The 2003 Ford Escape had a hard time finding its market niche, or perhaps the folks at Ford had a hard time finding buyers.  In a time where 'bigger is better'; was the mantra of drivers, the compact sport-utility class tended to be overlooked.

And the 2003 Escape was definitely compact: its 173-inch overall length was petite compared to most of the other SUVs on the market.  Despite its relatively small size, though, it managed to fit five adults in reasonable comfort, and hold 33 cubic feet (with rear seats up) or 63 cubic feet (with rear seats folded) of cargo.

The '03 Ford Escape shipped with a 2.0 liter, 4-cylinder Zetec with a 130-horsepower output; buyers could choose an optional upgrade, to the 3.0 liter, 24-valve Duratec V-6, with 200 horsepower and 200 lb.-ft. of torque.

Trim lines available for the '03 Escape were the XLS, XLT, and the more luxurious Limited edition.    Four-wheel drive was available as an option for all trims.  However, the Escape really wasn't designed as an off-road vehicle; its target market was people looking for a little workhorse SUV to tool around highways and suburban streets.