Mid-size SUV Test: Mazda CX-5 vs Ford Escape vs VW Tiguan

Read article : Mid-size SUV Test: Mazda CX-5 vs Ford Escape vs VW Tiguan

THE evidence is there on every street. Compact SUVs have become our preferred means of carrying kids and cargo - and new arrivals just keep coming.   

Mazda has just brought out a new model of the CX-5, Australia's top selling SUV for the past four years.   

Ford has facelifted the Kuga and renamed it with the global Escape badge.  

We're running them against the award-winning Volkswagen Tiguan.  

Ford Escape

Ford Escape

This is Ford's third attempt in five years at cracking the compact SUV segment.  

There are more variants, from $34,000 drive-away to $53,535 drive-away.  

We have the Trend 1.5 front-driver, the middle of the range, which is $39,050 drive-away as tested (including a $1300 safety pack and $550 for metallic paint).  

The new name also brings a new nose and engine, plus an impressive list of advanced - but optional - safety tech. Standard are seven airbags, rear camera (with guiding lines that turn) and rear sensors.  

The safety pack adds automatic emergency braking (which now works from 50km/h rather than 30kmh), radar cruise control, lane keeping assistance, rear cross traffic alert and blind spot warning. These options take the Trend from the least equipped to the best among this trio.  

Update items also include Apple Car Play and Android Auto, built-in navigation with traffic alerts and digital radio joins AM/FM.  

The Trend comes with push-button start, electronic park brake, cruise control (with speed limiter), auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers and privacy glass, among other mod-cons.   

A power tailgate adds $1200.  

The cabin is basic but practical; the others have a more up-market appearance but less tech.  

Deft touches: digital speed display, dual zone aircon, two USB ports, a 12V socket and four map lights - plus a light and 12V socket in the cargo area, which expands from 406L to 1603L.  

The rear seat splits 60-40. The seat back angle can be adjusted but the base doesn't slide forward. As with the others, there are two Isofix child seat anchor points and three top tether mounts.  

The 1.5 turbo petrol engine replaces the 1.6 turbo that was recalled a fortnight ago following a spate of fires, including seven in Australia.   It's an economical engine with plenty of oomph - and costs about half as much to service as the others. As with many modern engines, it demands premium unleaded.  

These aren't supposed to be race cars but we checked their 0-100kmh times as an indicator of how they'll haul the family in the daily grind.  

The Escape - slightly faster than the VW Tiguan and one second quicker to the speed limit than the Mazda CX-5 - handles corners confidently, but the suspension can get a bit busier than the others over bumps. At times, the steering feels too sharp for the size and weight of the car.  

Mazda CX-5

Mazda CX-5

Mazda expands the range to four model grades - from $34,500 drive-away to $54,700 drive-away.  

We have the Maxx Sport (the second model up) 2.0 petrol front-drive at $38,400 drive-away.  

Mazda loads the new model with the most standard safety kit of the trio, including automatic emergency braking (front and rear), rear cross traffic alert and blind zone warning. This is in addition to six airbags, a rear view camera and rear sensors.  

Apple Car Play and Android Auto are still not available but built-in navigation is standard on this grade. The tablet-style display in the dash looks classy but is not a touchscreen.  

The cabin has an up-market feel but the door pockets are smaller than the others, there's no digital speed display, and the guiding lines on the rear camera don't turn.  

The driver's side mirror is not convex, so it's hard to see traffic in the adjacent lane. I'd prefer a wider view rather than rely on a small warning light in the corner of the mirror.  

Unique among this trio, the rear seat splits 40-20-40 and can be dropped via a lever in the cargo area. The seat back angle can be adjusted but the base does not slide forward. Cargo capacity is 442L/1342L.  

On the move the Mazda is quieter than before - finally muting its road noise on par with rivals.  

Performance from the non-turbo 2.0 is similar to these peers. Helpfully, it takes regular unleaded.   

A downside: the CX-5 is the dearest of this trio to service.  

The new CX-5 steers well, with a plush and almost cushy ride, rather than the razor-sharp feeling of its predecessor.  

VW Tiguan

VW Tiguan

Despite its premium price, the Tiguan is selling at twice the rate of the Escape and Honda CR-V and is closing the gap on the Subaru Forester.  

The range stretches from $39,100 drive-away to $54,580 drive-away. We tested the 110TSI Trendline DSG front-drive, at $39,900 drive-away including $700 for metallic paint.  

Standard fare includes automatic emergency braking, rear camera with guiding lines that turn, front and rear parking sensors, large touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but not built-in navigation.  

Radar cruise control and lane keeping assistance (optional on all Escapes and standard on the top grade CX-5) are not available as an option on this grade.  

The Tiguan has the most spacious cabin and the biggest storage pockets. As with the others it has rear air vents. Unlike the others, it has single zone aircon.  

The Tiguan is the only one among this trio with a sliding back seat - to create a larger cargo area (from 615L to 1665L with the seats down) as well as seat back angle adjustment.  

Its 1.4 turbo, the smallest of the three, does the job, albeit on premium unleaded.  

The twin clutch automatic gearbox takes half a second or so to engage but you soon learn to adapt your driving style and release the brake pedal a little sooner.  

Its biggest asset is the way it drives. The Tiguan has the most precise steering and handling feel, and yet it's also the most comfortable over bumps. That's a gratifying double act.  

Verdict

Escape vs CX-5 vs Tiguan

The Escape, though more compelling than previously, doesn't drive quite as well as the others and isn't as well presented inside. If the optional safety pack were fitted standard, it would have aced this test.  

Still a class act, the Tiguan is the best here for space, comfort, practicality and driving feel. But the competition has caught up with more standard features for the money.  

With its impressive list of standard safety gear, up-market interior and greater refinement, the CX-5 Maxx Sport wins this round. Undercutting the others on price is a bonus.  

The contenders' vital statistics

Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport

CARSGUIDE - 3 car comparison. Ford Escape, Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5. Picture: Supplied

PRICE: $38,400 drive-away (as tested)  

WARRANTY: 3 years/ unlimited km  

CAPPED SERVICING: $1405 over 3 years  

SERVICE INTERVAL: 12 months/10,000km  

SAFETY: 5 stars, 6 airbags  

ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, 114kW/200Nm  

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed auto; FWD  

THIRST: 6.9L/100km  

DIMENSIONS: 4550mm (L), 1840mm (W), 1675mm (H), 2700mm (WB)  

WEIGHT: 1556kg  

SPARE: Space-saver  

TOWING: 1800kg  

VW Tiguan Trendline

CARSGUIDE - 3 car comparison. Ford Escape, Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5. Picture: Supplied

PRICE: $39,900 drive-away (as tested)  

WARRANTY: 3 years/ unlimited km  

CAPPED SERVICING: $1336 over 3 years  

SERVICE INTERVAL: 12 months/15,000km  

SAFETY: 5 stars, 7 airbags  

ENGINE: 1.4-litre 4-cyliner turbo, 110kW/250Nm  

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed DSG; FWD  

THIRST: 6.3L/100km  

DIMENSIONS: 4486mm (L), 1839mm (W), 1648mm (H), 2681mm (WB)  

WEIGHT: 1450kg  

SPARE: Space-saver  

TOWING: 1800kg  

Ford Escape Trend

The 2017 Ford Escape.

