What Is It?
2005 Ford Escape
What's Special About It?
With the competition as fierce as ever in the compact SUV segment, Ford figured the Escape was ripe for some changes to keep it competitive. The 2005 model year will bring minor upgrades to the interior, exterior and under the hood.
Subtle revisions to the front fascia include quad headlights, a new grille and integrated foglights, while redesigned wheels and a reshaped rear bumper finish it off. Inside, there's a host of changes designed to make the Escape's cabin not only more attractive, but more functional as well. All models get a new floor-mounted shifter and flow-through center console. Within that console there's more storage than before, larger cupholders and a 12-volt power outlet. More modern gauges grace the new instrument cluster and even the seats were redesigned for increased comfort.
Under the hood, the Escape gets a larger, more powerful base engine and an easier-to-use four-wheel-drive system. Displacing 2.3 liters, the Escape's base engine is rated to produce 153 horsepower and 152 pound-feet of torque and is available with a four-speed automatic transmission as an option. The new Intelligent 4WD system is fully automatic and requires no driver input. Unlike the previous system that offered a 4WD lockout button, the revised system senses when full traction is required and seamlessly engages the correct wheels as needed.
What's Edmunds' Take?
The Escape has always been a strong contender in the mini-SUV segment and this latest round of changes should help shore it up against the numerous competitors that now inhabit the category. Those looking for a more economical route than the Escape's thirsty V6 will likely find the new four-cylinder a solid alternative, and with the numerous upgrades to the interior the import competition now has less of an obvious advantage. — Ed Hellwig
2005 Ford Escape
What's Special About It?
With the competition as fierce as ever in the compact SUV segment, Ford figured the Escape was ripe for some changes to keep it competitive. The 2005 model year will bring minor upgrades to the interior, exterior and under the hood.
Subtle revisions to the front fascia include quad headlights, a new grille and integrated foglights, while redesigned wheels and a reshaped rear bumper finish it off. Inside, there's a host of changes designed to make the Escape's cabin not only more attractive, but more functional as well. All models get a new floor-mounted shifter and flow-through center console. Within that console there's more storage than before, larger cupholders and a 12-volt power outlet. More modern gauges grace the new instrument cluster and even the seats were redesigned for increased comfort.
Under the hood, the Escape gets a larger, more powerful base engine and an easier-to-use four-wheel-drive system. Displacing 2.3 liters, the Escape's base engine is rated to produce 153 horsepower and 152 pound-feet of torque and is available with a four-speed automatic transmission as an option. The new Intelligent 4WD system is fully automatic and requires no driver input. Unlike the previous system that offered a 4WD lockout button, the revised system senses when full traction is required and seamlessly engages the correct wheels as needed.
What's Edmunds' Take?
The Escape has always been a strong contender in the mini-SUV segment and this latest round of changes should help shore it up against the numerous competitors that now inhabit the category. Those looking for a more economical route than the Escape's thirsty V6 will likely find the new four-cylinder a solid alternative, and with the numerous upgrades to the interior the import competition now has less of an obvious advantage. — Ed Hellwig
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