Ford Announces Fuel Economy Ratings for New 2013 Escape, Returns up to 33mpg

 The official fuel economy numbers for theredesigned 2013 Ford Escape are in and the news is good for the Blue-Oval as all three of the available engines in the compact crossover achieve 30 mpg (7.8lt/100km) or better on the highway.

In more detail, the Escape's entry-level 168hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine returns 31 mpg on the highway, which is a 3 mpg improvement over the previous model's standard engine, and 22 mpg in the city.

The slightly more potent 173hp 1.6-liter turbocharged EcoBoost does even better at 33 mpg highway and 23 mpg city, which Ford says is 2 mpg higher than the Honda CR-V and 5 mpg higher than the Toyota RAV4 on the highway.

In all fairness, we should note that new Mazda CX5's 155hp 2.0-liter SkyActive engine is certified at 26mpg city and 35mpg highway when fitted with a manual gearbox and FWD, and 26mpg and 32mpg respectively with a 6-speed auto.

The most powerful engine in the new Escape's range, the 237hp 2.0-liter EcoBoost, delivers 30 mpg on the highway and 22mpg in the city, with Ford stating that it that beats the Toyota RAV4 by 3 mpg and the Chevrolet Equinox by 6 mpg on the highway.

"The fuel economy of the all-new Escape showcases the continued success of Ford’s development of smaller, yet more powerful engines," said Raj Nair, Ford vice president for global product development. "Ford understands people want fuel-efficient vehicles without sacrificing power and space requirements."