|
Like all other Escape models, the XLS feels absolutely solid, as if it were made from a solid piece of granite. It goes through any obstacle or road rut with little difficulty. Sudden shudders are rarely felt in the cabin. Still, Ford engineers have managed to make the steering livelier than before with a quicker response feel and less dead center (you probably have to thank the absence of that horrible all-wheel drive system for that). The ride and comfort, which has always been the Escape’s ace is still here. Like before, the ride is somewhat on the firm side, but not too rough. The seats also offer sublime support for all but the obese. And that’s a shame. Not because obesity is a growing problem, but the seats could have been made wider given the Escape’s large interior width. That said little has changed with the XLS’s interior. It still has the beige-tone interior and the same tweedy (note: old-looking) fabric seats. The same CD player of old, with its relatively simple interface and excellent sound quality, is carried on in the 2004 model. 80’s nostalgia is guaranteed given that the CD player doesn’t display the minutes/seconds elapsed per track. A notable change though is the column shifter. Though not obvious to all but the keen, the 2004 model features one that’s shorter, giving more precise movements over the old clunky one. Plus, it doesn’t tend to block the audio controls anymore. Sadly, the air con is still as confusing and illogical as ever. The fan speed is separate from the on/off switch making you think twice before turning which dial. There’s no low fan speed on recirculate mode either—making the Escape’s interior an uncomfortable blizzard. Though there’s a temperature knob, it’s overly sensitive that it becomes useless. Twist a little to the left, the interior turns to the Artic; a little to the right and it is Africa. It’s not perfect inside, but the Escape wins hands down on where it counts the most: utility value. Aside from the large interior room, it has huge cubby holes and center console, six cup holders, a split-fold rear bench, and gigantic cargo/luggage room. The Escape may not have the funkiest cabin, but think about it: would you care about dash-mounted drink coolers if you couldn’t even fit the family’s groceries into the cargo bay? |
|
||||
