With its switch from manufacturer to pure importer, Ford Australia is adopting the parent company’s global naming strategy for its midsize SUV.
It says the current Ford Kuga model will be replaced with the Ford Escape SUV in 2017, with lower running costs on its 2.0L model and increased standard features.
“The Escape will follow the formula set by the Ford Kuga as a family friendly, fuel-efficient and 5-star-safety-rated SUV,” Ford Australia President and CEO Graeme Whickman says in a statement.
The Escape, listed at A$28,490 ($21,715), joins the growing range of Ford SUVs, including the EcoSport and the locally engineered Everest. Ford Australia next year will add a 5-seat Everest to further broaden its SUV range.
“We’ve responded to calls for a broader lineup, with the front-wheel-drive Trend giving consumers an even more compelling SUV offering,” Whickman says.
