The Ford SUV: A Lifestyle

Imagine you’re driving down a well-traveled dirt road in a new Ford SUV, windows down, your best fur friend in the backseat, your favorite song on the radio. Finally, you round the bend and park next to a pristine lake. The perfect spot for camping and enjoying a weekend on the water. You pull your tent, cooler, and grill out of the back. Your kayak slides easily off the top of your Ford SUV and glides into the water. Your outdoor enthusiast heart soars! Life is peaceful, relaxed, even dreamy.

Alternatively, maybe you are just pulling out of your well-paved driveway, your two children in the backseat, with just enough space so as not to bicker. You are headed to sporting event number one of the day, before dropping them off at karate. You pull up to the field and unload the plethora of equipment and snacks you were asked to bring, which fit perfectly into the back of your SUV. A minivan would have been suitable for your lifestyle, but it just didn’t feel like you. Then you rush to your next stop where you unload a gym bag and ultimately add a friend to your child count. You don’t sweat it though, because you adore your life and know you have plenty of space since you have third-row seating.

Maybe one of these scenarios fit your life to a T., Or maybe they both do. Either way, choosing a Ford SUV as your everyday vehicle—one that offers elevated seating, spacious seating, great safety options, and tons of cargo space—is a lifestyle choice. There are plenty of options that offer the same things, but none feel as right as your SUV.

There are many make and model options when it comes to choosing an SUV. Hundreds, in fact. And each make and model, in turn, offers additional body style options. Breaking it down further, you then have a dozens of color options, towing/sport rack choices, and several other add-on options available to you. It can be a daunting process to figure out which one is just right for you.

For example, Ford has six different SUV models. Among them are the Ford Edge, Ford EcoSport, as well as the ever-popular Escape and Expedition. Some of the Ford SUV models have multiple body styles to choose from, as well as a long history of quality craftsmanship and innovation. Ford is one of the more well-known American manufacturers.

According to Kelly Blue Book online, the Ford Edge ranked thirteenth, the Explorer ranked sixth, and the Ford Escape ranked number four amongst the 25 Best-Selling SUVs of 2017, showing that Ford is definitely a popular and quality option when choosing an SUV. More impressive yet are the Ford SUV rankings on the list of the 25 Best-Selling Cars of 2017. Coming in at number thirteen is the Ford Explorer. Kelly Blue Book expert reviews compare its sleek styling to that of the Land Rover. Its 7-passenger seating offers plush interiors, as well as off-road capabilities. The Ford Escape ranked number eleven. Expert reviews noted the 5-passenger Escape as an excellent alternative to other compact SUVs, like the Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage.

Ford Escape is one of the best-selling Ford SUV models. The 2018 Ford Escape has four styles to choose from: the S, SE, SEL, and Titanium. While the S style is the lowest priced package, with a 2.5-liter engine, it does not offer Turbo or EcoBoost like the engines in the other styles. All four styles come standard with automatic, six-speed transmissions, as well as optional front- or all-wheel drive packages. Many options come standard on all four styles, but differences become more apparent when looking at the comfort and convenience options. These options vary among things like air conditioning, engine starting, and entry systems. Entertainment packages, steering, and safety are also widely varied.

When it comes down to the most luxurious options, the Titanium is the best choice, but your bank account will take a hit. Starting MSRP, without all the additional add-ons, is about $32,000. Whereas, pricing for the Ford Escape S is almost $10,000 less. This ultimately comes down to budget and personal needs or wants.

Another factor to take into consideration is ratings. The Ford Escape has an overall Kelly Blue Book rating of 8.2. It is significantly less than that of similar model SUVs, which all rated above 9.0. Its consumer rating is also on the lower side, at 7.6 out of 10. That being said, the Escape did rate well in overall safety. Overall Crash Test ratings were mostly five stars.

The ultimate decision comes down to what the individual consumer is looking for in their SUV. Do you need more passenger space, like third-row seating? Is extra cargo space important? Will you be using your SUV to go off-road? Does the SUV you want fit your budget? What add-on options do you want? These are all questions a consumer must ask themselves when deciding which SUV will best suit the ins and outs of their lifestyle. Ford is one of many great options on the market. Research and a clear idea of what you are looking for will help you in the decision making process.