I like the fact that the Escape has a perfect blend of everything.
People always windge about how it isnt a real 4x4 etc etc. I'll give you an example...
My Toyota Hilux is a real 4x4. It performs really well
OFF ROAD with it's Diesel torque, live axles front and rear and 2 inch lift.
ON THE ROAD it doesn't perform too great. It handles pretty poorly with so much body roll, the live axles make for an uncomfortable ride and the engine is slugish.
The Tribute on the other hand has a good balance.
OFF ROAD it is fairly limited but is still able to reach places a standard car couldn't. It performs much better on the beach then many other macho 4x4's.
ON THE ROAD it behaves like an ordinary car. It's very quick, it handles better then alot of sedans, it is small enough to make tight turns in car parks and is easy to maneuver in traffic. You simply can't do all these things in a true 4x4.
With my Tribute I am still able to explore bush land and beaches while still having the power and road manners of an ordinary car.
With my Hilux I am able to explore thicker bush land and thougher trails but not have a comfortable on road car.
My point is you can either have a dedicated 4x4 that is only any good for off road use or have an Escape which has the perfect balance of off road abilities and on road manners
End of rambling :lol: