After leasing '13, '14, '17 Escapes, all 2.0 EcoBoost Titanium which I think is one of the BEST driving SUV's, I turned 70. Having had some really hot sh*t when I was young & foolish (i.e. '80 Vette w/ 9# Turbo, 97 octane, 104+ octane booster, and some alcohol. and a stock '65 365 GTC Daytona running the same gas mix..I was a Texaco distributor.), I ran those Escapes pretty hard, binary...gas-on, gas-off.
Anyhow, I've had "pulling a small but comfortable travel trailer around" on my bucket list, and since both my grandfather and father checked out @ 75, I figure I better get going... I needed something to pull 5500 lbs & the ST does 5600. I love tech, period. Since I retired as a Director of IT for the Space Shuttle Program, the tech packages have had to be there.
On a stretch of straight & level 4-lane which I know like the back of my hand, I ran that Ferrari to 155 before backing off at the bridge. With the ST (tech & street options) on 93 octane, I lifted at the same place. Speedo said 137. Fellas, she was in no way ready to back off. No struggling, no weakening. If it really tops at 143, there's a governor that can be "adjusted".. That 10-speed is a thing of beauty! On the downside, at dawn there was very little breeze, and there are trees on both sides. At about 130, it started buffeting. It stayed straight, but felt "wobbly".
In 4000 mi. I'm averaging 14-16 mpg on 87 octane. I think I was getting better with the 93? Anybody checked that out, yet?
After 500 mi. around New England, it pulls the trailer very well. At 55 mph, we get 10 mpg. At 65, we get 7. I'm headed to Florida in March. After the ±5500 mi trip, I'll know a bit more.
PJ