New Ford Escape owner as of Saturday.

I had been going back and forth about getting a small SUV. We used to have a Kia Sportage that was totaled in an accident. Replaced it with an F-150. Then, after my Kia Optima got rear-ended, it was replaced with a Mustang GT Convertible.


My wife won't drive the Mustang, she doesn't like being that low and the limited sight. Wife likes being higher and feels safe in the F-150 4x4 SuperCrew as her daily driver. While she likes being up high, she hated having to park it and wouldn't go into congested urban areas due to size and limited clearances. If I have the truck she is stranded, if I want to take off in the truck for camping or whatever, needed to get her a rental.


So I decided to look into small yutes again. After looking at Kia, Hyundai, and Ford I settled on the Escape. I know the Escape has been mentioned in a few threads here with LBJ's being the most informative. Seems like it always get good reviews here and online from the car sites as well.


Got what I think was a good deal on a 2018 Titanium in Lightning Blue with Charcoal Black leather interior. Loaded with every avail option *except* cargo liner, wheel locks, and mud flaps. Has the 2.0L EcoBoost turbo engine, 4WD, 19" wheels, big panoramic sun roof, the high-end techno/safety packages, and tow package. Stickered at $38,370 but after rebates, discounts, and haggling settled on $30,470 before tax/license.

When we did the test drive, it had just 8 miles on it. As of now I have 130 and I am pretty impressed with the ride and features. Love the color, if I had a choice it is what I would have gotten for my Mustang. Only thing I would change if I could would be to forego the 19" wheels, but that is what was on it. I think it would look better with black wheels instead of silver, but not enough to scrap the stockers for after market.

It's got a few more bells and whistles than the Mustang such as auto park and lane assist, but many of the controls and features are the same so it shouldn't be a steep learning curve.

Good looking ride. So how does she like it?

I do like the color. Have to be in Ford/Dodge dealer on Wen so I will take a look. Thinking about replace my 2013 Edge

That’s a good-looking vehicle!

You all will really enjoy it. We bought a fully decked out 2013 new for a bit to replace my wife’s Mustang when we found out 1st baby was on the way.
We only kept it a bit over a year because of size.
With the rear facing car seat and the running BOB stroller the Escape became rather small.
Was a bit sad to see it go but stepped to the Highlander for a bit more size.

Very good traveling vehicle and all around town little bugger.

When we were in the market for a compact SUV we looked at those and drove one. We liked it but the wife settled on the CR-V. The Escape would have been our second choice.

Very nice!

Wife loves it, really is "Her" vehicle, but I will be driving it a good bit as well.

Working graves, I can drive whatever to work unless she has a morning appointment. I try to avoid bad winter weather in the Mustang and take the truck at least 2-3 days a week to try and keep Mustang miles in check (90 mile RT commute). Having a third vehicle now will help by splitting miles across all three. I'll probably end up driving it or the truck to work most of the time, especially in the winter and leave the cover on the Mustang. Most of the time when out together we take the truck, that will change and the Escape will be the "errand" vehicle.


Obviously not as high of a ride as the F-150, but higher then the Mustang and when she cranks the drivers seat to max height it puts her up enough to see well and be happy. Nice big windshield gives good forward visibility, side/rear visibility is pretty good as well.


Wife has mono-vision after eye surgery so she has a problem with depth perception. This is part of her "issues" trying to park. One of the neat features is that since the Escape has the Auto Park option, it has the parking sensors all around the car, not just the rear bumper for backing up.

Even if you don't use auto park, at slow speeds the sensors are all active and show you proximity to other cars, objects, or curb full 360 degrees. She is always paranoid of not knowing where the front bumper is and hitting something when pulling into a parking space. Now, once she gets 28" away, it lights up and lets her know how much room she has.


Size-wise it is 3" longer, 1" taller, and 1" narrower than the Sportage was but it feels bigger inside. Less slope front and rear compared to the Sportage seems to be the key for "feeling" bigger. The cargo area is definitely larger. My guess is more room in the rear because it is much shorter in the engine area than the Sportage was.

With the Sportage, the rear seats had to be down to get the two dogs (Border Collie and Aussie) in the back. They will easily fit in the Escape leaving the rear seats up.

While not a "family" SUV, especially if still in car-seat and stroller ages, it is perfect for a "retirement on the horizon" senior couple. Good size for the Costco and Home Depot runs, weekend get away or to load my camera gear in when doing my side gig.


Final "Happy Wife, Happy Life" features - Remote Start and heated seats. Mustang has this and any time I used it, I got the stink eye because her truck wasn't able to do it. Finally able to shut her up on those cold winter mornings.

In fact she has one-upped me now since the Escape adds heated steering wheel and "Programmed starts" via a connected phone app - Yup, set the Keurig to have coffee ready in the morning when you get downstairs, set the alarm on your iPhone to wake you up, and program the car to start at 7:40 am so it is warmed up, defrosted, and ready for you to head out at zero eight. Life don't get any easier than that!


Very impressed with how quiet the ride was on freeway and cement. On blacktop it is damn near silent. Put the transmission in "Sport" mode and it is a hoot to scoot. Sways a little more in the corners than the Mustang though


The color was her first choice (mine as well). It was a "This One Only" ad special at the dealership (Dealer "A") and the other nearby dealership (Dealer "B") had essentially the same car with same options (less rubber floor mats and cargo cover) in Magnetic Metallic (same color as my Mustang) with a sticker of $38,110.

Dealer "B" ad price was $29,995 vs. Dealer "A" ad price of $32,120. We came in, test drove, told them I wasn't going to mess around back and forth. We preferred the Blue, but not for $2K+ difference. I bought my F150 at Dealer "A" and my Mustang at Dealer "B", no particular loyalty to either of them and use both for service based on who has apt avail that match my schedule.

Told Dealer "A" if they match Dealer "B' price and I will buy it right here and now, easiest sale you will make today with no trade, no financing issues, and no haggle.

They didn't quite match it, but after taking the floor mats and cargo cover into account were only $215 more. For a $215 difference though (with a full tank of gas), it was worth it for the color we wanted and not having to head to the other dealer and start over.

Have driven a number of Ford Escapes and find them to be a very nice little vehicle. I hope you get many enjoyable miles out of yours.

I recently concluded that I'm "nose blind" when it comes to mini SUVs. From the side, I can't tell one make or model from another. So to me, the important things are the features, the ride and the view.

Quite nice & sounds like you got a good deal as well.

If we didn't regularly use the 3rd row in our Flex, something like this would be perfect for us. Averaging around 17-19mpg in the Flex (lots of in-town driving) sucks & a more efficient turbo-4 would be nice.

We'll be in the market for a replacement for the Flex in the not too distant future, closing in on 100k miles.

Really like the color you picked. I have a 2010 Escape and like the size for driving around town.

quote:

Decided to make my wife happy

That's something you can decide?

I drove an Escape, but bought the Edge. I just liked the bigger size. It was for my wife also.

Tabitha demanded the Juke.

So far, I am very happy with it.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:

quote:

Decided to make my wife happy

That's something you can decide?

Only for short periods of time on an occasional basis

Joke time:

This guy decides to make his wife happy and give her a watch. The clerk in the jewelry store had a speech impediment.
Clerk: Why don't you give her a nice Gruen?
Guy: I did but she still wants a new watch.

I have a 2014 Titanium package and love it!

115,000 miles of trouble free driving so far.

You got a great price.

I'm ready for brakes and a third set of tires

My wife just got a 2017 Escape Titanium in the lightning blue. She loves it.

I love that color!

TITLE EDIT...

“I decided to make myself happy - bought wife a new car”