2001 Ford Escape

Since Ford Motor Company needs all the positive press it can muster these days, I know they're thankful for the new Excape. Make that, Escape. After the Excursion, Expedition and Explorer, I get confused. But there's no confusing this compact with some others in its class. The Escape takes the pared-down sport utility and beefs it up into a much more satisfying, comfortable and responsive vehicle. It elevates the breed from being an alternative for the young and/or underfunded into a vehicle anyone might consider.
The unibody Escape was designed with plenty of help from Mazda, who gets its own version called the Tribute. Like much of the competition, they rely largely on car components.

The Escape I tested was the base model, an XLS with five-speed manual transmission and a 2.0-liter Zetec four-cylinder engine. It was a great way to get acquainted.

THE GOOD NEWS
What strikes me most about this Escape is how substantial it feels, not paper-thin or compromised by economy like much of its competition. I also like its looks. The Escape appears neither cuddly cute nor faux-rugged like its competition. Instead, it comes off as rather dignified for one so small, its styling subtle, its lines nicely balanced. Truth be told, from the rear it looks exactly like a shrunken Jeep Grand Cherokee. But that's not a bad thing..

Inside feels roomier than the other minis, although that's not necessarily the case. The top-selling Honda CR-V comes closest to the Escape in dimension and general demeanor and is actually 4.6 inches longer. That means more rear legroom and rear cargo space with seats folded down. But this Escape's seats are well positioned and comfortable for adults. With rear seats in place, you get a few more cubic feet of cargo room than the Honda and 64.8 cubic feet with seats down. That's plenty of hauling space. This space is accessed by a full opening rear hatch or just a pop-open of the rear window. I really loved this versus the swing-out door most small sport utilities use.

As for this four-cylinder powertrain, I honestly can't complain. It's the same 130-horse engine the Ford Focus uses and it zips right along. Of course, I'm quite sure the 200-horse, 24-valve Duratec V6 - the Taurus engine - puts this little vehicle in an entirely different light. A very bright light, indeed, given that the Suzuki Grand Vitara/Chevy Tracker V6 only manages 155 horses. Still, there's something to be said for the four-cylinder's bottomless gas tank and perky performance.

My test vehicle also dispensed with four-wheel-drive, which in the Escape's case is yet another version of the on-demand system that senses wheel slippage and transfers power from front wheels to the rear axle. It does not have a low gear, nor can you lock in four-wheel-drive, so its off-road capabilities are somewhat limited.

Elsewhere, however, its performance is stellar. From the turning radius and maneuverability to its comfortable ride and excellent brakes (mine had optional 4-wheel anti-lock braking), this Escape is every bit the agile car clad in workman's clothing.

THE BAD NEWS
OK, so there were a few pesky little recalls. That's not uncommon in a brand-new-from-the-ground-up vehicle and Ford can be forgiven for appearing overly cautious these days. So far, nothing major has come out of the recalls, a Ford official assures me. They're simply taking no chances. Otherwise, I find little for complaint here. The Escape's lack of true off-road gear will be a negative for some. The strong V6, on the other hand, will more than make up for those deficiencies on many lists of pros and cons.

GAS MILEAGE
EPA rated at 23 mpg city/28 highway

PRICE
Manufacturer's base, $17,645;
Price as tested, $19,435.

IS IT WORTH IT?
I had hoped this base model Escape would be a little less expensive, but it does come with lots of fancies standard -- like air conditioning, CD player, remote keyless entry, tilt steering wheel and power door locks, windows and mirrors. Hence, the price makes sense.

Because the Explorer's image has taken a beating lately, I hesitate to even mention it in the same paragraph here. But I can't help feeling that this Escape delivers that same right-on-target appeal and satisfaction that made the Explorer the best selling sport utility in its class. This is simply a great little ride, not too trendy, not too dull.

Figure also that the compact sport utility class is getting more interesting by the minute. It used to be the domain of Jeep Cherokee followed by a slew of toys. But with the introduction of this Escape, Mazda's Tribute, Toyota's Highlander and Hyundai's Santa Fe; Nissan Xterra's huge success, Grand Vitara/Tracker's spruce up last year and Toyota's RAV4's overhaul this year, it becomes a class with which to be reckoned. I reckon I'll take the Escape, at least for now.

By Beth Stein

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