2003 Ford Escape: Road Test
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2003 Ford Escape ▼
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- MSRP: $18,710 -$27,085
- Invoice: $17,401 -$25,023
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Our road test for the 2003 Ford Escape includes a full evaluation of the 2003 Ford Escape from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2003 Ford Escape, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2003 Ford Escape help you decide if a 2003 Ford Escape is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| XLT Sport | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 5 | 3.7 |
V6 Escapes and Tributes are among the quickest compact SUVs--8.9 sec 0-60 mph in our tests--with ample power for stress-free passing and merging, though some testers want more muscle on long upgrades. We have not tested a 4-cyl version.
FUEL ECONOMY
| XLT Sport | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 5 | 4.8 |
Test AWD V6 Escapes and Tributes averaged 17.5-19.2 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. Extended-use-test AWD V6 Tribute averaged 19.5 mpg in 24,308-mi. test that included lots of highway driving. No opportunity to measure 4-cyl economy. Both engines use regular-grade fuel.
RIDE QUALITY
| XLT Sport | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 4 | 4.1 |
Escape and Tribute have different suspension tuning but both feel markedly taut, without wallow or float over dips and swells. Some sharp bumps can register abruptly.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| XLT Sport | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 5 | 4 |
Better than most rivals. In fast cornering, balance and grip quite good; body lean moderate. Escape steering feel not as satisfyingly firm as Tribute's, but is acceptably direct. Good braking power, but some testers complain of too much nosedive in simulated panic stops.
QUIETNESS
| XLT Sport | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 4 | 3.5 |
Noise levels aren't deal-breakers, but wind rush is prominent at speed, and the tires roar on coarse pavement. Escape seems marginally noisier than Tribute.
CONTROLS
| XLT Sport | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 5 | 5.2 |
Legible and generally well-placed, though automatic-transmission gear-shift lever is long enough to obstruct some dashboard controls. Ford-designed climate system doesn't allow independent control of air recirculation or air conditioning. Tribute interior feels slightly upscale of Escape's, but both are solid enough, with appropriate materials for this class.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| XLT Sport | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 6 | 5.3 |
Taller riders may want more head room in sunroof-equipped models. But clearance is otherwise generous, and the airy, comfortable cabin belies the compact-SUV exterior dimensions. Driver view unimpeded to sides and rear.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| XLT Sport | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 5 | 4.1 |
More knee and foot room in this compact SUV than in many midsize SUVs. Seat is supportive and well-contoured, even in center position. Floor is nearly flat, cabin wide enough for short-trip 3-adult comfort. Doorways are wide, but step-in is higher than most rivals'.
CARGO ROOM
| XLT Sport | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 7 | 6.7 |
Generous. Rear seatbacks fold flat once the headrests are removed and the seat bottoms tilted forward. Standard separate-opening rear glass is an added convenience.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| XLT Sport | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 10 | 5.7 |
Tribute aims for a more-conservative and slightly more-upscale audience than its Escape sibling. But both are solid, spacious, and rewarding to drive. Each costs in the mid-$20,000 range well equipped, making them high-value alternatives to some truck-based SUVs that may be larger on the outside, but don't have significantly more interior space and use more gas.
Total Score
| XLT Sport | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 56 | 47.1 |
Total Score: 56
Scores for all Compact Sport-utility Vehicles
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