Ford’s 2015 Escape is available with three distinct four-cylinder engine options. The base 2.5L is nothing special, but it is reliable. The 1.6L offers the best fuel economy yet struggles with performance. If you need to be somewhere in a hurry, consider the 2.0L.
Key Points
- There are three engine options for the 2015 Ford Escape, a turbocharged 1.6L EcoBoost, a 2.0L turbocharged EcoBoost, and a naturally-aspirated 2.5L.
- There are no recalls associated with any of the 2015 Escape engines, but some consumers report issues with coolant and transmission leaks.
- The most economical engine option in the 2015 Escape is the 1.6L, besting most of its competition from Hyundai, Kia, and even Toyota.
- Overall, the 2.0L is the best choice for the 2015 Escape because of its excellent ratio of gas mileage and performance. Plus it has a max towing capacity of 3,500 lbs.
2.5L Duratec isn’t the Best at Anything but is Reliable Enough to Get You Where You Need to Go
The first engine option for the 2015 Ford Escape is a 2.5L Duratec four-cylinder. In the S trim level, the 2.5L is the only engine available and it produces 168 horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. of torque. The power is channeled through a six-speed Selectshift automatic transmission and, unlike the other two engines, the 2.5L is only available in front-wheel drive. Having less than 200 hp in an SUV is not ideal and, as a result, 2.5L Escapes have a zero to 60 miles per hour time of 8.9 seconds.
When taking a look at the fuel consumption, the 2.5L doesn’t perform badly. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates 2015 Escapes equipped with the 2.5L get 21 miles per gallon in the city and just 30 mpg on the highway. While those are respectable numbers for an SUV, they are on the low end when compared to the competition or even the other engine options for the 2015 Escape.
Despite the jokes that could be made about Ford’s reliability as a whole, surprisingly, the 2.5L Duratec is well known for dependability. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are zero recalls related to the 2.5L or any of the 2015 Ford Escape engines.
The NHTSA has received a few hundred complaints about the 2015 Escapes engine and drivetrain. In the grand scheme of things, a few hundred complaints are nothing when some vehicles have thousands of reports filed with the NHTSA. If you own or are looking to purchase a 2015 Ford Escape, be on the lookout for fluid leaks from the cooling system and transmission as they’re known issues on high mileage examples.
1.6L EcoBoost Proves to be the Most Fuel-efficient with Up to 31 mpg on the Highway
The next engine option for the 2015 Ford Escape is the 1.6L turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder. The 1.6L is offered as an upgrade starting on the SE trim level and is the base engine for the Titanium model. With either level of equipment, the turbo 1.6L produces 178 hp and 184 lb.-ft. of torque and propels the Escape to 60 mph in around nine seconds.
Upgrading to the 1.6L will afford you the best fuel economy of all the 2015 Ford Escape engine options. The EPA estimates two-wheel-drive 1.6L Escapes get 23 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway.
That puts the 2015 Escape ahead of its competition from the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sportage, and Toyota RAV4. However, it can’t quite topple the compact SUV king Honda CR-V. By selecting the 1.6L you also get the choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Opting for the 4WD system will cost you a little in gas mileage but only around one mpg on the highway.
Overall, the Ford’s 1.6L EcoBoost is pretty reliable but there are a few issues you should be aware of. First, there have been numerous complaints from consumers about oil and coolant leaks that can lead to costly repairs. Also, because all versions of the 2015 Ford Escape use the same six-speed automatic transmission, they share the same leaking input shaft issue.
2.0L EcoBoost Offers the Best Driving Experience and 3,500 lbs Towing Capacity
The top-tier 2015 Ford Escape engine option is the 2.0L turbocharged EcoBoost inline-four-cylinder. The 2.0L is available as an option on the SE and Titanium trims and develops a hearty 240 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque. Adding over 60 hp and close to 100 lb.-ft. of torque to the Escape, output shaves the zero to 60 mph time down to around seven seconds.
Despite the extra power, the fuel economy doesn’t take as big of a hit as you might think. The EPA estimates the 2.0L 2015 Escape offers 21 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway. While this is technically the worst fuel consumption on the list, the 2.0L would definitely be the most pleasurable to drive.
Another benefit to choosing the most powerful engine option is the added towing capacity. The 2.0L raises the max towing capacity to 3,500 lbs. Pulling almost two tons doesn’t turn the Escape into a pickup truck but is definitely better than the 1,500-pound limit the other two engines offer.
All Three 2015 Ford Escape Engine Options are Dependable but the 2.0L is the Most Enjoyable to Own
When you take a step back and look at the 2015 Ford Escape engine options you can see that they’re all pretty good. The 2.5L is a good budget option, but the 1.6L is the one consumers choose the most because of its superior fuel economy. Of the over 1,100 reviews on Vehicle History, more than 50% gave this Escape five out of five stars for its comfort and reliability.
If it were our money, we would go for the turbocharged 2.0L because of the huge leap in performance at the cost of only a little gas mileage. If you’re in the market for a 2015 Ford Escape, be sure to have it inspected by a trusted mechanic before you buy to minimize surprises down the line. Otherwise, it is a dependable used SUV to buy.
Photos: Ford
