2021 Ford Escape launching with drive-away pricing and virtual 'Desk Drives'

The all-new 2021 Ford Escape arrives next month, and Ford Australia is launching its critical mid-sized SUV with sharper prices and virtual ‘Desk Drives’ to streamline the buying process.

Like the smaller Puma crossover launched last month, the Escape will arrive with national drive-away prices across on “key models” and cash-back incentives for those who take a test drive and go on to buy a vehicle.

Introductory drive-away offers are as follows:

• 2021 Ford Escape FWD: $36,490 drive-away
• 2021 Ford Escape ST-Line FWD: $38,990 drive-away
• 2021 Ford Escape ST-Line AWD: $41,990 drive-away

At this stage the top-spec Vignale and ST-Line plug-in hybrid (PHEV) are absent from the drive-away offers. As reported by CarExpert the Escape PHEV will launch separately to the petrol line-up.

Those offers are largely in line with mid- to high-spec variants of rival models such as the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4.

For the full pricing and specifications breakdown, click here.

In addition to the drive-away launch offers, Ford will continue to offer virtual ‘Desk Drives’ for the new Escape, accessed via Facebook Live events on the Ford Australia Facebook page.

These events will include a live, hosted vehicle ‘walkaround’ showcasing key features inside and out, as well as a live chat function so viewers can have their questions answered in real time.

Further, customers who test drive an Escape in person throughout November and December and go on to purchase a vehicle will receive a $500 cash-back bonus.

All versions of the all-new Ford Escape include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, a Sync 3 8.0-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, keyless entry and start, as well as the FordPass Connect embedded modem enabling net-based functions like real-time traffic updates, remote start/stop, remote vehicle lock/unlock and vehicle health alerts via the FordPass smartphone app.

Like the wider Ford line-up, the Escape range is covered by a five-year, unlimited kilometre factory warranty with four years of capped-price servicing – set at $299 a pop for the first 48 months or 60,000km (whichever comes first).

The Escape is also eligible for the Ford Service Benefits program, giving owners access to a Service Loan Car, Auto Club Membership with Roadside Assistance and complimentary sat-nav map updates for the life of the program.

Ford Australia has confirmed the first examples of the new Escape will touch down in mid-November, so stay tuned to CarExpert for our launch review next month.