2005 Ford Escape Consumer Reviews

Great SUV

Written by: escape guy on 03/08/2009

Vehicle

2005 Ford Escape Limited AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)

Review

We have really enjoyed our escape the last month. We got a great deal and for the money we couldn't have asked for a more useful SUV. Its great for us because where we live there isn't much room to park. We enjoy camping and the wilderness so the 4x4 will work out great for that.

Favorite Features

All time 4x4. Fold down rear seat. 6 CD changer. Big tires and wheels. V6 power.

Suggested Improvements

We payed 60 bucks to program a key at the dealership. Make keys and remotes easier to program and less expensive. Maybe a little more get up and go would be nice too.

2 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Escape to Wherever you want

Written by: rltotten on 01/09/2009

Vehicle

2005 Ford Escape XLS Fwd 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I purchased my Escape brand new. I take it up in the Colorado/New Mexico Mountains skiing and snowboarding. I love the space and gas mileage. 26 MPG avg have hit 28 mpg once. I wish this vehicle had daytime driving lights and better cup holders in the center console. The gas filing thing that others wrote about is true, Ford needs to change this design. I've flattened the rear seats and have hauled over a 1000 lbs of patio pavers at a time. This is a fun vehicle to drive and knock on wood I have had no major repairs to date. The seats do stain easy but also clean up just as easy. I would purchase another Escape no problem.

Favorite Features

6 pack CD changer, sit nice and high while driving, seats flatten nicely, 26 mpg

Suggested Improvements

Cup holders in center console, daytime running lights, and fix the gas tank filling port.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Great SUV

Written by: bill lee on 12/08/2008

Vehicle

2005 Ford Escape XLS Fwd 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Looked far and wide for a 4 cyl/5 speed FWD. This is a great drivetrain. Have gotten 31 MPG several times. Overall I get 28+MPG on my mostly highway commute. Snow is no problem with FWD. I run good snow tires and have had no problems even in deep snow. Not as good as my old jeep but never got stuck. Get the 05 and up vs the 04 if you can. Much better interior design and the bigger 2.3 motor gives better performance and fuel milage. Looked at the Toyota and Honda, but were much more expensive and much smaller. My son is 6'3" and fits in the back with no problems. Also no $300-500 timing belt to worry about on these cars. Has been very reliable. 60,000 miles and no problems what so ever.

Favorite Features

The stick. Very roomy interior and outstanding MPG of a car this size

Suggested Improvements

The seats. They are pretty cheesey on the XLS with no up grade available. They remind me of seats out of a 70's 707 airplane.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Love it!

Written by: Billabongguy on 11/18/2008

Vehicle

2005 Ford Escape Limited Fwd 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)

Review

I bought my Escape when i was thinking about buying a Kia Sorrento. I decided on the Escape because it had better creature comforts, nicer interior, and a lot more power! That little 3.0 with 220hp is fast responsive and I love it. I love the Mach audio system with the sub in the back. It thumps hard.

Favorite Features

The interior quality. The Awesome stereo. The get up and go power.

Suggested Improvements

I POD hookup, that's all

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Mixed feelings

Written by: Dwayne C on 11/01/2008

Vehicle

2005 Ford Escape XLT AWD 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 4A)

Review

We started having transmission problems at 20,000 miles. It would shift hard at around 40 MPH.We took it in (not at purchasing dealership)about ten times before they finally changed the transmission. I argued with the transmission mechanic that it was not right.They tried something different each time it was brought in. They adjusted the linkage, changed the spark plugs, changed the radiator, new torque converter, etc before changing the transmission. By this time the warranty was off and they wanted me to pay for it. After lots of arguing the dealer helped cover the cost above what Ford payed.There was 30,000 miles on the vehicle by the time this was done. Been running good ever since.

Favorite Features

Intelligent 4x4 (AWD), peppy engine

Suggested Improvements

Steering wheel sits to far back

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Lease be gone..yee haw!

