4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
2002 Escape: A Satisfying Vehicle
Date of Review: May 20, 2007
The Bottom Line: Thumbs up. If you need an SUV that is roomy and comfortable yet handles well and is easy to park, the Escape is for you.
Our current Escape, a silver 2002 XLT FWD with the 3.0 liter V-6, is actually our third Escape. We ordered one for my wife when they first came out in 2000. That one was a red XLT with the 3.0 liter V-6 and 4WD. It had most available options except for moonroof.
About a year later I traded in my 1998 Explorer Sport on a 2001 Escape XLS with 4WD. I love to shift for myself so I got an Escape with a manual transmission. Unfortunately, Ford only offers a manual with the four cylinder engine and those early Escapes came with a fairly raucus and underpowered 2.0 liter four. Ford later switched to a larger four cylinder with more horsepower. I have never driven one of those but I would certainly avoid the 2.0 liter engine on those earlier Escapes.
After my wife put nearly 70,000 on her first Escape, we found a nice used 2002 with hardly any miles on it. We made the trade and she has been enjoying it ever since.
Our experiences with V-6 Escapes have been extremely satisfying. The engine is very responsive and offers plenty of power. It isn't as refined or smooth as a Japanese V-6 would be, but it's easy to live with. Gas mileage is comparable to a mid-size car. We're getting around 18-19 in town and a good 25-26 on the highway. Handling is sharp and crisp and the short overall length making parking a breeze.
The tall design and higher ride height make getting in and out easy and gives you a commanding view of the road. The interior is comfortable and roomy with a surprisingly roomy rear seat area. Front seat cushions are quite comfortable on long trips. Cargo room in the back is generous but the earlier Escapes have no hidden storage under the load floor. Build and assembly quality are pretty good but the quality of materials leaves a bit to be desired: You are surrounded by cheap, hard plastics. Durable and easy to clean, but pretty it ain't. (Ford finally is giving the Escape an attractive new interior for 2008.)
All three of our Escapes were part of a recall over the brake system and two of them actually had the problem. It was, of course, quickly corrected, hassle-free. Otherwise, all three of them proved to be utterly reliable and none of them have required anything other than routine maintenance.
Would we buy another Escape? Actually we just ordered a 2008 Escape Hybrid.
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