PRICE: $39,050 drive-away (as tested)  

WARRANTY: 3 years/ 100,000km  

CAPPED SERVICING: $780 over 3 years  

SERVICE INTERVAL: 12 months/15,000km  

SAFETY: 5 stars, 7 airbags  

ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo, 134kW/240Nm  

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed auto; FWD  

THIRST: 7.2L/100km  

DIMENSIONS: 4524mm (L), 1838mm (W), 1749mm (H), 2690mm (WB)  

WEIGHT: 1607kg  

SPARE: Space-saver  

TOWING: 1500kg    

Related Items

Show More

Mid-size SUV Test: Mazda CX-5 vs Ford Escape vs VW Tiguan

Read article : Mid-size SUV Test: Mazda CX-5 vs Ford Escape vs VW Tiguan

THE evidence is there on every street. Compact SUVs have become our preferred means of carrying kids and cargo - and new arrivals just keep coming.   

Mazda has just brought out a new model of the CX-5, Australia's top selling SUV for the past four years.   

Ford has facelifted the Kuga and renamed it with the global Escape badge.  

We're running them against the award-winning Volkswagen Tiguan.  

Ford Escape

Ford Escape

This is Ford's third attempt in five years at cracking the compact SUV segment.  

There are more variants, from $34,000 drive-away to $53,535 drive-away.  

We have the Trend 1.5 front-driver, the middle of the range, which is $39,050 drive-away as tested (including a $1300 safety pack and $550 for metallic paint).  

The new name also brings a new nose and engine, plus an impressive list of advanced - but optional - safety tech. Standard are seven airbags, rear camera (with guiding lines that turn) and rear sensors.  

The safety pack adds automatic emergency braking (which now works from 50km/h rather than 30kmh), radar cruise control, lane keeping assistance, rear cross traffic alert and blind spot warning. These options take the Trend from the least equipped to the best among this trio.  

Update items also include Apple Car Play and Android Auto, built-in navigation with traffic alerts and digital radio joins AM/FM.  

The Trend comes with push-button start, electronic park brake, cruise control (with speed limiter), auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers and privacy glass, among other mod-cons.   

A power tailgate adds $1200.  

The cabin is basic but practical; the others have a more up-market appearance but less tech.  

Deft touches: digital speed display, dual zone aircon, two USB ports, a 12V socket and four map lights - plus a light and 12V socket in the cargo area, which expands from 406L to 1603L.  

The rear seat splits 60-40. The seat back angle can be adjusted but the base doesn't slide forward. As with the others, there are two Isofix child seat anchor points and three top tether mounts.  

The 1.5 turbo petrol engine replaces the 1.6 turbo that was recalled a fortnight ago following a spate of fires, including seven in Australia.   It's an economical engine with plenty of oomph - and costs about half as much to service as the others. As with many modern engines, it demands premium unleaded.  

These aren't supposed to be race cars but we checked their 0-100kmh times as an indicator of how they'll haul the family in the daily grind.  

The Escape - slightly faster than the VW Tiguan and one second quicker to the speed limit than the Mazda CX-5 - handles corners confidently, but the suspension can get a bit busier than the others over bumps. At times, the steering feels too sharp for the size and weight of the car.  

Mazda CX-5

Mazda CX-5

Mazda expands the range to four model grades - from $34,500 drive-away to $54,700 drive-away.  

We have the Maxx Sport (the second model up) 2.0 petrol front-drive at $38,400 drive-away.  

Mazda loads the new model with the most standard safety kit of the trio, including automatic emergency braking (front and rear), rear cross traffic alert and blind zone warning. This is in addition to six airbags, a rear view camera and rear sensors.  

Apple Car Play and Android Auto are still not available but built-in navigation is standard on this grade. The tablet-style display in the dash looks classy but is not a touchscreen.  

The cabin has an up-market feel but the door pockets are smaller than the others, there's no digital speed display, and the guiding lines on the rear camera don't turn.  

The driver's side mirror is not convex, so it's hard to see traffic in the adjacent lane. I'd prefer a wider view rather than rely on a small warning light in the corner of the mirror.  

Unique among this trio, the rear seat splits 40-20-40 and can be dropped via a lever in the cargo area. The seat back angle can be adjusted but the base does not slide forward. Cargo capacity is 442L/1342L.  

On the move the Mazda is quieter than before - finally muting its road noise on par with rivals.  

Performance from the non-turbo 2.0 is similar to these peers. Helpfully, it takes regular unleaded.   

A downside: the CX-5 is the dearest of this trio to service.  

The new CX-5 steers well, with a plush and almost cushy ride, rather than the razor-sharp feeling of its predecessor.  

VW Tiguan

VW Tiguan

Despite its premium price, the Tiguan is selling at twice the rate of the Escape and Honda CR-V and is closing the gap on the Subaru Forester.  

The range stretches from $39,100 drive-away to $54,580 drive-away. We tested the 110TSI Trendline DSG front-drive, at $39,900 drive-away including $700 for metallic paint.  

Standard fare includes automatic emergency braking, rear camera with guiding lines that turn, front and rear parking sensors, large touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but not built-in navigation.  

Radar cruise control and lane keeping assistance (optional on all Escapes and standard on the top grade CX-5) are not available as an option on this grade.  

The Tiguan has the most spacious cabin and the biggest storage pockets. As with the others it has rear air vents. Unlike the others, it has single zone aircon.  

The Tiguan is the only one among this trio with a sliding back seat - to create a larger cargo area (from 615L to 1665L with the seats down) as well as seat back angle adjustment.  

Its 1.4 turbo, the smallest of the three, does the job, albeit on premium unleaded.  

The twin clutch automatic gearbox takes half a second or so to engage but you soon learn to adapt your driving style and release the brake pedal a little sooner.  

Its biggest asset is the way it drives. The Tiguan has the most precise steering and handling feel, and yet it's also the most comfortable over bumps. That's a gratifying double act.  

Verdict

Escape vs CX-5 vs Tiguan

The Escape, though more compelling than previously, doesn't drive quite as well as the others and isn't as well presented inside. If the optional safety pack were fitted standard, it would have aced this test.  

Still a class act, the Tiguan is the best here for space, comfort, practicality and driving feel. But the competition has caught up with more standard features for the money.  

With its impressive list of standard safety gear, up-market interior and greater refinement, the CX-5 Maxx Sport wins this round. Undercutting the others on price is a bonus.  

The contenders' vital statistics

Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport

CARSGUIDE - 3 car comparison. Ford Escape, Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5. Picture: Supplied

PRICE: $38,400 drive-away (as tested)  

WARRANTY: 3 years/ unlimited km  

CAPPED SERVICING: $1405 over 3 years  

SERVICE INTERVAL: 12 months/10,000km  

SAFETY: 5 stars, 6 airbags  

ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, 114kW/200Nm  

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed auto; FWD  

THIRST: 6.9L/100km  

DIMENSIONS: 4550mm (L), 1840mm (W), 1675mm (H), 2700mm (WB)  

WEIGHT: 1556kg  

SPARE: Space-saver  

TOWING: 1800kg  

VW Tiguan Trendline

CARSGUIDE - 3 car comparison. Ford Escape, Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5. Picture: Supplied

PRICE: $39,900 drive-away (as tested)  

WARRANTY: 3 years/ unlimited km  

CAPPED SERVICING: $1336 over 3 years  

SERVICE INTERVAL: 12 months/15,000km  

SAFETY: 5 stars, 7 airbags  

ENGINE: 1.4-litre 4-cyliner turbo, 110kW/250Nm  

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed DSG; FWD  

THIRST: 6.3L/100km  

DIMENSIONS: 4486mm (L), 1839mm (W), 1648mm (H), 2681mm (WB)  

WEIGHT: 1450kg  

SPARE: Space-saver  

TOWING: 1800kg  

Ford Escape Trend

The 2017 Ford Escape.

