2011 Ford Escape

Back in 2001, the Ford Escape was introduced, it was a great hit. It had just the right size, pleasant driving dynamics and an available V6. It led a trend because there were not so many choices for affordable compact SUV’s. However, with the competition nowadays, age is catching up on the 2011 Ford Escape.

Nevertheless, there are many things positive about the Ford Escape. Most find it attractive inside and out. Tech-savvy people may be enticed by the technological features for both function and entertainment. There are also the MyKey and Auto Park options (more on these later).

Engine & Performance

The Ford Escape trims all have a standard 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine that provides 171 horsepower. A 240 horsepower 3.0 liter V6 engine is available on all except the base XLS. It is paired with a five-speed transmission which is manual or six-speed transmission on automatic.

The Escape’s performance is well below class leaders. There were complaints about its ride, which is not very smooth compared to newer crossovers.

The fuel economy of the Escape is good for its class. The front-wheel drive four cylinder model scores 22/28 mpg city/highway in manual and 21/28 mpg with the automatic. All wheel drive four cylinder models score 20/26 with the automatic.

The Ford Escape drives nicely but falls behind in sophistication and mechanical finesse compared to newer models. However, parking and low-speed maneuvers are easy to do thanks to the electronic power steering.

Exterior

The design for the 2011 Ford Escape’s exterior has not changed since the 2008 redesign. The looks leans more towards the truck types rather than a crossover. These may be a good point depending on the taste of the consumer.

Interior

The interior design of the Escape is laced with softer materials. However, it still stirs up varied opinions from consumers and reviewers.

The Escape offers five seats which make it spacious but other features could have been added for more comfort. The non-sliding seats in the rear make passengers unable to opt for more legroom. The base model only has a physical two-way driver’s seat which might make it hard for the driver to sit comfortably.

Parents have a friend in the MyKey system. It is a feature that allows them to set speed limits and stereo volumes on the Escape.

Parallel parking would also be more convenient thanks to the Auto Park feature. It enables the vehicle to parallel park itself with very little driver involvement.

Safety & Reliability

The 2011 Escape has not been crash tested yet but its predecessor scored five stars out of five in the front, as well as the side crash, tests. This can also be expected on the 2011 models because of standard features such as antilock brakes, traction control, stability controls, front-seat side airbags and full length curtain-type airbags. The Escape’s frontal-offset and side tests got a “Good”. It was given “Marginal” on the roof strength tests.

The new Ford Escape gets a seven out of ten score in the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. It comes with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The Competition

The Escape’s competitors have increased significantly from the past years. The Toyota RAV4 (MSRP $22,475; 22 city / 28 hwy) has a larger cargo space, more horsepower and optional third-row seats. The Escape is cheaper, though.

Consumers may also take a look at the Honda CR-V(MSRP $21,895; 21 city/ 28 hwy). It also has extra cargo space and its base engine is more powerful than the Ford’s but it doesn’t have a V6 option so consumers needing more power can just go with the Escape.

The cheaper Hyundai Santa Fe (MSRP $21,845; city 20/ 28 hwy) has better gas mileage and longer warranty than the Escape so it’s also a good option.

Pros & Con

To summarize, the 2011 Ford Escape has good points in fuel economy and technological features while it comes short in terms of interior versatility. The interior controls may also be confusing for some.

Overall Rating
68 out of 100

What others say:

“The Escape has a roomy interior, a spacious rear seat, and good cargo space. Fit and finish is unimpressive, and the car is noisy. The V6 provides strong acceleration and 19 mpg overall.”Consumer Reports

“The Ford Escape is a compact crossover SUV that offers a tall, boxy layout that’s good for passengers and cargo plus just enough ruggedness for very light off-roading.”The Car Connection

“The 2011 Ford Escape sees no major changes. This compact SUV is a 5-passenger, 4-door wagon that includes a liftgate with opening glass. It lends its basic design to the Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute.”Consumer Guide

“The Escape’s sturdy 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is surprisingly capable of moving the little SUV’s weight with relative ease. But, if strong passing power and quick acceleration are more important than fuel economy, we recommend the optional 3.0-liter V6.”KBB

Specifications

General Info
Vehicle Type: SUV Base Price: $ 21,240.00
Fuel Tank Capacity: 17.5 gallons Miles Per Gallon: 23 city / 28 hwy
Dimensions
Length: 174.7 in. (444 cm) Width: 71.1 in. (181 cm)
Height: 67.9 in. (172 cm) Weight: 3231 lbs (1466 kg)
Wheel Base: 103.1 in. (262 cm) Ground Clearance: 8.4 in. (21 cm) unladen
Luggage Capacity: Max. Cargo Vol. 67.2 cu ft Maximum Seating: 5
Performance
Engine: 2.5L Duratec I-4 Compression Ratio: 9.7:1
Horsepower: 171 hp Max RPM: 6000 rpm
Torque: 171 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm Transmission: 5-speed manual
0-60 mph: N/A 1/4 Mile: N/A
Available Trims & Engine
Option:XLS 2.5L Duratec I-4 MSRP: $24,670; MPG: 19 city / 25 hwy
Option:Limited 2.5L Duratec I-4 MSRP: $26,277; MPG: 18 city / 23 hwy
Option:Hybrid MSRP: $30,570; MPG: 34 city / 31 hwy
Option:Hybrid Limited MSRP: $33,080; MPG: 30 city / 27 hwy

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