2009 Ford Escape Review and Model Lineup
If you are looking to buy a used 2009 Ford Escape, finding a review of the vehicle is going to be tough. At least in terms of any review by owners or mechanics that will give you information about reliability. The vehicle was reviewed by the industry and came out strong overall. You can only rely so much on those types of reviews, though, because these aren’t the people who live with a vehicle for several years day in and day out and really get to know it. On the other hand, they are also the people who have driven the competition.
New Power Train for 2009 Model Year
The engines for the 2009 model year saw change across the board. A 2.5 cylinder four cylinder engine is the base engine (not on all versions) and it delivers more power than the earlier smaller engine, but also improves fuel economy. Of course, a lot of that improvement (and it’s said to be one mile per gallon) comes from some new spoilers and other exterior alterations that increase aerodynamics. The six-cylinder remained a 3.0 liter, but the interior of the engine was entirely redesigned. This improved the compression of the engine and, like the four-cylinder, this allows for more power with more fuel economy. Even the hybrid got a similar upgrade. The engine in that version was made larger, while the increased aerodynamics and overall engine efficiency increased the fuel consumption numbers. Some drivers have reported that for in town driving, if you are careful to keep it running nearly exclusively on electricity, you can get around sixty miles per gallon. In addition, a six speed automatic transmission was added to the bill (standard on some models, optional on others). This transmission helps with the fuel economy, too.
Other Changes for 2009 Model Year
The audio system was fully redesigned for the 2009 model year with a more technologically updated approach. In addition, new safety features became standard, like Advance Trac and Roll Stability Control.
Reliability
Here’s where the real questions come in to play. These vehicles haven’t been on the road long enough for any reports to really come out from mechanics or vehicle owners ““ at least not the kind that address long-term reliability. With all new power trains there just isn’t enough information to know how they stand up over tens of thousands of miles and many years of usage.
Warranty
If you are buying a used 2009 Ford Escape, pay careful attention to the mileage on the vehicles. Remember that the bumper to bumper warranty is good for three years or 36,000 miles. So, the lower the mileage, the more of that warranty you will be inheriting. The same holds true for the 5 year, 60,000 mile power train warranty. Keep in mind that in order for the warranty to be honored, required maintenance needs to have been done. So, make sure the owner can produce service records. Also make sure that if you buy the vehicle they give those documents to you ““ or your warranty will be useless. Part of the advantage of buying a late model used vehicle like this is that you get a lot of the warranty benefit of a new car, while the majority of the depreciation is eaten by the original buyer.
Don’t forget to get the car inspected before you buy it. With a vehicle this new the care that was taken of it won’t be as important in some ways as it would be on an older car. Less damage can accumulate with less time. On the other hand, the earliest oil changes and other maintenance are often the most important. Either way an inspection will help to assure that you don’t buy someone else’s problems.
