I have owned and driven a lot of different vehicles over the years. Many of them 2wd and 4wd suv's. From the typical suburbanite suv to the bone jarring, off road specific, 4wd. Being in the market for a compact suv I checked out several different makes. I settled on the 4wd Escape. And I could not be more pleased. The ride is firm but not to stiff. It handles rough railroad tracks and bad back roads without sending you sideways. Steering is tight and responsive. No problem with body sway. The fit and finish is flawless. And the 200 horse V6 gives it an excellent power to weight ratio. Acceleration and braking is great. Interior noise is the same as others I have driven. This is an suv, not a car. The fold flat back seat gives it plenty of storage room. One feature not many people consider important is the spare tire being stowed inside the vehicle versus hanging out the back or underneath. Yes some storage space is compromised by having the tire inside, but consider the alternatives (been there,done that). Tires hanging off the back create two problems. One is restricted access to the lift gate and the other is damage. Even a minor rearender could badly damage the lift gate. A bumper may be rated for a 5 mph impact, but the lift gate is not. Then there is the, "crawl on the ground to get the spare from under the vehicle", method. This is something to consider.
Amount Paid (US$): 24,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2004