2009 Ford Escape

The new Ford Escape comes with either a V-6 or four-cylinder engine. It gets 17-22 mpg in the city and 24-26 on the highway.
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2009 Ford Escape
2009 Ford Escape from the driver's seat (Courtesy of Ford Motors)
10/14/2008
Updated:
10/14/2008
<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/fordsnow_medium.JPG"><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/fordsnow_medium.JPG" alt="2009 Ford Escape handles well in all weather conditions. (Courtesy of Ford Motors)" title="2009 Ford Escape handles well in all weather conditions. (Courtesy of Ford Motors)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-75003"/></a>
2009 Ford Escape handles well in all weather conditions. (Courtesy of Ford Motors)
The new Ford Escape comes with either a V-6 or four-cylinder engine. It gets 17-22 mpg in the city and 24-26 on the highway. I drove the Limited 4 WD with 240-hp and the 3.0 L IVCT Durante V-6 Engine and the 6-speed automatic. There is a Hybrid Version that gets around 40 mpg with the electric mode.

The exterior of the car was Black Clearcoat, while the interior was charcoal with leather-trimmed bucket seats.

A recent consumer report asked Ford customers what they thought about the Escape. On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest, customers gave the Escape top marks in comfort, performance, handling, features, value for the money, and reliability.

Ford offers three warranties for its products:      3-yr/36,000 mile bumper to bumper, 5-yr/60,000 mile powertrain, or 5-yr/60,000 mile roadside assistance. 

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2009 Ford Escape from the driver's seat (Courtesy of Ford Motors)
The exterior of the Escape is built more like the Explorer, but smaller and with more chrome features. The 2009 appears to stand tall and looks tougher than last year’s model. The Escape is 174.7 inches long and 71.1 inches wide, making it the shortest of all its competitors.

Things I liked about the Escape:

  • SYNC Voice Activated System
  • ambient lighting
  • privacy glass
  • the capless fuel refueling nozzle

There were some things that I didn’t like about the Escape. I never could get the mileage that I was supposed to get, whether in the city or highway. The steering column doesn’t telescope, so if you like to drive with the seat closer or further back than average, you cannot get a clear view of the control panels. The Escape also rode a little bumpy on road surfaces that were somewhat smooth. Its short length may account for this.

The Escape boasts an array of standard safety features:

  • automatic headlamps
  • integrated side step bar
  • reverse sensing system
  • best ratings given for front seat and crash by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The 2009 Ford Escape basic price ranges from $20,100-$27,330. The one I drove was priced at $26,540, and had more than enough features and comforts.

Durhl Caussey writes a car column read around the world. He may be reached at this paper or [email protected] .