That’s rugged?! I owned a 2001 Escape and loved it. One of the things I liked about it was that it DIDN’T look like the family-oriented Explorer. Now it’s an Explorer jr. Maybe it will sell because of that, but I wouldn’t buy one. I thought Ford was going to let the designers “do the talking”. Either they need new designers, or they need to get the damn pocket-protector-wearing accountants out of the decision process. Give us the 2005 Bronco!!

Yawn. All the character and personality of rice pudding.

The lighter interiot should have wood triming, otherwise it’s nice though the current one is better.

This is essentially a refresh, as the overall shape does not break any new ground. As uninspired as it is, there may be a market out there for buyers who want something this size, but do not want something cute like the RAV or the CR-V. Or as expensive as a X3 or RDX.

Sadly, this still represents the “old new Ford”, where clean safe styling was supposed to sell cars.
They need some kind of ride with some design style, and the Edge ain’t it. Sometimes being slightly offensive to some people gets the rest of the population jazzed about your stuff (Murano anyone?).

The grill is ugly

I am having trouble understanding how ford can justify having the escape, freestyle and the edge?

And toss in the Explorer and now Ford really has some explaining to do!

It’s impossible to call this a redesign. It’s a facelift and that’s it. An extensive one, but still a facelift.

It just pales in comparison to the new CR-V. I don’t find the Honda to be all that attractive, but it’s far more modern and expressive looking.

It is better looking than a Jeep Compass, though.

I like it, even if I do see a bit of Nissan truck in the front end, and a bit of Jeep in the rear end. Yes, it is a pretty “safe” redesign, but I think Ford is feeling a bit conservative these days.

Now if I could quit hearing stories like my co-worker’s, whose ‘03 Mustang needed a new exhaust manifold gasket at 30,000 miles, and my own ‘95 Taurus that needed a new engine at 55,000 miles because the head gaskets failed. I just have a hard time trusting Ford’s committment to quality and durability.

From the front I see a little Land Rover Freelander in there. From the rear quarters it looks like a minor facelift.

It looks like the ‘08 Escape was benchmarked against the ‘02 CR-V and RAV4. So it looks competitive against those five-year-old vehicles, sure, but instantly lame and obsolete next to the new CR-V, etc.

I have exactly the same problem with the Edge, which I think holds its own against old crossovers like the Pacifica but is far too conservative, heavy and dull compared to the new Mazda CR-7.

I wish to God I could see one new Ford that made me think those guys are thinking five years ahead, not ten years out of date.

P.S. Go take a look at the new VW Tiguan concept, also unveiled today, then come back and tell me the new Escape doesn’t look totally dated by comparison.

Ford is stuck in the 90s.

I don’t know about this car

working at a FOrd dealership, it has a fresh face, but thats about it. It has had the same design since 2001 (I think that is when it came out). This will look nicer on the lot.

Damn this looks really dated, new for 1998!

Pass, too conservative and uninspiring for my taste.

wow… it’s… BLAND.

who’da seen that coming???

i think it looks bad ass….i am pissed off….. i just bought my wife a 2007 and now they come out with a better looking one dam you FORD….i know my wife is gonna want to trade it in for the newer looking one…at least it’s suppose to be about $1100 cheaper than the 07..so i wont be losing soooo much money when it’s comes out in middle of 07

Yes it does not break new ground, but if you look at it long enough you’ll get the urge to break wind.
.
Hell, I’m a fan of Ford and I’ll say that reskin sucks the ovals till they’re blue.

Ah yes, rewind a decade and take a look at the Explorer of that year, and you will see the inspiration for this new Escape, not really what I’d have chosen were I assigned the choice of designing a replacement for an aging small SUV design, but Ford did, and it looks like ****. The interior is chintzy/low quality too, check out the new CR-V’s interior, now THAT has good fit and finish

Well, it’s nice but it looks like a 3-5 year old Explorer. Is that a good thing ?

I have a real beef with that dated 4-speed automatic transmission…what the hell is up with that, Ford?!?

1c3d0g,
I have same problem with cary-over engines!

With a presumably small budget to work with, I say nice job Ford.

yeah really for what budget im sure they had they did an attractive job for a facelift. More extensive than most other facelifts in recent years. It could use more power to go up against the Vue Redline though.

It’s just not the direction this small ute needs to be taking. The last thing it needs to be is more trucklike and more bloated, like someone in another post said, it looks like a mini Explorer now, definitely not an attractive thing to look like, and definiately not a good thing either

ford im srry but ur knew vechicles look like crap!

The old one has more style and flair. WTF…

Very nice improvement from the old crap they sell right now specially the interiors

Why can’t Americans do a decent interior? I hate this ****. My partner is an interior designer and will only buy German cars because he says ” Lover we can’t afford a British car, but I’d let you do me up the wrong one in a German car!”

Baby Explorer, baby Expedition. Needs more of it’s own image, they are getting to much like Dodge.

Deantj: you got hacked too? I knew I was onto something, someone is posting a lot of bull**** under different account names of which I know some people would never say such things.

Very disappointed that Ford didn’t upgrade the tranny to 6speed (or at least 5). Escape was on my short list along with 07 Santa Fe for an Aug 07 purchase. It no longer is. And experience has me steering clear of anything by Honda.

This interior is no worse than any comparable Japanese model. It’s definitely better than the cheap RAV4 interior. Give me a break.

Looks a little like Nissans Front end. Not bad looking, a little land roverish! Just alot cheaper! as long as the quality is still there of the current Escape than I give it a chance!

sj79, no, you’re entirely wrong, it is CLEARLY inferior to a variety of Japanese manufacturers, no, I will cut you no such break, because you have no clue what you’re talking about. Do I need to post PICTURES from the new Mitsubishi Outlanders interior and the new Honda CR-V’s interior and the Toyota Rav4’s interior to prove to you with simple images how much better they are than this ****ty budget interior? Do I? Just let me know.

200 horsepower is not enough, Ford. Do the smart thing and drop the new 3.5 liter V6 and it’s accompanying six-speed auto in there.