PRICE: $39,050 drive-away (as tested)  

WARRANTY: 3 years/ 100,000km  

CAPPED SERVICING: $780 over 3 years  

SERVICE INTERVAL: 12 months/15,000km  

SAFETY: 5 stars, 7 airbags  

ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo, 134kW/240Nm  

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed auto; FWD  

THIRST: 7.2L/100km  

DIMENSIONS: 4524mm (L), 1838mm (W), 1749mm (H), 2690mm (WB)  

WEIGHT: 1607kg  

SPARE: Space-saver  

TOWING: 1500kg    

Related Items

Show More

Mid-size SUV Test: Mazda CX-5 vs Ford Escape vs VW Tiguan

Read article : Mid-size SUV Test: Mazda CX-5 vs Ford Escape vs VW Tiguan

THE evidence is there on every street. Compact SUVs have become our preferred means of carrying kids and cargo - and new arrivals just keep coming.   

Mazda has just brought out a new model of the CX-5, Australia's top selling SUV for the past four years.   

Ford has facelifted the Kuga and renamed it with the global Escape badge.  

We're running them against the award-winning Volkswagen Tiguan.  

Ford Escape

Ford Escape

This is Ford's third attempt in five years at cracking the compact SUV segment.  

There are more variants, from $34,000 drive-away to $53,535 drive-away.  

We have the Trend 1.5 front-driver, the middle of the range, which is $39,050 drive-away as tested (including a $1300 safety pack and $550 for metallic paint).  

The new name also brings a new nose and engine, plus an impressive list of advanced - but optional - safety tech. Standard are seven airbags, rear camera (with guiding lines that turn) and rear sensors.  

The safety pack adds automatic emergency braking (which now works from 50km/h rather than 30kmh), radar cruise control, lane keeping assistance, rear cross traffic alert and blind spot warning. These options take the Trend from the least equipped to the best among this trio.  

Update items also include Apple Car Play and Android Auto, built-in navigation with traffic alerts and digital radio joins AM/FM.  

The Trend comes with push-button start, electronic park brake, cruise control (with speed limiter), auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers and privacy glass, among other mod-cons.   

A power tailgate adds $1200.  

The cabin is basic but practical; the others have a more up-market appearance but less tech.  

Deft touches: digital speed display, dual zone aircon, two USB ports, a 12V socket and four map lights - plus a light and 12V socket in the cargo area, which expands from 406L to 1603L.  

The rear seat splits 60-40. The seat back angle can be adjusted but the base doesn't slide forward. As with the others, there are two Isofix child seat anchor points and three top tether mounts.  

The 1.5 turbo petrol engine replaces the 1.6 turbo that was recalled a fortnight ago following a spate of fires, including seven in Australia.   It's an economical engine with plenty of oomph - and costs about half as much to service as the others. As with many modern engines, it demands premium unleaded.  

These aren't supposed to be race cars but we checked their 0-100kmh times as an indicator of how they'll haul the family in the daily grind.  

The Escape - slightly faster than the VW Tiguan and one second quicker to the speed limit than the Mazda CX-5 - handles corners confidently, but the suspension can get a bit busier than the others over bumps. At times, the steering feels too sharp for the size and weight of the car.  

Mazda CX-5

Mazda CX-5

Mazda expands the range to four model grades - from $34,500 drive-away to $54,700 drive-away.  

We have the Maxx Sport (the second model up) 2.0 petrol front-drive at $38,400 drive-away.  

Mazda loads the new model with the most standard safety kit of the trio, including automatic emergency braking (front and rear), rear cross traffic alert and blind zone warning. This is in addition to six airbags, a rear view camera and rear sensors.  

Apple Car Play and Android Auto are still not available but built-in navigation is standard on this grade. The tablet-style display in the dash looks classy but is not a touchscreen.  

The cabin has an up-market feel but the door pockets are smaller than the others, there's no digital speed display, and the guiding lines on the rear camera don't turn.  

The driver's side mirror is not convex, so it's hard to see traffic in the adjacent lane. I'd prefer a wider view rather than rely on a small warning light in the corner of the mirror.  

Unique among this trio, the rear seat splits 40-20-40 and can be dropped via a lever in the cargo area. The seat back angle can be adjusted but the base does not slide forward. Cargo capacity is 442L/1342L.  

On the move the Mazda is quieter than before - finally muting its road noise on par with rivals.  

Performance from the non-turbo 2.0 is similar to these peers. Helpfully, it takes regular unleaded.   

A downside: the CX-5 is the dearest of this trio to service.  

The new CX-5 steers well, with a plush and almost cushy ride, rather than the razor-sharp feeling of its predecessor.  

VW Tiguan

VW Tiguan

Despite its premium price, the Tiguan is selling at twice the rate of the Escape and Honda CR-V and is closing the gap on the Subaru Forester.  

The range stretches from $39,100 drive-away to $54,580 drive-away. We tested the 110TSI Trendline DSG front-drive, at $39,900 drive-away including $700 for metallic paint.  

Standard fare includes automatic emergency braking, rear camera with guiding lines that turn, front and rear parking sensors, large touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but not built-in navigation.  

Radar cruise control and lane keeping assistance (optional on all Escapes and standard on the top grade CX-5) are not available as an option on this grade.  

The Tiguan has the most spacious cabin and the biggest storage pockets. As with the others it has rear air vents. Unlike the others, it has single zone aircon.  

The Tiguan is the only one among this trio with a sliding back seat - to create a larger cargo area (from 615L to 1665L with the seats down) as well as seat back angle adjustment.  

Its 1.4 turbo, the smallest of the three, does the job, albeit on premium unleaded.  

The twin clutch automatic gearbox takes half a second or so to engage but you soon learn to adapt your driving style and release the brake pedal a little sooner.  

Its biggest asset is the way it drives. The Tiguan has the most precise steering and handling feel, and yet it's also the most comfortable over bumps. That's a gratifying double act.  

Verdict

Escape vs CX-5 vs Tiguan

The Escape, though more compelling than previously, doesn't drive quite as well as the others and isn't as well presented inside. If the optional safety pack were fitted standard, it would have aced this test.  

Still a class act, the Tiguan is the best here for space, comfort, practicality and driving feel. But the competition has caught up with more standard features for the money.  

With its impressive list of standard safety gear, up-market interior and greater refinement, the CX-5 Maxx Sport wins this round. Undercutting the others on price is a bonus.  

The contenders' vital statistics

Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport

CARSGUIDE - 3 car comparison. Ford Escape, Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5. Picture: Supplied

PRICE: $38,400 drive-away (as tested)  

WARRANTY: 3 years/ unlimited km  

CAPPED SERVICING: $1405 over 3 years  

SERVICE INTERVAL: 12 months/10,000km  

SAFETY: 5 stars, 6 airbags  

ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, 114kW/200Nm  

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed auto; FWD  

THIRST: 6.9L/100km  

DIMENSIONS: 4550mm (L), 1840mm (W), 1675mm (H), 2700mm (WB)  

WEIGHT: 1556kg  

SPARE: Space-saver  

TOWING: 1800kg  

VW Tiguan Trendline

CARSGUIDE - 3 car comparison. Ford Escape, Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5. Picture: Supplied

PRICE: $39,900 drive-away (as tested)  

WARRANTY: 3 years/ unlimited km  

CAPPED SERVICING: $1336 over 3 years  

SERVICE INTERVAL: 12 months/15,000km  

SAFETY: 5 stars, 7 airbags  

ENGINE: 1.4-litre 4-cyliner turbo, 110kW/250Nm  

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed DSG; FWD  

THIRST: 6.3L/100km  

DIMENSIONS: 4486mm (L), 1839mm (W), 1648mm (H), 2681mm (WB)  

WEIGHT: 1450kg  

SPARE: Space-saver  

TOWING: 1800kg  

Ford Escape Trend

The 2017 Ford Escape.

