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2008 Ford Escape - Ride and Handling

Handling
The Escape has a good ride, almost regardless of the road conditions, as long as those roads are paved. In the rough stuff, the Escape shudders, dances and quivers alarmingly, so much so that you’ll feel inclined to head home before reaching your secluded destination. Despite its car-based platform, the Escape is ill-suited to any sort of enthusiastic driving thanks to its high stance. The body leans considerably in corners, the rear end squats under acceleration and the nose dives under braking. It never feels unsafe, but sensitive passengers may want a Dramamine before a mountain trip.

Fun to Drive
Some small crossovers aren’t much fun on the road, but provide some fun once you get off it. Others are fun on the road, but not much good off. The Escape is neither, providing little satisfaction on or off road, or under any driving condition we encountered. The constant din (more on that later), cheap interior materials and overall dated driving dynamics do nothing to improve the situation.