2002 Ford Escape Overview

Product Information   Specifications  Features and Options 2002 FORD Escape OVERVIEW New for 2002 Dual media (AM/FM stereo cassette/CD/clock) standard on XLS Standard on XLT: 6-disc in-dash CD changer (CDX6), Privacy Glass, power driver’s seat. 3.0L Duratec V-6 engine with automatic transaxle standard on XLT. Adjustable front-seat head restraints XLT Sport Package with: No Boundaries Rack System, 16-inch Sport aluminum wheels P235/70R16 OWL all-terrain tires (including wheellip moldings), side step bars and unique Sport floor mats, front and rear Overview First introduced as a 2001 model, the 2002 Ford Escape provides fun and responsive ride and handling, an outstanding interior package, excellent fuel economy and low emissions in a small, tough SUV. The Escape is designed to appeal to young buyers who want sporty, durable and affordable transportation. Design Escape comes in two models, with the entry-level XLS offering all the usual passenger car comforts, and the XLT providing a sportier execution and level of comfort. Escape has a confidently poised stance with wide body cladding and integrated bumper guards to give it an assured look of off-road readiness. The design delivers a muscular, athletic exterior without an overly aggressive appearance. The interior design of the Escape is focused on enhancing individual features, both aesthetically and functionally. For recognition of key information at a glance, the instruments are large and legible, with dial-type speedometer, trip odometer, tachometer, fuel gauge and temperature gauge. Stalks on the steering column control the lights and wipers. A tilt-adjustable steering wheel is standard. Packaging The 2002 Escape is designed for maximum comfort, convenience, passenger roominess and cargo flexibility. Escape has four doors and a rear lift-gate with flip-up glass for access to the cargo area. The cargo area, with the seats up, offers 33 cubic feet of storage space. Escape has room to carry five adults and their cargo comfortably. Its low step-in height and wide door openings allow good access, with four assist grips for front passengers – on both the A-pillar and the headliner on each side – and two more on the headliner for rear seat occupants. XLS has manually adjustable seats trimmed with cloth and vinyl. XLT vehicles have a premium cloth seating surface. Both front and rear seats have separate two-way adjustable head restraints in the outboard positions. Both the XLS and the XLT rear seating systems can be folded flat, for increased cargo space. The latched seat back can be folded forward and the head restraint removed. The rear-seat cushion can also be removed, further enhancing load-carrying capacity. The flip-up rear glass offers easier access to the rear cargo area for small items. Escape provides easy-to-use interior storage. In the XLT, the console accommodates a storage bin, and two forward and two rear pop-out cup holders. The XLS floor console includes five cup holders, an open storage bin and coin holders. The center stack of the instrument panel incorporates a storage compartment large enough to hold CD cases or sunglasses. The glove box locks and each front door includes large, deep map pockets. Open storage bins are located in the rear quarter panel on both sides of the cargo area. A 12-volt power point is located in the cargo area. Audio and climate controls are located in the center stack, with the controls logically arranged. An in-dash AM/FM stereo with cassette and single CD player is standard on the XLS while the XLT has an in-dash 6-disc CD player. Powertrains The 2002 Ford Escape comes with a standard 2.0L Zetec inline four-cylinder engine that makes 127 horsepower and 135 foot-pounds of torque. The optional 3.0L Duratec DOHC V-6 engine is good for 201 horsepower at 5900 rpm and 196 foot-pounds of torque at 4700 rpm with the four-speed automatic transmission. When properly equipped, Escape has a maximum towing capacity of 3500 pounds. Ride and handling The 2002 Ford Escape is versatile, compact SUV that is responsive and utterly fun to drive. Escape combines convenience and comfort with a unibody design for refined passenger car-like ride and handling. The two-wheel drive Escape is the only Ford SUV with front-wheel drive, which provides excellent handling, traction and control. The optional full-time four-wheel drive system provides the driver with the choice of two difference settings: 4×4 Auto or 4×4 ON. The automatic setting allows the vehicle to determine how to apportion torque between the front and rear wheels, while the 4×4 ON setting splits the torque evenly between the front and rear drive wheels, enhancing performance when driving off-road or in other uncertain driving conditions. MacPherson strut front suspension helps to isolate road forces, while the independent rear suspension allows lower spring rates for a smooth ride. Safety and Security Ford Escape has been designed with safety as a top priority. Front fender reinforcement helps to direct the energy load of a frontal crash between the lower frame rail and an upper path that goes through the roof, away from occupants. An energy-absorbing steering column works with energy-absorbing knee bolsters, located below the instrument panel, to reduce the risk of injuries for front seat occupants. Standard high-tensile-steel side-intrusion door beams help to protect passengers in side impacts. Driver and front passenger air bags are standard. Pretensioners combined with load limiting retractors are standard on front-seat belts. In a crash, these pretensioners automatically take up slack in the belts, while the load limiters are designed to reduce the risk of chest injuries in severe collisions. The Ford SecuriLock TM engine immobilizer is standard on all Escapes. The system uses a key containing an electronically encrypted transponder that communicates with a transceiver unit in the ignition system. Without the proper key, the vehicle cannot be started.