PRICE: $39,050 drive-away (as tested)  

WARRANTY: 3 years/ 100,000km  

CAPPED SERVICING: $780 over 3 years  

SERVICE INTERVAL: 12 months/15,000km  

SAFETY: 5 stars, 7 airbags  

ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo, 134kW/240Nm  

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed auto; FWD  

THIRST: 7.2L/100km  

DIMENSIONS: 4524mm (L), 1838mm (W), 1749mm (H), 2690mm (WB)  

WEIGHT: 1607kg  

SPARE: Space-saver  

TOWING: 1500kg    

Related Items

Show More

Mid-size SUV Test: Mazda CX-5 vs Ford Escape vs VW Tiguan

Read article : Mid-size SUV Test: Mazda CX-5 vs Ford Escape vs VW Tiguan

THE evidence is there on every street. Compact SUVs have become our preferred means of carrying kids and cargo - and new arrivals just keep coming.   

Mazda has just brought out a new model of the CX-5, Australia's top selling SUV for the past four years.   

Ford has facelifted the Kuga and renamed it with the global Escape badge.  

We're running them against the award-winning Volkswagen Tiguan.  

Ford Escape

Ford Escape

This is Ford's third attempt in five years at cracking the compact SUV segment.  

There are more variants, from $34,000 drive-away to $53,535 drive-away.  

We have the Trend 1.5 front-driver, the middle of the range, which is $39,050 drive-away as tested (including a $1300 safety pack and $550 for metallic paint).  

The new name also brings a new nose and engine, plus an impressive list of advanced - but optional - safety tech. Standard are seven airbags, rear camera (with guiding lines that turn) and rear sensors.  

The safety pack adds automatic emergency braking (which now works from 50km/h rather than 30kmh), radar cruise control, lane keeping assistance, rear cross traffic alert and blind spot warning. These options take the Trend from the least equipped to the best among this trio.  

Update items also include Apple Car Play and Android Auto, built-in navigation with traffic alerts and digital radio joins AM/FM.  

The Trend comes with push-button start, electronic park brake, cruise control (with speed limiter), auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers and privacy glass, among other mod-cons.   

A power tailgate adds $1200.  

The cabin is basic but practical; the others have a more up-market appearance but less tech.  

Deft touches: digital speed display, dual zone aircon, two USB ports, a 12V socket and four map lights - plus a light and 12V socket in the cargo area, which expands from 406L to 1603L.  

The rear seat splits 60-40. The seat back angle can be adjusted but the base doesn't slide forward. As with the others, there are two Isofix child seat anchor points and three top tether mounts.  

The 1.5 turbo petrol engine replaces the 1.6 turbo that was recalled a fortnight ago following a spate of fires, including seven in Australia.   It's an economical engine with plenty of oomph - and costs about half as much to service as the others. As with many modern engines, it demands premium unleaded.  

These aren't supposed to be race cars but we checked their 0-100kmh times as an indicator of how they'll haul the family in the daily grind.  

The Escape - slightly faster than the VW Tiguan and one second quicker to the speed limit than the Mazda CX-5 - handles corners confidently, but the suspension can get a bit busier than the others over bumps. At times, the steering feels too sharp for the size and weight of the car.  

Mazda CX-5

Mazda CX-5

Mazda expands the range to four model grades - from $34,500 drive-away to $54,700 drive-away.  

We have the Maxx Sport (the second model up) 2.0 petrol front-drive at $38,400 drive-away.  

Mazda loads the new model with the most standard safety kit of the trio, including automatic emergency braking (front and rear), rear cross traffic alert and blind zone warning. This is in addition to six airbags, a rear view camera and rear sensors.  

Apple Car Play and Android Auto are still not available but built-in navigation is standard on this grade. The tablet-style display in the dash looks classy but is not a touchscreen.  

The cabin has an up-market feel but the door pockets are smaller than the others, there's no digital speed display, and the guiding lines on the rear camera don't turn.  

The driver's side mirror is not convex, so it's hard to see traffic in the adjacent lane. I'd prefer a wider view rather than rely on a small warning light in the corner of the mirror.  

Unique among this trio, the rear seat splits 40-20-40 and can be dropped via a lever in the cargo area. The seat back angle can be adjusted but the base does not slide forward. Cargo capacity is 442L/1342L.  

On the move the Mazda is quieter than before - finally muting its road noise on par with rivals.  

Performance from the non-turbo 2.0 is similar to these peers. Helpfully, it takes regular unleaded.   

A downside: the CX-5 is the dearest of this trio to service.  

The new CX-5 steers well, with a plush and almost cushy ride, rather than the razor-sharp feeling of its predecessor.  

VW Tiguan

VW Tiguan

Despite its premium price, the Tiguan is selling at twice the rate of the Escape and Honda CR-V and is closing the gap on the Subaru Forester.  

The range stretches from $39,100 drive-away to $54,580 drive-away. We tested the 110TSI Trendline DSG front-drive, at $39,900 drive-away including $700 for metallic paint.  

Standard fare includes automatic emergency braking, rear camera with guiding lines that turn, front and rear parking sensors, large touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but not built-in navigation.  

Radar cruise control and lane keeping assistance (optional on all Escapes and standard on the top grade CX-5) are not available as an option on this grade.  

The Tiguan has the most spacious cabin and the biggest storage pockets. As with the others it has rear air vents. Unlike the others, it has single zone aircon.  

The Tiguan is the only one among this trio with a sliding back seat - to create a larger cargo area (from 615L to 1665L with the seats down) as well as seat back angle adjustment.  

Its 1.4 turbo, the smallest of the three, does the job, albeit on premium unleaded.  

The twin clutch automatic gearbox takes half a second or so to engage but you soon learn to adapt your driving style and release the brake pedal a little sooner.  

Its biggest asset is the way it drives. The Tiguan has the most precise steering and handling feel, and yet it's also the most comfortable over bumps. That's a gratifying double act.  

Verdict

Escape vs CX-5 vs Tiguan

The Escape, though more compelling than previously, doesn't drive quite as well as the others and isn't as well presented inside. If the optional safety pack were fitted standard, it would have aced this test.  

Still a class act, the Tiguan is the best here for space, comfort, practicality and driving feel. But the competition has caught up with more standard features for the money.  

With its impressive list of standard safety gear, up-market interior and greater refinement, the CX-5 Maxx Sport wins this round. Undercutting the others on price is a bonus.  

