value for the price tag by featuring 240 horsepower while keeping the fuel consumption rate at 24 miles to the gallon.
Impressive though they may be, Escape’s 1.6L and 2.0L engines come with many issues that add up to its overall problems and recalls. The reported complaints and recalls were so much that the 2013 model ended up in the Ford Escape’s worst years list.
If you’re in the market for a used compact SUV, the 2013 Ford Escape wouldn’t be your safest bet out there. Either go for its more reliable rivals, such as the Honda CR-V, or go for newer Escape models.
Photos: Ford
