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2010 Ford Escape Safety Review

August 13, 2009

SAFETY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Good," frontal offset impact; "good," side impact; Top Safety Pick
IIHS

Five stars, front impact; five stars, side impact
NHTSA

rear brakes were downgraded to inferior drums in 2008
Edmunds

In terms of safety, the 2010 Ford Escape is not only a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but the SUV also earns five stars for front and side impacts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The 2009 Escape does, however, have a few drawbacks: drum brakes in the rear and a lower-than-typical rollover rating.

The Escape comes equipped with what Ford calls a Personal Safety System—basically, it includes all popular airbag systems (front side and side-curtain), plus anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control. The curtain bags include a rollover sensor as well.

While Ford Escape used to come with four-wheel disc brakes, Edmunds points out that for the Escape and nearly identical Mercury Mariner, rear brakes were "downgraded to inferior drums in 2009." Added weight and less secure high-speed braking prowess make this purely a cost-cutting change.

Several new safety-related options are offered in the 2010 Escape. ConsumerGuide says the new MyKey system "allows owners to program a key that can limit the vehicle's top speed and audio volume." Also available is a new Rear View Camera system, along with a new Active Park System that helps guide the driver into a feasible space. Active Park Assist includes a new feature called Pull-Drift Compensation, which helps adapt to crosswinds or odd road curvature.

ConsumerGuide proclaims that the Ford Escape offers "fine all-around visibility," thanks to its commanding driving position and large windows—a departure from most utility vehicles, in which rearward vision is often impaired.

Conclusion

Even though the 2010 Ford Escape's underlying design is about a decade old, Ford has done a great job keeping this model up to snuff—especially with this year's additional safety-related options.

SAFETY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Good," frontal offset impact; "good," side impact; Top Safety PickIIHSFive stars, front impact; five stars, side impactNHTSArear brakes were downgraded to inferior drums in 2008Edmunds In terms of safety, the 2010 Ford Escape is not only a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but the SUV also earns five stars for front and side impacts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The 2009 Escape does, however, have a few drawbacks: drum brakes in the rear and a lower-than-typical rollover rating. The Escape comes equipped with what Ford calls a Personal Safety System—basically, it includes all popular airbag systems (front side and side-curtain), plus anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control. The curtain bags include a rollover sensor as well. While Ford Escape used to come with four-wheel disc brakes, Edmunds points out that for the Escape and nearly identical Mercury Mariner, rear brakes were "downgraded to inferior drums in 2009." Added weight and less secure high-speed braking prowess make this purely a cost-cutting change. Several new safety-related options are offered in the 2010 Escape. ConsumerGuide says the new MyKey system "allows owners to program a key that can limit the vehicle's top speed and audio volume." Also available is a new Rear View Camera system, along with a new Active Park System that helps guide the driver into a feasible space. Active Park Assist includes a new feature called Pull-Drift Compensation, which helps adapt to crosswinds or odd road curvature. ConsumerGuide proclaims that the Ford Escape offers "fine all-around visibility," thanks to its commanding driving position and large windows—a departure from most utility vehicles, in which rearward vision is often impaired. ConclusionEven though the 2010 Ford Escape's underlying design is about a decade old, Ford has done a great job keeping this model up to snuff—especially with this year's additional safety-related options. 2010 FORD ESCAPE STYLING | [8 out of 10] Popular Mechanics: "Exterior changes are subtle" Automobile Magazine: "receives a redesigned center stack" Car and Driver: "Not even a thorough interior and exterior refresh could save the 2008 iteration from a seventh-place finish” From a ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Don't get penned in by the Escape's conservative look; it competes head-on with a variety of compact crossovers, some of which are sleek and rakish. One of those is the Nissan Rogue. The Rogue doesn't even pretend to be tough or off-road-worthy; it's a tall wagon, with space for five, good ride quality, and a fuel-efficient four-cylinder powertrain. The Hyundai Tucson looks a little more carlike than the Escape, but it's one of the least refined in the group; it's due for a complete redesign later this year. The Honda CR-V is one of our all-time favorites, if you only look at the driving experience, but some people have a hard time getting past the SUV's styling and the lack of optional V-6 power. Subaru's Forester became significantly larger for 2009, and it's now a roomier alternative to the Escape, with a nice, smooth ride and responsive handling. Finally, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox has been redesigned and is now a much better vehicle than before, with a vastly improved interior, plus a smooth, economical four-cylinder base engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

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See the Ford Escape in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

Comments (3 total)

  1. By  Dave #1, Posted: 8/31/2009

    Just bought a 2010 escape and so far I love it. I have the XLT with the sync/sunroof option. It's the 4 cylinder 6 speed automatic. I'm getting around 24 MPG around town and expect 28 MPG or better on the highway. This car does all that's it's advertised to do. It's quiet, responsive, smooth, and comfortable. It has a great sound system and the onboard hands free phone works great as well. My only complaint is that it's supposed to have the outside convex blindspot mirrors as standard equipment. Mine does not. I have contacted my dealer and have written Ford about this feature. I'm hoping they will replace them at no charge. If Ford takes care of this problem, I'm seriously considering buying a second Escape for my wife. Botton line. Nice car and a good value for the money!

  2. By joed #2, Posted: 9/6/2009

    I have a 2009 Escape, basically the same as the 2010 and also like the vehicle. It is funny how some reviews like one thing on a vehicle and another review hates that same thing. All around this vehicle does a great job. One thing not noted is the capless fuel tank. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but it sure is great not having to put a cap on and off when fueling.

  3. By April #3, Posted: 9/28/2009

    I too just recently bought a 2010 XLT with Moonroof and the Sync system! I love this vehicle. It's fun to drive, really quiet inside, and the sirius radio and hands free phone features! I have plenty of room for the four of us and still have a stylish ride at an affordable price.

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