The contenders' vital statistics

Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport

CARSGUIDE - 3 car comparison. Ford Escape, Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5. Picture: Supplied

PRICE: $38,400 drive-away (as tested)  

WARRANTY: 3 years/ unlimited km  

CAPPED SERVICING: $1405 over 3 years  

SERVICE INTERVAL: 12 months/10,000km  

SAFETY: 5 stars, 6 airbags  

ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, 114kW/200Nm  

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed auto; FWD  

THIRST: 6.9L/100km  

DIMENSIONS: 4550mm (L), 1840mm (W), 1675mm (H), 2700mm (WB)  

WEIGHT: 1556kg  

SPARE: Space-saver  

TOWING: 1800kg  

VW Tiguan Trendline

CARSGUIDE - 3 car comparison. Ford Escape, Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5. Picture: Supplied

PRICE: $39,900 drive-away (as tested)  

WARRANTY: 3 years/ unlimited km  

CAPPED SERVICING: $1336 over 3 years  

SERVICE INTERVAL: 12 months/15,000km  

SAFETY: 5 stars, 7 airbags  

ENGINE: 1.4-litre 4-cyliner turbo, 110kW/250Nm  

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed DSG; FWD  

THIRST: 6.3L/100km  

DIMENSIONS: 4486mm (L), 1839mm (W), 1648mm (H), 2681mm (WB)  

WEIGHT: 1450kg  

SPARE: Space-saver  

TOWING: 1800kg  

Ford Escape Trend

The 2017 Ford Escape.

PRICE: $39,050 drive-away (as tested)  

WARRANTY: 3 years/ 100,000km  

CAPPED SERVICING: $780 over 3 years  

SERVICE INTERVAL: 12 months/15,000km  

SAFETY: 5 stars, 7 airbags  

ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo, 134kW/240Nm  

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed auto; FWD  

THIRST: 7.2L/100km  

DIMENSIONS: 4524mm (L), 1838mm (W), 1749mm (H), 2690mm (WB)  

WEIGHT: 1607kg  

SPARE: Space-saver  

TOWING: 1500kg    

Related Items

Show More

Mid-size SUV Test: Mazda CX-5 vs Ford Escape vs VW Tiguan

Read article : Mid-size SUV Test: Mazda CX-5 vs Ford Escape vs VW Tiguan

THE evidence is there on every street. Compact SUVs have become our preferred means of carrying kids and cargo - and new arrivals just keep coming.   

Mazda has just brought out a new model of the CX-5, Australia's top selling SUV for the past four years.   

Ford has facelifted the Kuga and renamed it with the global Escape badge.  

We're running them against the award-winning Volkswagen Tiguan.  

Ford Escape

Ford Escape

This is Ford's third attempt in five years at cracking the compact SUV segment.  

There are more variants, from $34,000 drive-away to $53,535 drive-away.  

We have the Trend 1.5 front-driver, the middle of the range, which is $39,050 drive-away as tested (including a $1300 safety pack and $550 for metallic paint).  

The new name also brings a new nose and engine, plus an impressive list of advanced - but optional - safety tech. Standard are seven airbags, rear camera (with guiding lines that turn) and rear sensors.  

The safety pack adds automatic emergency braking (which now works from 50km/h rather than 30kmh), radar cruise control, lane keeping assistance, rear cross traffic alert and blind spot warning. These options take the Trend from the least equipped to the best among this trio.  

Update items also include Apple Car Play and Android Auto, built-in navigation with traffic alerts and digital radio joins AM/FM.  

The Trend comes with push-button start, electronic park brake, cruise control (with speed limiter), auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers and privacy glass, among other mod-cons.   

A power tailgate adds $1200.  

The cabin is basic but practical; the others have a more up-market appearance but less tech.  

Deft touches: digital speed display, dual zone aircon, two USB ports, a 12V socket and four map lights - plus a light and 12V socket in the cargo area, which expands from 406L to 1603L.  

The rear seat splits 60-40. The seat back angle can be adjusted but the base doesn't slide forward. As with the others, there are two Isofix child seat anchor points and three top tether mounts.  

The 1.5 turbo petrol engine replaces the 1.6 turbo that was recalled a fortnight ago following a spate of fires, including seven in Australia.   It's an economical engine with plenty of oomph - and costs about half as much to service as the others. As with many modern engines, it demands premium unleaded.  

These aren't supposed to be race cars but we checked their 0-100kmh times as an indicator of how they'll haul the family in the daily grind.  

The Escape - slightly faster than the VW Tiguan and one second quicker to the speed limit than the Mazda CX-5 - handles corners confidently, but the suspension can get a bit busier than the others over bumps. At times, the steering feels too sharp for the size and weight of the car.  

Mazda CX-5

Mazda CX-5

Mazda expands the range to four model grades - from $34,500 drive-away to $54,700 drive-away.  

We have the Maxx Sport (the second model up) 2.0 petrol front-drive at $38,400 drive-away.  

Mazda loads the new model with the most standard safety kit of the trio, including automatic emergency braking (front and rear), rear cross traffic alert and blind zone warning. This is in addition to six airbags, a rear view camera and rear sensors.  

Apple Car Play and Android Auto are still not available but built-in navigation is standard on this grade. The tablet-style display in the dash looks classy but is not a touchscreen.  

The cabin has an up-market feel but the door pockets are smaller than the others, there's no digital speed display, and the guiding lines on the rear camera don't turn.  

The driver's side mirror is not convex, so it's hard to see traffic in the adjacent lane. I'd prefer a wider view rather than rely on a small warning light in the corner of the mirror.  

Unique among this trio, the rear seat splits 40-20-40 and can be dropped via a lever in the cargo area. The seat back angle can be adjusted but the base does not slide forward. Cargo capacity is 442L/1342L.  

On the move the Mazda is quieter than before - finally muting its road noise on par with rivals.  

Performance from the non-turbo 2.0 is similar to these peers. Helpfully, it takes regular unleaded.   

A downside: the CX-5 is the dearest of this trio to service.  

The new CX-5 steers well, with a plush and almost cushy ride, rather than the razor-sharp feeling of its predecessor.  

VW Tiguan

VW Tiguan

Despite its premium price, the Tiguan is selling at twice the rate of the Escape and Honda CR-V and is closing the gap on the Subaru Forester.  

The range stretches from $39,100 drive-away to $54,580 drive-away. We tested the 110TSI Trendline DSG front-drive, at $39,900 drive-away including $700 for metallic paint.  

Standard fare includes automatic emergency braking, rear camera with guiding lines that turn, front and rear parking sensors, large touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but not built-in navigation.  

Radar cruise control and lane keeping assistance (optional on all Escapes and standard on the top grade CX-5) are not available as an option on this grade.  

The Tiguan has the most spacious cabin and the biggest storage pockets. As with the others it has rear air vents. Unlike the others, it has single zone aircon.  

The Tiguan is the only one among this trio with a sliding back seat - to create a larger cargo area (from 615L to 1665L with the seats down) as well as seat back angle adjustment.  

Its 1.4 turbo, the smallest of the three, does the job, albeit on premium unleaded.  

The twin clutch automatic gearbox takes half a second or so to engage but you soon learn to adapt your driving style and release the brake pedal a little sooner.  

Its biggest asset is the way it drives. The Tiguan has the most precise steering and handling feel, and yet it's also the most comfortable over bumps. That's a gratifying double act.  

Verdict

Escape vs CX-5 vs Tiguan

The Escape, though more compelling than previously, doesn't drive quite as well as the others and isn't as well presented inside. If the optional safety pack were fitted standard, it would have aced this test.  

Still a class act, the Tiguan is the best here for space, comfort, practicality and driving feel. But the competition has caught up with more standard features for the money.  

With its impressive list of standard safety gear, up-market interior and greater refinement, the CX-5 Maxx Sport wins this round. Undercutting the others on price is a bonus.  

