![]() Horrible interior stying/center stack designĪfter 8 years of ownership my Escape is still performing really well. Jerky transmission when starting from a stop Other than some pretty stupid interior design (center stack mainly) and cheap materials, as well as an occasionally jerky transmission the vehicle is near perfect. But this thing is so smooth and nice on the road, the road noise is low (compared to my wife's Civic which is ridiculously loud), and the steering is so soft and fluid you can control the the vehicle with a single finger. My legs get cramped up or my back starts to hurt a little after only 20 minutes of driving. In 6 years I've yet to get the seat/steering position perfect. On the other hand, … it is uncomfortable to sit in. The Escape is a challenge to rate for two main reasons: It is extremely reliable, has almost no mechanical issues, is smooth and fluid on the road and provides almost everything I need as far as cargo and transportation goes. These are the only two vehicles I've ever owned and I've been driving 15 years. I bought my Escape used in Sep 2010 to replace my 98 Grand Prix. Along with models such as the Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander, Saturn Vue and Toyota RAV4, you'll want to give the Escape a look. But it still has a lot going for it in terms of performance, comfort and style. The poor panic braking performance prevents us from giving the 2009 Ford Escape our full endorsement. That distance is about 25 feet longer than the class average and a decidedly poor showing for an ABS-equipped vehicle. Our testing of an '08 Escape resulted in a best stop from 60 mph taking a very lengthy 154 feet. However, last year's backward step of fitting the Escape with rear drum brakes still stands, and braking performance is subpar. The new engines and transmission handily address previous complaints of merely adequate acceleration and mediocre fuel economy. The new six-speed automatic further optimizes the Escape's performance as well as its fuel economy - which, according to Ford, goes up 1-2 mpg. Tweaks to the 3.0-liter V6 bump it up to a stout 240 hp. The inline-4 sees an increase in size - up to 2.5 liters versus the previous 2.3 - which contributes to its greater output, now rated at 170 horsepower. Cruise control and antilock brakes, formerly optional on the lower trims, become standard across the line. This year also brings a capless fuel filler and Ford's Sync system (which allows voice activation of audio, navigation and phone functions). But the chassis remained virtually unchanged, apart from the poor decision to change the rear brakes from a disc setup to drum brakes, which hurt the Escape's maximum braking performance.įor 2009, the Ford Escape gets the brawn to match its handsome new duds, including more powerful engines, a new six-speed automatic transmission and a more athletic suspension tuning. Last year, the Escape received a complete cosmetic makeover, lending the ute a tougher look more in keeping with Ford's bigger trucks. ![]() But Ford has recently been putting in an effort to keep its Escape relevant. The competition got bigger and stronger while the Escape soldiered on without a major redesign. ![]() Since those earlier glory days, however, the Escape's fortunes haven't been as kind. It's been a strong seller for Ford, often to the point of being the best-selling compact SUV in America. ![]() With its just-right size, peppy available V6, well-balanced chassis and tough looks, it stood out in a class of chiefly dull four-cylinder entrants. Right out of the gate, this loveable little ute was a front-runner. It may be hard to believe, but the Ford Escape compact SUV debuted almost a decade ago. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |