2015 Ford Escape - Great so far
I had to trade in my Mustang because I was expecting my first baby. The Ford Escape has been a great "mom car" so far. I wanted something cute, but practical and it has fit the bill. The car seat fits behind the passenger seat with a decent amount of legroom still left for a passenger. I can fit the diaper bag on the floor behind the passenger seat too! With a baby comes all sorts of baby gear. We can fit our daughter's exersaucer/jumper in the trunk with the full-size stroller folded up when we make a trip to grandma's. I was worried about how my dogs would do riding with the baby, so it's great to have a car that will accommodate my two cocker spaniels in the "trunk" while I can still see them to keep an eye on them without them being able to get too close to the baby. While the extr... (more)
Historia
My family has taken our Escape to the drive-in movies. We lifted the trunk and sat in the back. It was a great time!
A Favor
This small SUV gets decent gas mileage while still fitting my 6'8" husband, me, our baby, our 2 dogs, and all of our baby's stuff! It's always a struggle to find a vehicle with enough headroom and legroom for my husband. The Escape was one of the few small SUVs he could fit in. I also appreciate having the tinted back windows to keep the sun off my baby girl. I like having multiple USB outlets in the front. My husband and I can both charge our phones at the same time. The climate control works well for us, since I am always colder than he is. I like the vents in the back that have done a g... (more)
En Contra
I had some issues working with Ford when I bought the vehicle, though they seem to be more dealership related than all of Ford. They hadn't gotten my signature on one of my rebates, so Ford wasn't going to reimburse them for it. They incessantly called me and harassed me telling me I had to come back in or they were going to charge me thousands of dollars. As I was 8 months pregnant at the time and still had a full-time job, this rubbed me the wrong way. A different, nicer approach would have definitely been more appreciated. So in terms of customer service for buying a Ford, I was disappo... (more)
2003 Ford Escape - A good solid car.
The vehicle is a 4X4 with 4 wheel drive.
This can be turned on manually.
The power breaks are very reliable.
My main like about this car is the feeling of safety.
The power steering has a natural feel to it.
The interior has held up really well.
The seat covers and trim are still intact.
The mirrors are set up well.
The power adjustment control is very useful.
The dashboard is arranged in a way that is easy to see.
My favorite part is the seats.
They are comfortable and easy to adjust.
There is plenty of legroom and enough headroom.
The center console is setup well and has lots of room.
The back seat is roomy and comfortable.
Historia
The most fun I had in this vehicle was working as a visiting nurse in the country.
Once I was so far out I was nearly out of road. I got outside to look around and noticed a black bear looking at me through the woods. I was glad the car is easy to get into because I broke all records getting back inside.
A Favor
The best features are the air conditioner and heat.
Both of these work very well.
The power steering is easy to use.
The power breaks use just the right amount of pressure.
The headlights work well at night and in low light conditions(such as a tunnel).
I like the color scheme on the outside of the car.
The interior colors are pleasant and not distracting.
The carpet in the floorboards has held up well.
The fabric in the ceiling is still in place.
The door handles and the hatchback door are all still working.
The wiper blades, front and back, are placed well and work in bad weather.
... (more)
En Contra
It is difficult to see when backing up.
I once broke the rear window on a trash bin due to poor visibility.
Another problem is that the interior lights don't come on automatically when the door is opened.
A switch must be used to turn them on.
I have had trouble with the cruise control switch.
The cruise control itself works great but the switch placement is a problem.
When I get out of the car my coat will hang on the switch and pull the cover off.
This has happened twice because it sticks out too far.
The gas mileage could be better.
It has plenty of power but it really sucks down ... (more)
2009 Ford Escape - Reliable, durable, efficient SUV.
I have put over 60,000 miles on this car. It's currently at 123,000 with no huge repairs ever needed. Because it's a 4 cyl the gas mileage is really, really good. I get about 27 mpg highway. It was a fleet vehicle before I bought it, so that impresses me even more. I've never had any electrical issues at all with it. Everything is still in really great condition and works exactly how it should. One of the best features Ford started with the 2009 Escape is the sync feature. It syncs effortlessly with my phone for audio playback (I have an Android). It came with Sirius XM. It has never broken down on me. I always keep the display on Miles Until Empty and it's very generous. I do remember on cold mornings the transmission being a little jumpy when shifting gears. It holds 5 easy, but I la... (more)
Historia
I packed my car so full there was only a little cubby hole space for my yoke. I could only see out the front window and my side. I looked ridiculous and the car couldn't tell how much weight was being put on the tires. I did that for 2000 miles.
A Favor
Absolutely the gas mileage. At least 23 mpg city. It has a decent tow capacity. Came with a nice roof rack. Any routine maintenance or small repairs were pretty cheap because it's a Ford. When you lay down all the seats, you can surprisingly move most of the contents of a one bedroom apartment (minus the big furniture). I know, because I did it!
En Contra
I don't like the fabric interior of mine. I wish it were leather. It's not 4x4, if that's something you need.
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Autolist rating: 4/5
But would we buy it? Yep!
Price range: $26,080 - $34,595, including destination but before options
The Ford Escape is a compact crossover that has been around for nearly twenty years. Originally sold alongside the now-discontinued Mazda Tribute, the Escape outlasted its twin and has become Ford’s most popular non-truck vehicle.
Within Ford’s lineup, the Escape is larger than the subcompact EcoSport but smaller than the premium Edge and the three-row Explorer and Expedition SUVs.
The Escape is aimed at new car buyers wanting advanced technologies and a spacious interior in a still-compact SUV. It competes against the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue, Chevrolet Equinox, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Subaru Forester.
