CUVs (Crossover utility vehicles) are becoming more and more popular these days, as consumers are interested in saving money and buying more eco-friendly vehicles but they still have a lot of people and cargo to move around. CUVs like the 2012 Ford Escape give you the best of both worlds – a smaller vehicle that uses less gas but with the cargo and passenger space to make everyone happy.
Key Features
While the Honda CR-V may have been one of the first crossover vehicles to claim the market, it isn’t available in a V6. But the 2012 Ford Escape is. Plus, it has a great onboard navigation system, and its Active Park Assist feature can automatically guide your vehicle into a parallel parking spot without a lot of backing and forthing and with no frustration for you.
Changes for 2012
There were no major model changes between 2011 and 2012.
What We Like
We love how rugged and tough the 2012 Escape is. It can stand up to a lot of the same terrain that larger SUVs are built to handle, but it does it all without feeling like you’re driving a huge boat and without guzzling a lot of gas. And it provides a lot of comfortable features to make driving the Escape a lot of fun, whether you’re headed out camping or just going to the store for some milk.
What Concerns Us
While we love the way the 2012 Ford Escape functions, we aren’t entirely sold on it aesthetically speaking. It has a somewhat dated appearance, reminiscent of older Ford Explorers on a scaled-down level. While other CUV manufacturers are looking to the future, it looks like Ford looked to the past, which could be damaging to your vehicle’s resale value.
Available Models
You’ll have your choice of two engine options with the 2012 Ford Escape:
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Engine – 3.0-liter V6 (Flex-Fuel)
- Power – 240 HP at 6550 RPM
- Torque – 223 lb-ft at 4300 RPM
- Fuel economy (MPG city/highway) – 19/25 (FWD gas), 18/23 (4wd gas), 14/19 (FWD E85), 18/23 (4WD gas), 13/17 (4WD E85)
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Engine – 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder
- Power – 171 HP at 6000 RPM
- Torque – 171 lb-ft at 4500 RPM
- Fuel economy (MPG city/highway) – 23/28 (FWD manual), 20/27 (4WD automatic)
Major Recalls
Some models with certain aftermarket front wheel bearings have been recalled to have the bearings and/or wheel replaced.
Common Issues
The most common issue that owners complain about with the 2012 Ford Escape is that the back window may leak when it rains. This issue can be fixed at any Ford dealership.
