One of the best selling compact sport utility vehicles gets a face and interior lift, but little else for 2008. Reviewers note that the '08 Escape's exterior sheet metal is more masculine/aggressive; Ford calls it aerodynamic.
The '08 Escape offers the same two gasoline power-train configurations as the 2007 model: a 153-hp, 2.3-liter four cylinder or a 200-hp, 3.0-liter V6, both linked to a four-speed automatic transmission. The XLS Manual features the smaller engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. Reviewers note that the V6 is both coarse and slow off the line, while the transmission seems to suffer from the common performance liability of economy gearing, thus long shift times. New speed-sensitive electric power steering is among the few mechanical changes.
The 2008 Escape includes front and side airbags with side-curtain airbags covering both rows. Completing the safety equipment is the AdvanceTrac stability control system with anti-rollover technology.
The interior is the focus for change. Ford has made an across-the-line brand change with the switch to Ice Blue interior lighting. A new information display features exterior temperature, radio functions, and climate-control readouts on the top section of the dashboard. The capacity of the center console storage is impressive - it can hold a laptop computer. It features three levels of storage with two removable bins, which further expand storage capacity.
New owners will sit on "environmentally sensitive" upholstery. In a U.S. industry first, Ford is producing seating surfaces made from 100 percent recycled materials. The supplier claims these materials will annually conserve 600,000 gallons of water, more than 7 million kilowatt hours of electricity, and 1.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.
Ford tops this off with a changed roof design that integrates insulating materials to make, according to Ford, a significantly quieter cabin.
