A very capable small SUV thanks to its powerful V6 engine, spacious cabin, handsome looks and car-like handling. The 2002 Ford Escape is one of our favorites.

vehicle overview

One of the benefits of coming late to the party is that when you do arrive, you can make a big splash. That's what Ford has done with the appealing Escape sport-utility.

Designed to battle the Honda CR-V, Jeep Liberty, Nissan Xterra, Toyota RAV4 and others of the small-SUV ilk, the five-passenger Escape's calling cards are a large, comfortable interior and a powerful available V6 engine. As an added bonus, it's also priced competitively. These factors position the Escape for tremendous success in a growing market. Developed in partnership with Mazda, which sells a version called the Tribute, Escape comes in XLS or XLT flavors with either two- or four-wheel drive.

Base models have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 127 horsepower and 135 pound-feet of torque. Burdened with people and gear, a four-cylinder Escape is bound to be rather weedy. Fortunately, there is an available 3.0-liter V6. With 201 horsepower and 196 lb-ft of torque, it is one of the most powerful engines in its class, and accelerates the four-wheel drive Escape to 60 mph in less than 9 seconds. Equipped with the V6 and the standard four-speed automatic transmission, the Escape can tow up to 3,500 pounds. Both the four-cylinder and V6 engines are LEV-compliant.

As opposed to Ford's larger SUVs, the 2WD Escape is front-wheel drive. The 4WD system can be set to either "4x4 automatic" or "4x4 lock" mode. In automatic mode, power is applied to the rear wheels only when a loss of traction occurs. In the locked mode, the Escape applies power to all four wheels at all times. The Escape does not have a low-range transfer case, however.

Ford hopes that with its sporting, rugged good looks, the Escape will appeal to young families and people with active lifestyles. Don't let the outside fool you, though. Underneath, the Escape is more car than truck. The unibody chassis is equipped with rack-and-pinion steering, a four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel ABS through a front disc/rear drum arrangement.

Inside, the Escape offers a big allotment of space for passengers and cargo. This is truly a five-passenger SUV. With the rear seats removed, the Escape offers 64.8 cubic feet of cargo. Cabin highlights include air conditioning, an available six-disc in-dash CD changer matched to an optional 300-watt sound system and optional side airbags.

Ford claims affordability and durability were top priorities during the engineering and design phase of the Escape. Mazda's input should have been of help here, but a rash of well-publicized first-year recalls sullies the image of this otherwise fine SUV. Regardless, Ford's Escape should be on your list when shopping for small sport-utes.

2002 Highlights

Additional standard equipment makes the 2002 Ford Escape an even better value. XLS models get a dual-media cassette/CD stereo, while XLT adds a V6 engine, privacy glass, power driver seat and an in-dash six-CD changer. New Sport packages also debut. The XLS Sport includes 15-inch alloy wheels with larger tires, side-step bars, Sport-embroidered floor mats and dark tinted privacy glass. The XLT Sport, new for 2002, provides, in addition to XLS Sport equipment, a special No Boundaries roof rack system and unique 16-inch alloy wheels with meatier rubber. Four new colors are also available.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 2002 Ford Escape.

Overall Consumer Rating

4.3187 reviews

Write a review See all 187 reviews

5(50%)

4(34%)

3(10%)

2(6%)

1(0%)

Most helpful consumer reviews

Wonderful little SUV

Michael Gazin,02/09/2016

Know that its not supposed to be a luxury vehicle or a sports car. Its a sturdy solidly built vehicle that is very reliable. My particular model is equipped with a v6. Its not going to get the best fuel economy in the world. Drive conservatively and you can easily go a while without getting gas. It makes a good first car for a teenager. If you take care of it, it will take care of you.

2002 limited 3.0 ford escape

kia,08/11/2010

I bought this car when it had 114k mi. Black on Black. I had it for a year. the car was absolutely awesome. It had great pickup,good break system and great handling. I never took the car to mechanic for any reason. The only reason that I sold it was ,because I was trying to upgrade it but now I regret it. I changed 2 cars after that but I'm still not happy with what I have. I recommend

02 Ford Escape 4 cyl/standard

smokey2,09/30/2008

I bought this vehicle about a year ago as my first car after much thought, and I must say I made the right choice. I chose it for gas mileage and looks, and was able to get a great deal off craigslist. The required maintenence was pricy ($1000 for a new timing belt), but expected. The vehicle is spacious inside, while being able to fit in almost any parking spot and turning around in

A Real Trooper With Love

Jenny,02/23/2010

Had it since 2002. Yes, I've had some major repairs. The engine went at 96K miles, so it cost us $7k to fix that. It cost me $4k to fix all 3 converters, and yes I had to pay to fix 3 of six coils. They said driving of fast accelerating and sudden stops could contributed to it, and we also drove it in England for 3 years, so that didn't help either. But it's always been there for us

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Features & Specs

MPG

16 city / 22 hwy

Seats 5

4-speed automatic

Gas

201 hp @ 5900 rpm

MPG

16 city / 22 hwy

Seats 5

4-speed automatic

Gas

201 hp @ 5900 rpm

MPG

17 city / 23 hwy

Seats 5

4-speed automatic

Gas

201 hp @ 5900 rpm

MPG

16 city / 22 hwy

Seats 5

4-speed automatic

Gas

201 hp @ 5900 rpm

See all Used 2002 Ford Escape features & specs

Safety

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
Rollover3 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of RolloverNot Rated

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Side Impact Test
Poor
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested
IIHS Small Overlap Front Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test
Marginal

More about the 2002 Ford Escape

Used 2002 Ford Escape Overview

The Used 2002 Ford Escape is offered in the following submodels: Escape SUV. Available styles include XLT Choice 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A), XLT Midnight 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A), XLT Midnight 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A), XLT Choice 2 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A), XLT Choice 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A), XLT Sport 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A), XLS Value 4WD 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 5M), XLS Value 2WD 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 5M), XLS Choice 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A), XLT Premium 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A), XLS Choice 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A), XLT Premium 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A), XLS Sport 4WD 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 5M), and XLS Sport 2WD 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 5M).

What's a good price on a Used 2002 Ford Escape?

Price comparisons for Used 2002 Ford Escape trim styles:

The Used 2002 Ford Escape XLS Choice is priced between $3,995 and$3,995 with odometer readings between 134040 and134040 miles.

Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, VA. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.

Which used 2002 Ford Escapes are available in my area?

Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2002 Ford Escape for sale near. There are currently 1 used and CPO 2002 Escapes listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as $3,995 and mileage as low as 134040 miles. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a used car from our massive database to find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 2002 Ford Escape.

Can't find a used 2002 Ford Escapes you want in your area? Consider a broader search.

Find a used Ford Escape for sale - 11 great deals out of 11 listings starting at $7,756.

Find a used Ford for sale - 6 great deals out of 8 listings starting at $15,008.

Find a used certified pre-owned Ford Escape for sale - 2 great deals out of 13 listings starting at $16,683.

Find a used certified pre-owned Ford for sale - 6 great deals out of 10 listings starting at $14,054.

Compare prices on the Used Ford Escape for sale in Ashburn, VA to other major cities

City
Great Deals
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Starting Price

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Great Deals61
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Raleigh, NC
Great Deals80
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Colorado Springs, CO
Great Deals51
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Honolulu, HI
Great Deals13
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Starting Price$15,339

Should I lease or buy a 2002 Ford Escape?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.

Used 2002 Ford Escape

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