The contenders' vital statistics

Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport

CARSGUIDE - 3 car comparison. Ford Escape, Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5. Picture: Supplied

PRICE: $38,400 drive-away (as tested)  

WARRANTY: 3 years/ unlimited km  

CAPPED SERVICING: $1405 over 3 years  

SERVICE INTERVAL: 12 months/10,000km  

SAFETY: 5 stars, 6 airbags  

ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, 114kW/200Nm  

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed auto; FWD  

THIRST: 6.9L/100km  

DIMENSIONS: 4550mm (L), 1840mm (W), 1675mm (H), 2700mm (WB)  

WEIGHT: 1556kg  

SPARE: Space-saver  

TOWING: 1800kg  

VW Tiguan Trendline

CARSGUIDE - 3 car comparison. Ford Escape, Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5. Picture: Supplied

PRICE: $39,900 drive-away (as tested)  

WARRANTY: 3 years/ unlimited km  

CAPPED SERVICING: $1336 over 3 years  

SERVICE INTERVAL: 12 months/15,000km  

SAFETY: 5 stars, 7 airbags  

ENGINE: 1.4-litre 4-cyliner turbo, 110kW/250Nm  

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed DSG; FWD  

THIRST: 6.3L/100km  

DIMENSIONS: 4486mm (L), 1839mm (W), 1648mm (H), 2681mm (WB)  

WEIGHT: 1450kg  

SPARE: Space-saver  

TOWING: 1800kg  

Ford Escape Trend

The 2017 Ford Escape.

PRICE: $39,050 drive-away (as tested)  

WARRANTY: 3 years/ 100,000km  

CAPPED SERVICING: $780 over 3 years  

SERVICE INTERVAL: 12 months/15,000km  

SAFETY: 5 stars, 7 airbags  

ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo, 134kW/240Nm  

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed auto; FWD  

THIRST: 7.2L/100km  

DIMENSIONS: 4524mm (L), 1838mm (W), 1749mm (H), 2690mm (WB)  

WEIGHT: 1607kg  

SPARE: Space-saver  

TOWING: 1500kg    

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Show More

Google product feed - using templates to output XML. I'm 99% there - just need a bit of help...

Read article : Google product feed - using templates to output XML. I'm 99% there - just need a bit of help...

Hi Everyone,

http://showerandbathrooms.co.uk - as the url suggests, we sell stuff for showers and bathrooms... Baths, Showers, Shower trays etc etc...

We sell things which typically have variants. For example: A shower tray will come in at least 3 sizes. A Shower will come in at least 3 different KW. A Bath will come in at least 3 different finishes. The variants all share the same description.

So for our purposes, it made perfect sense to list one product, plus variants, like so: http://showerandbathrooms.co.uk/products/the-radiator-company-ancona-bench-seat

However, we ran into problems when using Shopify's google product feed facility. The feed listed the variants, but advised us that we needed to add a Google Product Type as well as a unique product identifier (one of MPN, UPC, EAN or JAN) for each item. However... Shopify's interface does not give you the ability to add a GPT or MPN to variants...

So shopify lists the products which error, but doesn't give you a way to fix the error....

So I had a think. We've already set the Google-product-type on the main product... (I used the following commands in irb to bulk update the products in each collection...).

products = ShopifyAPI::Product.find( :all, :params => { :collection_id => xxxxxx, :limit => 250 } )

products.size    /// Counts the number of products to see if they match what shopify says is in the collection

products.each { |p| p.add_metafield(ShopifyAPI::Metafield.new({ :description => ' ', :namespace => 'google', :key => 'google_product_type', :value => 'Home & Garden > Pool & Spa > Spas', :value_type => 'string' })); p.save }

By sheer luck, we also used the products MPN as SKU... So each variant has the MPN (inputted as SKU), and the variants parent contains the Google-product-type.

(sorry if this gets confusing)

So I thought I could write a template, which iterates through all the products - and generates an XML google product feed. The theory was I could output the parent's google product type as the product type for the variants... and output each items SKU as MPN.... thus generating a clean feed.

The end result was this http://showerandbathrooms.co.uk/pages/google-product-feed [be careful when clicking - its massive....]

So this is a sample of the output for variants...

        

<item>

                   <title><![CDATA[Aquatora Stormseals]]> <![CDATA[2.3m Roll]]></title>

                   <link>http://showerandbathrooms.co.uk/products/aquatora-stormseal&lt;/link&gt;

                   <description><![CDATA[STORMSEAL is a flexible up-stand seal installed onto the perimeter side walls of the shower tray before final location against adjacent walls. When installed, the up-stand is sandwiched between the wall and tile with a silicone joint between the bottom edge of the tile and ledge giving you a water tight seal.The unique twin liner design eases the installation dramatically while an isolating membrane prevents plasticizer migration the results in the sealant yellowing.]]></description>

                   <g:id>128290552</g:id>

                   <g:condition>New</g:condition>

                   <g:price>36.00 GBP</g:price>

                   <g:availability>in stock</g:availability>

                   <g:image_link>http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0100/4752/products/Storm_Seal_large.jpg?7570&lt;/g:image_link&gt;

                   <g:shipping>

                        <g:country>UK</g:country>

                        <g:service>Standard Free Shipping</g:service>

                        <g:price>0 GBP</g:price>

                    </g:shipping>

                   <g:brand>Aquatora</g:brand>

                   <g:mpn>SS23</g:mpn>

                   <g:google_product_category>Hardware &gt; Plumbing &gt; Plumbing Fixtures &gt; Shower &gt; Shower Bases</g:google_product_category>

                   <g:product_type>Stormseal</g:product_type>

                 </item>

                 

                 

           

           

            <!-- variant Item #2 -->

               

               

                <item>

                   <title><![CDATA[Aquatora Stormseals]]> <![CDATA[2.8m Roll]]></title>

                   <link>http://showerandbathrooms.co.uk/products/aquatora-stormseal&lt;/link&gt;

                   <description><![CDATA[STORMSEAL is a flexible up-stand seal installed onto the perimeter side walls of the shower tray before final location against adjacent walls. When installed, the up-stand is sandwiched between the wall and tile with a silicone joint between the bottom edge of the tile and ledge giving you a water tight seal.The unique twin liner design eases the installation dramatically while an isolating membrane prevents plasticizer migration the results in the sealant yellowing.]]></description>

                   <g:id>128290662</g:id>

                   <g:condition>New</g:condition>

                   <g:price>42.00 GBP</g:price>

                   <g:availability>in stock</g:availability>

                   <g:image_link>http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0100/4752/products/Storm_Seal_large.jpg?7570&lt;/g:image_link&gt;

                   <g:shipping>

                        <g:country>UK</g:country>

                        <g:service>Standard Free Shipping</g:service>

                        <g:price>0 GBP</g:price>

                    </g:shipping>

                   <g:brand>Aquatora</g:brand>

                   <g:mpn>SS28</g:mpn>

                   <g:google_product_category>Hardware &gt; Plumbing &gt; Plumbing Fixtures &gt; Shower &gt; Shower Bases</g:google_product_category>

                   <g:product_type>Stormseal</g:product_type>

                 </item>

               
               
               
               
               
The template I wrote is as follows:

{% layout none %}<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>

<rss xmlns:g="http://base.google.com/ns/1.0" version="2.0">

<channel>

    <title>{{shop.name | escape }} Products</title>

    <description>test</description>

    <link>{{shop.url}}</link>

{% paginate collections.product-feed.products by 1000000 %}

{% for product in collections.product-feed.products %}

 <!-- #{{ forloop.index }} -->

         {% if product.variants.size > 1 %} 

        	{% for variant in product.variants %}

			<!-- variant Item #{{ forloop.index }} -->

				{% if variant.sku == "" %}

				

			      <!-- do nothing - no SKU -->



				{% else %}

				

