Crossover, schmossover. Sometimes, what you really need is an honest-to-goodness truck. Something that you can get dirty, that's willing to work hard whether there's a road or not. And with gas prices being what they are, sometimes it would be nice if that truck didn't have a huge V8 under the hood.
Some folks are going to breathe a sigh of relief that we've still got the Ford Escape around to fill that role. Others are going to roll their eyes and mutter something like, "So this is what we've come to--a Ford Escape is considered a truck now," but those people tend to be driving things like International Scouts and 1970s Chevrolet Blazers with the roofs removed. Not that an International Scout isn't cool, but it's more closely related to farm equipment than something you'd want to drive to the mall.
The Ford Escape, on the other hand, will be right at home in the mall parking lot, and it'll follow that old Scout across a muddy field as well. The Escape benefits from a round of updates for 2009, including a new, more powerful engine and a new six-speed automatic transmission. It may look cute and cuddly, but Ford's smallest SUV isn't afraid to get its hands dirty with work.
The ready-to-work attitude is communicated by the new exterior. The fashionable 2008 toughening-up left the Escape with gear-like side cladding and a strong face. The Escape's tall-roofed, blocky silhouette hasn't changed since its introduction, but constant styling updates have kept it looking modern. For 2009, there's a bold chrome eggcrate that links the Escape to the rest of Ford's truck lineup flanked by large single headlamps.
The interior resembles that of the Flex crossover, with whom the Escape shares showroom space, right down to the available ambient lighting. There's a fair amount of low-budget plastic, but that contributes to the Escape's work-ready, durable feel. Comfortable seating for up to five is provided, and cloth seat covers seem to make the most sense--especially since they're made from eco-friendly materials. The rear seats fold down to create a 66.3 cubic-foot cargo area. The process is somewhat fussy, but they do fold flat once the headrests are removed. More convenient is the new Easy Fuel caples fuel filler, which doesn't have an internal gap cap to remove (or lose). Ford has made its SYNC mulit-connectivity system available on the Escape, and it'll talk to your Bluetooth phone, iPod or other MP3 player with ease. Sirius satellite radio and a navigation system are also available, though the options can result in an extremely pricey little trucklet.
The Escape is available with a choice of four- or six-cylinder engines. A new 2.5 liter four-cylinder is the entry-level powerplant, with 171 horsepower and variable intake cam timing. Electronic throttle control also helps to keep things more efficient, and the new engine is torquier than last year's 2.3 liter four-cylinder while improving fuel economy. The 3.0 liter V6 is the range-topper, and it's been revised as well, boosting output to 240 horsepower. That 40-horse gain translates to ample urge for the 3400-pound Escape, but it also feels smoother thanks to the new six-speed automatic transmission. The new transmission is designed to improve efficiency while cruising, and thanks to the additional gear, the Escape's freeway legs are much longer than before. A five-speed manual is also available on four-cylinder Escapes.
Driving and maneuvering is easy--the Escape is very friendly ‘round town. The suspension is fully independent, with MacPherson struts up front and double lateral trailing arms at the rear. A new stabilizer bar at the rear improves handling. The setup is a good one, offering a stable ride that's comfortable on pavement while offering 8.4 inches of ground clearance for off-road adventures. The Escape has been an unusually responsive and fun to drive sport-ute from day one, and that quality is maintained in the updated model.
Anti-lock brakes are standard, as is Ford's AdvanceTrac stability control suite. The Escape is already a decent handler, and AdvanceTrac helps to scrub the last vestiges of SUV-tippiness from its road manners. Tighter, more nimble and more efficient electric power steering is also a new addition, and it's standard across the board.
The Escape is more SUV than crossover, and has a truckish feeling to it. But hey, sometimes a tiny truck is exactly what you want. Considering the state of the economy, small is definitely beautiful; the Escape's capability is wrapped up in a small, reasonably fuel-efficient and affordable package. My V6-equipped test car returned 26 mpg on the freeway, and stickered for $27,355 with a decent level of equipment. V6 Escape pricing starts at $23,740.
Specifications:
Base price: $23,740
Price as tested: $27,355
Engine: 3.0 liter DOHC V6
Drivetrain: six-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Horsepower: 240 @ 6550
Torque: 223 @ 4300
Est. mileage: 18/26
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