The Ford Escape has been on the market for quite some time. However, this subcompact SUV happens to be one of Ford’s most puzzling vehicles. The Ford Escape doesn’t have this title because it’s some forward-leaning vehicle that the market never understood. It’s puzzling because it’s a pretty good vehicle with some pretty significant issues. It’s also a bit puzzling that Ford still makes the Escape, given how hard the automaker has worked to change its overall reputation over the years.
Ford debuted the Ford Escape for the 2001 model year. However, some may not know that Ford and Mazda developed the car together. Even more interesting is that Mazda released the Tribute alongside the Escape. For context, the Mazda tribute was a direct competitor of the Escape since it’s also a sub-compact SUV. However, Mazda discontinued the Tribute, but the Ford Escape is still on the market. It may not be as popular as it once was, but some people enjoy the 2022 Ford Escape, despite its recalls.
The 2022 Ford Escape is a fairly respectable vehicle. It has a solid engine, it’s fast enough, and it perhaps has one of the best-looking exteriors out of all vehicles of its class. However, a nice exterior doesn't change the Ford Escape’s reputation for being an expensive vehicle to maintain, as this is still true for the latest model.
The 2022 Ford Escape: Respectable Engine And Performance
The Ford Escape is an SUV that has never had a huge following. Sure, many may buy it because it has a decent price tag, but it’s never really been that great. Unfortunately, this is a trend that continues. The 2022 Ford Escape comes in multiple trims, but the S happens to be the most popular. The 2022 Ford Escape S has a 1.5-liter inline-3 engine under its hood. This compact SUV has a maximum output of 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and a torque of 190 lb-ft at 3,000 rpm. The Ford Escape is a front-wheel-drive vehicle with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
In terms of performance, the 2022 Ford Escape’s acceleration time ranges from 6.7 seconds to 8.5 seconds, depending on the trim. By far, this isn’t the fastest Ford nor the most powerful. Potential buyers should note that there are some trims with more powerful engines. However, they aren’t particularly fast or fun to drive. It’s a good vehicle for people who aren’t concerned with performance. However, some of the Ford Escape’s other issues make it a car not worth it for most people.
The 2022 Ford Escape's Reliability Ratings
The 2022 Ford Escape isn’t as bad as many of the older models of the vehicle. According to RepairPal, the 2022 Escape ranked 16 out of 26 compact SUVs for reliability. In addition, it has a 4 out of 5 rating with the site, which reports that the annual average repair cost for the Escape is $600. None of this sounds bad. However, potential Ford Escape buyers must remember that this is a fairly new car. Sure, perhaps Ford corrected whatever issues existed before, but the new Escape simply hasn’t been in the market long enough to know if the car is truly reliable.
It is also important to note that there have been recalls for the 2022 Ford Escape. These recalls are associated with the 2.5-liter hybrid trim of the Escape. While this hasn't impacted a ton of people, the issues with the car can cause a sudden loss of power, which is not something you’d want.
Overall, the 2022 Ford Escape isn’t a bad car, but it’s also not good enough to ignore the negative reputation the SUV has always had.
The Ford Escape Is Generally An Expensive Vehicle To Maintain
Ford is one of the most popular automakers, but no company always gets it right. The Ford Escape is perhaps a vehicle that the company should have discontinued because it costs buyers far too much in repair costs. Across the entire lineup, transmission problems happen to be one of the biggest issues. Unfortunately, fixing a transmission, regardless of the severity of the problem, is never cheap. According to Co-Pilot Search, the average cost to fix transmission issues for the Ford Escape is $3,400. Ignition misfires, engine stumbling, and loss of power steering are also widely reported issues. While these are less expensive, these issues can add up.
On top of the mechanical problems associated with the Ford Escape, most models of the SUV don’t hold their values very well. This is particularly true for early Escape models, as later editions have shown improvement. Despite the progress in value depreciation, the Ford Escape is a vehicle that perhaps shouldn't be at the top of your list for a new SUV. Owning a vehicle is expensive enough without the added repair costs for an unreliable SUV.