Ford Escape XLT
First Place (tie): White Snow and the 11 Dwarfs
As you can see in the Test Results grid, the twins make winning numbers. They also provide a great deal of useful space inside. The rear-seat accommodations are impressive, best of the bunch by far, even for three across. This is very spacious transport for five persons. Cargo loading starts with an awkward unlatching of the rear cushion, which must be tilted up to open a space into which the backrest can be folded. When you're finished, you have a flat floor with excellent hauling room relative to the size of the vehicle.
At the same time, the twins don't arouse the affection we would normally feel for cars that left the averages so far behind. Ford has clearly chosen to endow these two with truck personalities. They're hard to the touch. They feel thinly upholstered, steely, with lots of tiny vibrations. They respond deliberately, without spirit. The powertrains sound dull; instead of zing they groan. Wind roar is prominent, and you hear the road up from the tires.
Over gravel roads, the bodies rattle and chatter more than we would expect. They ride firmly. The driver's left armrest feels as if it were made of concrete. It's all in keeping with the truck experience. It's authentic, but it's not heartwarming.
Although snow traction was disappointing, the automatic four-wheel-drive system seems to work as intended. We had no sensation of abrupt changes in power transfer and no sense of power failing to go where it's needed. Indeed, the dash switch that locks the system into four-wheel drive (negating the "on demand" decisions of normal operation) worked instantly in those tests where we could determine what it was doing. We think the standard tires simply weren't up to the job. Fortunately, they're easy to replace.
For sure, Ford built a good foundation into these trucks. With the 3.0-liter V-6 option they combine top performance with midpack fuel economy: 19 mpg on our test trip. The big interior earns top marks for utility. With all those core competencies handled, now Ford can get busy on the S deficit. Remember, Dearborn, that the SUV's first name is "sport."
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2001-ford-escape-xlt-road-test
