2001 Ford Escape

I have owned a 2001 Ford Escape XLT for the last seven years. When I bought the vehicle, it only had 18,000 miles on it. It now has 185,000 miles on it. I fully intend to drive it until the doors fall off.

There are several things that I like about this vehicle. First of all, it sits lower to the ground than most SUVs. I am not a tall person, and with most SUVs, I must climb in and fall out of them. With the Ford Escape, I can sit in the driver’s seat and my leg can touch the ground. Although it does sit lower, you still have that “off the ground” feeling while driving. The space in the driver/passenger area is very roomy. My husband and I are bigger people, and we can ride comfortably for long distances. It has a much better interior design than the new Ford Escapes with the larger center console. The four-wheel drive has come in handy during the occasional snow here in North Carolina.

I love, love, love the cargo space in this car. We have hauled everything from people to landscape timbers. The back seats fold down flat, so you have ample space to work with. The back seat is split so you can still have a passenger in the back with some of the seat folded down for cargo. The seats are very easy to manipulate, and it only takes seconds to fold them down.

I would recommend this car to anyone, especially families with children. It will fit two kids in car seats easily, and you won’t have to stoop to get the child in the seat or climb up on a step rail. For families with older kids, you can fit three kids in the back, and their gear in the very back cargo area. I like the fact that although it is an SUV, it is still manageable when maneuvering in parking lots and other tight driving situations.

I have had very few problems with this car, and no major mechanical problems. I am religious about getting the oil changed and keeping up with tire maintenance, etc. At 90,000 miles I had a full tune-up done, and it required new spark plugs and a couple of new hoses. It is about time for another full-tune-up. One interior issue I have had is the fabric covering on the doors has started to peel off, but I guess adhesive only lasts so long. The driver’s floor mat has a hole in it, but that too is an easy fix that doesn’t compromise the functioning of the vehicle.

I would recommend buying a cargo cover screen for use when shopping, etc. It hides what you have in the cargo area from view.

My car also has a tow package, which has been invaluable in towing boats, trailers, getting my friend’s truck out of the ditch, and towing my husband’s useless Dodge Intrepid. With a 6-cyl engine, this vehicle tows a small utility trailer easily.