
Coursing over humpback hills and cutting acute-angled corners to chase the ragged shore, this twisty asphalt strip seems like it was designed expressly to show off the road-hugging agility and sticky tire traction of Escape, Ford's crossover utility vehicle for the compact class.
Formatted with the two-box body of a four-door wagon, Escape rides on the chassis of a front-wheel-drive (FWD) car rather than a conventional wagon's rear-wheel-drive (RWD) truck platform.
A generous wheelbase length of 103.1 inches and a broad wheel track set up a long and wide foundation for stability when turning.
And, unlike some wagons with a solid rear truck axle and crude leaf springs, Escape carries four-wheel independent suspension components -- MacPherson struts in front and a double lateral and semi-trailing arm design in back -- which bring more control over the vehicle for a driver and more comfortable ride sensations for passengers.
As a result, Escape offers the easy-to-drive manners of a nice sedan.
More equipment goes into the 2008 editions of Ford's CUV.
The new gear includes EPAS -- electric power assist steering -- through a direct rack and pinion system. The all-electric device eliminates a conventional hydraulic apparatus along with the power losses of an engine-driven pneumatic pump.
It fine-tunes the overall steering feel but also boosts fuel economy scores.
Escape's issues of 2008 show more upscale appointments in the five-seat cabin, like an information display mounted on top of the dashboard and easy-on-the-eyes Ice Blue lighting washing instruments, console, steering wheel and door switches.
A new console set between the two front bucket seats holds two stow bins which may be extracted and mounted on the right and rear rims of the console to increase storage spots.
Bucket seats account for the first row, while a bench on the second row provides space for three with a backrest that splits and folds down to enlarge the cargo area, and that back bay with rear gate access has more useful room because a spare tire tucks beneath the deck.
Designers managed to drop the cabin floor but still maintain a reasonable chassis height for ground clearance. As a result, you don't have to hike up to climb aboard, but simply slip in sideways like you would enter a sedan.
Styling for the body of Escape is also new to forge a bolder, tougher look in a chiseled design with a sloping and stepped front hood, a high beltline and big wheels and tires as emphasized by flared wheel arches. The blunt new fascia up front contains restyled headlamp clusters which sweep up toward front corners and a fresh grille squared off at the center front with the finish in materials that vary with trim designation.
At the rear Escape's taillamps carry a clear band wrapping around corners and the big bumper has an integrated step pad for easy access to the roof deck when loading gear.