The Escape is available in five trim levels: S, SE, SE Sport, SEL, and Titanium. The new Escape is lower, wider, and longer than the outgoing model. The grille and front fascia are prominently shaped and help the Escape stand out in a crowd.
Two gas engines are available: a 1.5-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder engine that has 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, or a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder that produces 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque.
Both engines’ power output is rated using 93 octane (premium) fuel. When properly equipped, the Escape can tow up to 3,500 pounds as well.
These engines are both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission; on the 2.0-liter turbo, the gearbox also has paddle shifters for manual control.
Front-wheel-drive is standard on the base engine, while all-wheel-drive is optional. AWD comes standard on the larger, 2.0-liter engine.
The new Escape comes with selectable drive modes and all trims come standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 advanced driver assistance technology.
A head-up display is available for the first time, as is a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster. The Escape can also be equipped with active parking assist and evasive steering assist, both of which Ford says are first-in-class features.
TLDR: Spacious and comfy, with generous standard safety and assistance technology.
Roomy: The new Escape has sliding rear seats and up to 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space, which is enough for a full-size dog crate or four large golf bags. The interior feels spacious and airy, with plenty of head and legroom for four full-size adults. Headroom is generous, and with the available panoramic roof, the cabin seems much larger than it actually is. The rear seat will present no problems loading and unloading child seats as well, made even easier by large rear door openings.
Smart: Standard advanced driver assist systems like Ford’s Co-Pilot360 are a welcome addition to any vehicle, especially when they’re included in every trim level. The system includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitors, lane-keep assist, post-collision braking, automatic high beams, and a backup camera. In our testing with the Titanium trim’s available features, the lane centering and stop-and-go traffic assist worked well, helping us navigate rush hour traffic on a busy highway with relative ease. Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system is also one of the best in the business, with responsive actions, colorful menus, and an intuitive setup. We only wish adaptive cruise control was made available on all trim levels, as is the case with many of the Escape’s competitors.
Comfort: The Escape was designed for comfort, not performance, and that’s a good thing for its target audience. The seats are wide and soft, almost to a fault, and the interior has soft-touch materials where it matters. The suspension does its job well, soaking up all but the worst of what the road has to offer, and the choice to go with a slightly smaller wheel with more tire improves the ride even more.
TLDR: Gets pricey in higher trims, is a little noisy inside and a little hard to see out of.
Noise Level: This is a small fault, but one worth mentioning. At highway speeds, there’s a noticeable amount of wind noise that seeps into the cabin, and small bumps make themselves known. Though you’ll be comfortable, you’ll still hear too many of the road’s imperfections. It’s not unbearable by any means, but it’s there.
Outward visibility: Depending on the driver’s height, there may be issues with side and rear visibility. In our testing, taller drivers found that the B-pillar (the one between the front and rear doors) was no problem, but that the sloping roof reduced rear visibility slightly. Shorter drivers remarked that the rear visibility was not an issue, but that the B-pillar obstructed their side views when the seat was adjusted to their driving position.
Costly: In higher trim levels, the Escape can hit the $40,000 mark. That number puts it awfully close to many premium brands’ starting prices, which could push many buyers toward a more luxurious choice. It’s true that many competitors’ vehicles reach similar prices, but at that level the value proposition starts to become cloudy.
Safety Features? YES
Value? NO
Efficiency? YES
Driving experience? YES
Execution? YES
The base Escape S has a starting price of $26,080 including destination, and comes with a 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine, an eight-speed automatic transmission, rotary gear shifter, Co-Pilot360 safety systems, two USB ports, selectable drive modes, Ford SYNC infotainment, a 4G LTE hotspot, LED taillights, chrome exhaust tips, and sliding second-row seats.
The Escape SE starts at $28,290 including destination, and adds an eight-inch touchscreen, SYNC 3 with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, stop-and-go assist with adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, 17-inch wheels, LED lighting, heated front seats, automatic climate controls, and keyless entry.
The Escape SEL starts at $30,450 including destination and includes a hands-free liftgate with foot activation, 18-inch wheels, memory seats and mirrors, a reverse sensing system, a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote start, and fog lights.
The Escape Titanium starts at $34,595 including destination and comes with active park assist, 19-inch wheels, a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a B&O sound system, voice-activated navigation, dual-zone climate controls, leather upholstery, a universal garage door opener, ambient lighting, and LED fog lights.
If it were our money, we would buy the Escape SEL, which brings a long list of convenience features without a sky-high price tag.
The compact crossover segment is full of strong competition for the Escape since it’s one of the most popular segments in the industry. Many brands are moving toward making only crossovers, trucks, and SUVs, so all automakers have focused on improving their offerings in those segments.
The Toyota RAV4 was all-new for 2019 with stronger styling and updated tech. The new Adventure trim also makes the RAV4 a compelling choice for people wanting a somewhat off-road-ready crossover.
The Honda CR-V stacks up well against all competitors and has won many critics’ top-buy award. It’s spacious, well-equipped, and has excellent reliability ratings.
The Mazda CX-5 benefits from the company’s move toward upscale design and features for all of its vehicles. The interior is top-notch and is extremely comfortable. The CX-5 is also one of the most engaging compact crossovers to drive, with excellent handling, strong acceleration, and decent fuel economy.
The Subaru Forester was new for 2019, and though many might overlook it as a quirky niche vehicle, there’s plenty going for it. Subaru’s EyeSight safety tech is standard, as is all-wheel drive, which makes the Forester a great choice for buyers in colder climates.
