I've had this car for about a year (just over a year) and I love it. The engine is very responsive, especially in the sport mode. I almost always drive in the sport mode as it provides more control to the car, and greater gas mileage. I average about 24MPG on any day. The sound system is great, providing amazing clarity and bass (which I have an affinity for). The only thing I really dislike about the car is the software. There is no live MPG gauge like in a Prius, or other new cars, and there is no way to set Bluetooth as the default media option. Every time I get in the car I have to hit the voice button and say Bluetooth audio. Also, the screen doesn't show song information when playing via Bluetooth audio. The back-up camera is standard and is great in the summer, but is completely useless in snowy or muddy weather due to its location just above the license plate. The rear windshield wiper is very frustrating in the winter as it is located on the bottom of the windshield and gets an ice build up very easily, and is very hard to clear the ice off as the wiper doesn't move more than an inch or two away from the windshield. Also the rear wiper fluid tends to take about 15 seconds to start spraying after pressing the button. Other than that the car is great, awesome handling, all wheel drive, etc.

Our Escape has proved to be highly functional for my family of four, in many different conditions. We have packed it to the gills. We have driven it on wilderness roads and beaches. We have taken it through some serious snow, as we live in Maine. Through all of this, it has performed admirably and has only needed routine maintenance as it now approaches 40,000 miles. The one downside is that it does ride a bit on the loud and rough side when traveling on the highway.