Written by: marsan5 on 09/28/2008

Vehicle

2005 Ford Escape XLT AWD 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 4A)

Review

We just finished our lease on this SUV. Pro's are lots of cargo space, zippy around town and easy to drive. Con's are brakes not designed well for rural use, rotors and brakes non stop getting fixed, AWD got locked on one day on pavement. Bit of a gas pig. We had cloth seats and they stained if you looked at them! Three kids in the back is too crammed up. The door sills are too high, trapping mud and snow in like crazy. Cheap interior. The nerf bars stink in snow as they bottom you out, and when driving AWD when you get stuck, you are stuck!

Favorite Features

Zippy drive, cargo space huge.

Suggested Improvements

Spend money on the interior, and close up the brake system. Definitely not built for Canada as their ad so nicely says, opposite!

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Practical Car

Written by: Adam Grey on 09/23/2008

Vehicle

2005 Ford Escape XLS Fwd 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Even though I would have liked to get something a little sexier, this car is as practical of car you can get. Having it be a stick shift helped make the car fun to drive and also allowed for better acceleration than most standard V6 cars. Never did I have one mechanical issue in the 68,000 miles that I drove it and it really does excellent on gas being it is a 4 banger. I think if you buy this car you will get a bargain as if this had a Toyota symbol on it it would be $5,000 more! I believe this car is a smart buy for those who are concerned about fuel economy, cargo space, and price.

Favorite Features

Fold down seats. Seat belt alert. 5 speed transmission. Cruise control

Suggested Improvements

N/A

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Stay Away From 2005 Ford Escape

Written by: txm on 09/16/2008

Vehicle

2005 Ford Escape XLS AWD 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

The 4 cylinder engine in this car is extremely underpowered. It's especially worse in the summer when the air conditioning is on, then it becomes unsafe to drive, because when you need to accelerate, it just doesn't do anything for about 3-4 seconds and trying to accelerate when necessary would probably kill you in this vehicle. Also, the engine is very noisy, sounds like diesel engine. I have 60,000 miles on it. The fuel economy is terrible. I can't get any more than 20 mpg, not matter what I do. Stay away from this car.

Favorite Features

Styling.

Suggested Improvements

0 out 6 people found this review helpful

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Love it

Written by: erica27 on 07/17/2008

Vehicle

2005 Ford Escape XLT Fwd 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 4A)

Review

I have had my Escape for almost a year and a half and I absolutely love it! I am a senior in college and it's everything and more I could want in a car! My previous vehicles were sedans and the Escape drives like a car, but I love sitting higher in traffic and would not trade this car for anything! I hit a deer a few months ago and I know that I would have been injured if I were in a sedan. It is so spacious. I am now the designated driver on road trips, but it's well worth it because all my friends love the car too and we all fit comfortably! I plan on graduating college and heading off into the real world in this vehicle!

Favorite Features

6 disc CD player, automatic windows (my previous cars had crank windows, so little things excite me!), power sunroof, comfort

Suggested Improvements

Gas mileage, but that's only natural these days. It's not bad for an SUV, I guess. The cupholders in the front, only able to fit one cup, the other one barely fits due to the center console.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Almost the best car I have ever had

Written by: Lefthandedlex on 07/17/2008

Vehicle

2005 Ford Escape XLS AWD 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Retirement age is in sight so I have had quite a few cars to compare to. In 3 years I put almost 62000 miles. It is an automatic 4 cyl AWD. It is peppy I have gotten 31 mpg on rare occasions but usually 28 on avg. Except for normal maint it has only seen the dealership once for a very minor issue. Took a long weekend trip almost 5 hours one way with 4 adults and the roof rack stuffed to the gills and still got 25 mpg. Only thing I miss is leather seats. The cloth seats stain easy but so far nothing that I could not get out. Looking forward to another 60000 at least.

Favorite Features

Nothing special. It is a basic model.

Suggested Improvements

Better cloth seat covers that do not stain as easy.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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