				<item>

				   <title><![CDATA[{{ product.title | strip_html | strip_newlines | escape | replace: 'amp;', 'and' | replace: '&#38;', 'and' | replace: "é", "e" | replace: "à ", "a" }}]]> <![CDATA[{{ variant.title | strip_html | strip_newlines | escape | replace: 'amp;', 'and' | replace: '&#38;', 'and' | replace: "é", "e" | replace: "à ", "a" }}]]></title>

				   <link>{{shop.url}}{{product.url}}</link>

				   <description><![CDATA[{{ product.description | strip_html | strip_newlines | replace: 'amp;', 'and' | replace: '&#38;', 'and' | replace: "..", ". " | replace: "  ", " " | replace: "‘", "&#39;" | replace: "’", "&#39;" | replace: "&#8216;", "&#39;" | replace: "&#8217;", "&#39;" | replace: "&#8217;", "&#39;" | replace: "’", "&#39;" | replace: "“", "&#39;" | replace: "‘", "&#39;"  | replace: "´", "&#39;" | replace: "“", "&#34;" | replace: "”", "&#34;" | replace: "&#8211;", "-" | replace: "–", "-" | replace: "—", "-" | replace: "–", "&mdash;" | replace: "—", "&mdash;" | replace: "%", "&#37;" | replace: "©", "&copy;" | replace: "®", "&reg;" | replace: "â„¢", "&trade;" | replace: "£", "&pound;" | replace: "ï¿­", "&#42;" | replace: "•", "&#42;" | replace: "”", "&#39;" | replace: "&#233;", "e" | replace: "é", "e" | replace: "à ", "a" | replace: "ó", "o" | replace: "ê", "e" | replace: "Ø", "O" | replace: "&#8482;", "" | replace: "&#174;", "" }}]]></description>

				   <g:id>{{variant.id}}</g:id>

				   <g:condition>New</g:condition>

				   <g:price>{{variant.price | money_without_currency}} GBP</g:price>

				   <g:availability>{% if product.available == true %}in stock{% else %} available for order {% endif %}</g:availability>

				   <g:image_link>{{product.featured_image | product_img_url: 'large'}}</g:image_link>

				   <g:shipping>

						<g:country>UK</g:country>

						<g:service>Standard Free Shipping</g:service>

						<g:price>0 GBP</g:price>

					</g:shipping>

				   <g:brand>{{product.vendor | escape }}</g:brand>

				   <g:mpn>{{variant.sku}}</g:mpn>

				   <g:google_product_category>{{ product.metafields.google.google_product_type | escape }}</g:google_product_category>

				   <g:product_type>{{product.type | escape }}</g:product_type>

				 </item>

				 

				 {% endif %}

			

			{% endfor %}

		  

	  {% else %}

			

		 <!-- parent Item #{{ forloop.index }} -->

		

		{% if product.variants.first.sku == "" %}

				

				<!-- do not output.. no SKU -->



				{% else %}

		 

					<item>

					   <title><![CDATA[{{ product.title | strip_html | strip_newlines | escape | replace: 'amp;', 'and' | replace: '&#38;', 'and' | replace: "é", "e" | replace: "à ", "a" }}]]></title>

					   <link>{{shop.url}}{{product.url}}</link>

					   <description><![CDATA[{{ product.description | strip_html | strip_newlines | replace: 'amp;', 'and' | replace: '&#38;', 'and' | replace: "..", ". " | replace: "  ", " " | replace: "‘", "&#39;" | replace: "’", "&#39;" | replace: "&#8216;", "&#39;" | replace: "&#8217;", "&#39;" | replace: "&#8217;", "&#39;" | replace: "’", "&#39;" | replace: "“", "&#39;" | replace: "‘", "&#39;"  | replace: "´", "&#39;" | replace: "“", "&#34;" | replace: "”", "&#34;" | replace: "&#8211;", "-" | replace: "–", "-" | replace: "—", "-" | replace: "–", "&mdash;" | replace: "—", "&mdash;" | replace: "%", "&#37;" | replace: "©", "&copy;" | replace: "®", "&reg;" | replace: "â„¢", "&trade;" | replace: "£", "&pound;" | replace: "ï¿­", "&#42;" | replace: "•", "&#42;" | replace: "”", "&#39;" | replace: "&#233;", "e" | replace: "é", "e" | replace: "à ", "a" | replace: "ó", "o" | replace: "ê", "e" | replace: "Ø", "O" | replace: "&#8482;", "" | replace: "&#174;", "" }}]]></description>

					   <g:id>{{product.variants.first.id}}</g:id>

					   <g:condition>New</g:condition>

					   <g:price>{{ product.variants.first.price | money_without_currency}} GBP</g:price>

					   <g:availability>{% if product.variants.first.available == true %}in stock{% else %} available for order {% endif %}</g:availability>

					   <g:image_link>{{product.featured_image | product_img_url: 'large'}}</g:image_link>

					   <g:shipping>

							<g:country>UK</g:country>

							<g:service>Standard Free Shipping</g:service>

							<g:price>0 GBP</g:price>

						</g:shipping>

					   <g:brand>{{product.vendor | escape }}</g:brand>

					   <g:mpn>{{ product.variants.first.sku}}</g:mpn>

					   <g:google_product_category>{{ product.metafields.google.google_product_type  | escape }}</g:google_product_category>

					   <g:product_type>{{product.type | escape }}</g:product_type>

					 </item>

				 

				 {% endif %}

		 

		{% endif %}



 

{% endfor %}

{% endpaginate %}

</channel>

</rss>

So, to get this working - I first created a smart collection, which contains ALL our products [set it to include anything with a price over 0].

I then iterated over this collection - pulling  out the required data. Using variant.sku as the mpn - and the parents google product type {{ product.metafields.google.google_product_type | escape }} as the variants google product type.

If a product has variants, then only the variants are outputted. If the product does not have variants, the then product is outputted. This prevents this weird double up, in which the product is also the first variant.

Lastly, I put in something to check to see if the variants has an sku {% if variant.sku == "" %} - because if it doesn't have an sku, then we don't want the variant to appear in our feed (I wrote a separate template to tell me which products don't have an sku - I then update the variant accordingly).

I also get the XML feed to punch out some comments - just so I know it's iterated over the item.

<!-- #693 -->

       

           

         <!-- parent Item #693 -->

       

       

               

                <!-- do not output.. no SKU -->





<!-- #694 -->

       

           

         <!-- parent Item #694 -->

       

       

               

                <!-- do not output.. no SKU -->

This all appears to be working as intended - but I've just noticed a problem... Despite the error checking for SKU, some variants are being outputted.... Note the <g:mpn> ... while other variants are not. Take #78 for example:

          

        	

			

				

				

			      



				

			

			

			

				

				

				<item>

				   <title><![CDATA[Carron Echelon 1700 x 750 Double Ended Bath]]> <![CDATA[5 mm bath with standard front panel]]></title>

				   <link>http://showerandbathrooms.co.uk/products/carron-echelon-1700-x-750-double-ended-bath&lt;/link>

				   <description><![CDATA[The Echelon is 								a smooth, minimalist design with no sharp 								angles and is ideally suited to being fully 								built in but can also be ordered with an 								L-shaped panel if required. The main feature of the bath is its combined 								filler/overflow, the oval design of which 								mirrors the lines of the bath itself.(price includes the overflow filler and click waste as pictured) Size:Length - 1700 mmWidth - 750 mmHeight - 540 mmDepth - 420 mmCapacity - 209 litresDelivery: 2-3 working days. (subject to delivery location)]]></description>

