{"id":45548,"date":"2013-09-10T01:01:48","date_gmt":"2013-09-10T08:01:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cookiesandclogs.com\/?p=45548"},"modified":"2017-10-09T14:19:22","modified_gmt":"2017-10-09T21:19:22","slug":"2014-ford-escape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cookiesandclogs.com\/2014-ford-escape\/","title":{"rendered":"2014 Ford Escape – What Happens When a Truck Guy Has a Family"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ford has come a long way in recent years. They are still known for their workhorse pick-up trucks but they’ve also carved out for themselves a spot in the reasonably-priced consumer car space. With SUV’s and Crossovers on the rise, Ford has again entered the market with their own line up. From that collection, I had the chance to try out the 2014 Ford Escape<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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2014 Ford Escape SE \/ Titanium SUV Crossover Review<\/h3>\n

If I had to describe this car in one word, it would be ‘solid’. The steering is somewhat heavier and the suspension is a bit tighter. What that means is that this model feels like it has substance. You feel safe and in control at all (well, most) times. My husband and I mostly drove around town doing errands but it was even a smooth ride all the way to California’s Great America (amusement park) and back, which was about 1\/2-hour each way. One note – the turning radius isn’t very good so you might want to give yourself extra room when making U-turns.<\/p>\n

The interior and exterior design of the car are aesthetically pleasing with soft, yet defined lines. Basically, it looks good both inside and out. I absolutely love the Ice Blue lighting and the layout of the dash is clean. I did have a hard time getting used to the cruise control and handsfree paddles but the gauges were simple and clear – the best way to be in such an area.<\/p>\n

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There was plenty of room inside and out. The back seats folded all the way down for a level cargo surface and, in the upright position, also reclined at a slight angle. This is really appreciated when you’re stuck in the back on a long trip and don’t want to sit at a perfect 45\u00b0 angle the whole time. My daughter did notice that the middle seat is more narrow. Make sure to only put the skinny kids there \ud83d\ude1b At least they’ll be happy having control of the backseat vents.<\/p>\n

Did you notice that middle compartment? It’s nice and deep,\u00a0perfect for those tall water bottles that don’t quite fit in the cup holders or the door cubbies. The mini-media setup is a great idea for charging those electronics or plugging stereo A\/V cables in for a portable video player.<\/p>\n

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The Ford Escape is supposed to be pet-friendly. With a lower clearance in the back, larger dogs can get in and out without so much burden on their joints. In theory, this makes total sense. Unfortunately, since our clumsy dog Speckles tore her the ligament in her other leg and required surgery, there was no climbing in and jumping out of the back for her. So, I decided to compare it to the Honda CR-V we own.<\/p>\n

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Side by side, the height was basically the same. However, many other cars that I’ve driven have been much higher and I usually have to lift Speckles above my head to get her in (well, not really but you get the point). When you have a dog that’s 60+ lbs. those inches make a HUGE difference.<\/p>\n

The (hands-free) power lift gate did come in handy when it was time to bring Speckles home to recover . . . when I figured out how to work it properly. It is a little slow so some patience is needed, something I obviously run short on as seen below.<\/p>\n