The Ford Escape Is the Goldilocks of SUVs

It’s not too big, it’s not too small, plus it’s got lots of oomph.

Photo Courtesy of Ford Motor Company


So you want the style and swagger of an SUV, but you don’t want to end up like this guy? In that case, may we humbly suggest that you consider the 2014 Escape. Ford’s entry into the compact sports utility vehicle arena is smart looking (check out that swept-back windshield), plenty powerful (we’re talking 240 horses and 270 lb-ft of torque), and even gets decent milage (22 city/30 hwy). It features something called “Intelligent 4WD,” which does not mean that it graduated from Harvard. Rather, the Escape monitors traction and cornering conditions every 16 milliseconds and automatically adjusts torque distribution where needed…which means you only get all four wheels rolling when you need them. And our favorite feature? The hands-free liftgate, which lets you open and close the back with a simple kick. (This comes in especially handy if you don’t want to get too close to whatever you have in the trunk.)

Spec Check:

Base price: $29,100

Engine: 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4

Horsepower: 240

Torque: 270 lb-ft

0-60: 7 seconds

Top Speed: 118 mph (limited)

Also check out The 10 Most Awesome American Muscle Cars and Get Plugged In to BMW’s New Electric Car.