Great SUV for the money
Pros:
Responsive handling, sporty look and feel, good price-point
Cons:
No heated seats available on XLT
The Bottom Line:
Responsive, sporty and good price point
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
Responsive handling, manageable size, and sporty look have been very satisfying.
After researching and test driving at least 12 vehicles (RAV4, Forester, Infinity FX, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Jeep Liberty, etc.) over the course of a year, I finally decided on the 2006 Ford Escape. The combination of having smooth and powerful acceleration, taught handling (i.e., fun to drive), a safety canopy package and a competitive price-point kept bringing me back to the Escape.
I've rented the Escape at least four times, and have always been satisfied at the end of my trips (even though I have a bad back). My concern has always been the Ford name -- will the Escape be reliable? Time will tell -- at least Consumer Reports gave the vehicle a good review for reliability. Their only knock was for a 'tip-up' in government tests. But IIHS tests show it being comparable to most SUVs in rollover risk. I've driven a lot of cars, and it doesn't feel tippy to me.
My only complaint is the inability to have heated seats on the XLT model (heated seats only come on the limited). To me, the Limited loses 'sporty factor' when the bumpers and undercarriage are painted, so I had to choose between the two. Vainly, I chose sporty...
So far, my research has paid off!
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