My current "car" is a 2012 Fusion 3.0 which I commute 140 miles a day in. I know a 4cyl will yield better mpgs but I like the power when I need it. I have 112K miles on the Fusion and have been thinking about getting a small SUV to commute and use for driving my German Shepherd pup around. I hike and backpack a lot and an Escape would be easier at some of the trail heads I visit. Sure I could just take the Excursion but it's too valuable to me to leave at a trail head for a night or two wih me miles away.

So, I'm at looking at three Escapes,
2012 XLT 2WD 3.0 with nicer 17" wheels with 12K miles,
2012 Limited 2WD 4cyl with 21K miles
2012 2011 XLT AWD 4cyl with 21K miles.

All are close to the same price, the 2011 about a grand less.


What real world mpg are these motors getting with these bodies, 2WD and AWD? AWD is not really impoertant to me.

Any weird things I should look for? Thanks all.

 

Check out the 2010 down in my signature. On long interstates trips, we can get 30-31 MPG at 72 - 76 MPH or so, if we're NOT into a headwind. Into a headwind, which seems to be more our luck, it's high 20's.

Around town, and everybody's definition of around town will be different, my wife gets 23-25 MPG, but if I drive it I can get 26 MPG. I'm a smoother driver and I look ahead, coast up to red lights, etc.

Absolutely no complaints on power with the 2.5L FWD w/6 speed auto. It goes! Merging into cut-throat traffic on expressways has not been a problem. The 6-speed trans and it's controlling software with the 4 cyl. work out very well.

And it will cruise at 85 - 90 MPH, though at those speeds I think I'm pushing a small brick, so I keep it in the reasonable 70's instead. I would bet gas mileage would take a r-e-a-l big drop at 85-90!

IIRC, the weight/extra friction of AWD knocks a couple MPG off of the EPA MPG ratings, so my comments apply to the 4 cyl. with FWD only.

 

Thanks for yourr reply. I didn't get to go look at them, hopefully this weekend.

 

The 4cyl is no slouch, you stab it, she goes. We have just over 100k on the wifes already. Very few issues. It has proven very nimble off road and decent tires. I find it just as fast as the v6, but better mileage and of course less towing capacity. When she was commuting, we usually averaged 28. Now that she only drives 5 miles to work and I but meatier tires on it we are seeing 22-25. Real gas bought in Winchester would net us 30 when commuting.

 

I have 3 very large shops and have a lot of fleet work. One customer has a bunch of Escape hybrids and most of them are used in urban traffic for errands and court appearances and get close to 22mpg. Keep in mind these people are going slow speeds. They are not putting much money into the vehicles other than tires, oil, brake jobs and some occaissional fender benders. The 4 cylinder is very easy to maintain and performs well. For some reason they aren't stealing them like they do the GM's and Durangos.
I would recommend a 2013 and older. I really like the 2010's.