2008 Ford Escape Preview

Ford Escape – 2008 Preview: When it goes on sale next year, the 2008 Ford Escape will mark the nameplate's seventh year of existence in the U.S. market. During that time, the Escape has been a leader in a growing segment, racking up more than 1,000,000 sales. But the competition is gaining ground, and subsequently the little Ford gets a number of updates for 2008. Soldiering on will be the gas and hybrid powertrains, and a chassis that has been slightly tweaked. However, the styling has been massaged, the interior worked over, and best of all, the base sticker price is expected to be lower than the model it replaces.

Why it matters

The small and midsize SUV segments are heating up with redesigned models, all-new competition, and a whole slew of new products falling under the crossover designation. Many offer the comfort and convenience of premium cars, remarkably powerful engines, and room for up to five or seven passengers. It's a tough segment in which to fight, yet the Escape has done well to hold its own, and for struggling Ford, that's important. To remain competitive, Ford needs a product that attacks on all fronts – size, style, power, and efficiency. With its evolutionary design and array of powertrains, the 2008 Escape should continue to win buyers, if not exactly dazzling them in the process.

What's under the hood

Like the 2007 model, the 2008 Ford Escape will be available with three engine choices – a four-cylinder gasser, a four-cylinder hybrid, and a six-cylinder gasser. The base 2.3-liter four-banger puts out 153 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 152 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,250 rpm, pushing power through a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The Escape hybrid pairs a 70-kilowatt motor with a 133-horsepower 2.3-liter four-cylinder, for a total net horsepower of 155. These Escapes feature a continuously-variable automatic tranny. Finally, there's the 3.0-liter V6 engine, which is good for 200 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 193 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,850 rpm. The V6 provides a 3,500-lb. towing capacity.

What it looks like

Most notable among the changes for 2008 is the new front design treatment. Intended to mimic the "bold" (think Ford might be overusing the word a bit?) face of the brand's Explorer and full-size trucks, the prominent chrome grille is used to impart a sense of power, while restyled swept back headlights add a contemporary flair. The flanks and tail have been tweaked a bit, though they remain undeniably Escape, and the wheel wells can be filled with new 17-inch alloys. Hybrid models get their own unique badging.

What's inside

During the 2008 Ford Escape's unveiling at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, executives pointed out that the model's cloth seat upholstery will be made of factory scraps, noting the environmental benefits of using such recycled materials. Admirable, and possibly more an issue of saving cost than the environment. In any case, that material is housed in an all-new cabin, one with gauges featuring Ice Blue backlighting, a digital information display atop the center dash, a redesigned center stack accented by large dials and buttons, and a spacious center storage cubby capable of swallowing a laptop computer. Furthermore, Ford promises an Escape that is up to 20 percent quieter than the model it replaces.

What Ford says

According to Ford's VP of North American Marketing, Cisco Codina, the new 2008 Escape will provide "the capability and styling of a traditional SUV with the benefits of crossover construction – building on the successful formula that has made the Escape America's favorite small utility vehicle for six years. The new Escape offers a more refined ride, go-anywhere capability, impressive fuel economy, up to 3,500 pounds of towing, and a more comfortable interior that is quieter and more versatile." In regards to the updated design, Escape Chief Designer Doyle Letson said, "The goal from the beginning was to make Escape look even stronger and tougher than the original."

What we think

From a company of "bold" moves, we expected a bit more from the redesigned 2008 Escape. The styling is pleasant enough, holding onto the traditional Escape shape and cues while blending in updates that suck in new life, the interior looks to be comfortable and ergonomically well designed, the additions of a touch-screen navigation system and iPod jack are welcome, and the choices of power and drivetrains will continue to attract a variety of shoppers. But we question the wisdom of carrying over an aging 200-horsepower V6 when competitors are working on 250+ horses, and wonder what a truly bold redesign of the Escape might've offered.

Photos courtesy of Ron Perry and Ford