				   <g:id>200223912</g:id>

				   <g:condition>New</g:condition>

				   <g:price>650.39 GBP</g:price>

				   <g:availability>in stock</g:availability>

				   <g:image_link>http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0100/4752/products/Top_1442318_large.jpg?7570&lt;/g:image_link>

				   <g:shipping>

						<g:country>UK</g:country>

						<g:service>Standard Free Shipping</g:service>

						<g:price>0 GBP</g:price>

					</g:shipping>

				   <g:brand>Carron</g:brand>

				   <g:mpn></g:mpn>

				   <g:google_product_category>Hardware &gt; Plumbing &gt; Plumbing Fixtures &gt; Bathtubs</g:google_product_category>

				   <g:product_type>Rectangular Bath</g:product_type>

				 </item>

				 

				 

			

			

			

				

				

				<item>

				   <title><![CDATA[Carron Echelon 1700 x 750 Double Ended Bath]]> <![CDATA[5 mm bath with standard front &and end panel]]></title>

				   <link>http://showerandbathrooms.co.uk/products/carron-echelon-1700-x-750-double-ended-bath&lt;/link>

				   <description><![CDATA[The Echelon is 								a smooth, minimalist design with no sharp 								angles and is ideally suited to being fully 								built in but can also be ordered with an 								L-shaped panel if required. The main feature of the bath is its combined 								filler/overflow, the oval design of which 								mirrors the lines of the bath itself.(price includes the overflow filler and click waste as pictured) Size:Length - 1700 mmWidth - 750 mmHeight - 540 mmDepth - 420 mmCapacity - 209 litresDelivery: 2-3 working days. (subject to delivery location)]]></description>

				   <g:id>200223922</g:id>

				   <g:condition>New</g:condition>

				   <g:price>711.11 GBP</g:price>

				   <g:availability>in stock</g:availability>

				   <g:image_link>http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0100/4752/products/Top_1442318_large.jpg?7570&lt;/g:image_link>

				   <g:shipping>

						<g:country>UK</g:country>

						<g:service>Standard Free Shipping</g:service>

						<g:price>0 GBP</g:price>

					</g:shipping>

				   <g:brand>Carron</g:brand>

				   <g:mpn></g:mpn>

				   <g:google_product_category>Hardware &gt; Plumbing &gt; Plumbing Fixtures &gt; Bathtubs</g:google_product_category>

				   <g:product_type>Rectangular Bath</g:product_type>

				 </item>

				 

				 

			

			

			

				

				

				<item>

				   <title><![CDATA[Carron Echelon 1700 x 750 Double Ended Bath]]> <![CDATA[5 mm bath with Carronite front panel]]></title>

				   <link>http://showerandbathrooms.co.uk/products/carron-echelon-1700-x-750-double-ended-bath&lt;/link>

				   <description><![CDATA[The Echelon is 								a smooth, minimalist design with no sharp 								angles and is ideally suited to being fully 								built in but can also be ordered with an 								L-shaped panel if required. The main feature of the bath is its combined 								filler/overflow, the oval design of which 								mirrors the lines of the bath itself.(price includes the overflow filler and click waste as pictured) Size:Length - 1700 mmWidth - 750 mmHeight - 540 mmDepth - 420 mmCapacity - 209 litresDelivery: 2-3 working days. (subject to delivery location)]]></description>

				   <g:id>200223932</g:id>

				   <g:condition>New</g:condition>

				   <g:price>686.79 GBP</g:price>

				   <g:availability>in stock</g:availability>

				   <g:image_link>http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0100/4752/products/Top_1442318_large.jpg?7570&lt;/g:image_link>

				   <g:shipping>

						<g:country>UK</g:country>

						<g:service>Standard Free Shipping</g:service>

						<g:price>0 GBP</g:price>

					</g:shipping>

				   <g:brand>Carron</g:brand>

				   <g:mpn></g:mpn>

				   <g:google_product_category>Hardware &gt; Plumbing &gt; Plumbing Fixtures &gt; Bathtubs</g:google_product_category>

				   <g:product_type>Rectangular Bath</g:product_type>

				 </item>

				 

				 

			

			

			

				

				

				<item>

				   <title><![CDATA[Carron Echelon 1700 x 750 Double Ended Bath]]> <![CDATA[5 mm bath with Carronite front &and end panel]]></title>

				   <link>http://showerandbathrooms.co.uk/products/carron-echelon-1700-x-750-double-ended-bath&lt;/link>

				   <description><![CDATA[The Echelon is 								a smooth, minimalist design with no sharp 								angles and is ideally suited to being fully 								built in but can also be ordered with an 								L-shaped panel if required. The main feature of the bath is its combined 								filler/overflow, the oval design of which 								mirrors the lines of the bath itself.(price includes the overflow filler and click waste as pictured) Size:Length - 1700 mmWidth - 750 mmHeight - 540 mmDepth - 420 mmCapacity - 209 litresDelivery: 2-3 working days. (subject to delivery location)]]></description>

				   <g:id>200223942</g:id>

				   <g:condition>New</g:condition>

				   <g:price>764.81 GBP</g:price>

				   <g:availability>in stock</g:availability>

				   <g:image_link>http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0100/4752/products/Top_1442318_large.jpg?7570&lt;/g:image_link>

				   <g:shipping>

						<g:country>UK</g:country>

						<g:service>Standard Free Shipping</g:service>

						<g:price>0 GBP</g:price>

					</g:shipping>

				   <g:brand>Carron</g:brand>

				   <g:mpn></g:mpn>

				   <g:google_product_category>Hardware &gt; Plumbing &gt; Plumbing Fixtures &gt; Bathtubs</g:google_product_category>

				   <g:product_type>Rectangular Bath</g:product_type>

				 </item>

				 

				 

			

			

			

				

				

			      



				

			

			

			

				

				

				<item>

				   <title><![CDATA[Carron Echelon 1700 x 750 Double Ended Bath]]> <![CDATA[Carronite bath with standard front panel]]></title>

				   <link>http://showerandbathrooms.co.uk/products/carron-echelon-1700-x-750-double-ended-bath&lt;/link>

				   <description><![CDATA[The Echelon is 								a smooth, minimalist design with no sharp 								angles and is ideally suited to being fully 								built in but can also be ordered with an 								L-shaped panel if required. The main feature of the bath is its combined 								filler/overflow, the oval design of which 								mirrors the lines of the bath itself.(price includes the overflow filler and click waste as pictured) Size:Length - 1700 mmWidth - 750 mmHeight - 540 mmDepth - 420 mmCapacity - 209 litresDelivery: 2-3 working days. (subject to delivery location)]]></description>

				   <g:id>200223962</g:id>

				   <g:condition>New</g:condition>

				   <g:price>895.46 GBP</g:price>

				   <g:availability>in stock</g:availability>

				   <g:image_link>http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0100/4752/products/Top_1442318_large.jpg?7570&lt;/g:image_link>

				   <g:shipping>

						<g:country>UK</g:country>

						<g:service>Standard Free Shipping</g:service>

						<g:price>0 GBP</g:price>

					</g:shipping>

				   <g:brand>Carron</g:brand>

				   <g:mpn></g:mpn>

				   <g:google_product_category>Hardware &gt; Plumbing &gt; Plumbing Fixtures &gt; Bathtubs</g:google_product_category>

				   <g:product_type>Rectangular Bath</g:product_type>

				 </item>

				 

				 

			

			

			

...so I'm really, really confused by this. I've gone and checked the sku field of the variants which are being outputted - and they are empty.... so why would some obey the rule, while others don't...

Very confused - and just need a little help to get over this hurdle.

Many thanks,
Rob