2005 Ford Escape Review: There are Better SUVs Out There, but Few Better Deals

The 2005 Ford Escape is comfortable enough, powerful enough, fuel-efficient enough, and roomy enough for the price, starting at under four grand. It’s not hard to find a better compact SUV, but you’ll have to look far and wide to find one at a better price.

Is the 2005 Ford Escape a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 7/10 – The truth is that the 2005 Ford Escape is kind of mediocre. There’s nothing really wrong with the SUV, but there’s nothing really excellent about it, either.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 6/10 – Rear hip room can comfortably seat two adults, there’s enough cargo space for most road trips, and suspension is smooth. But you’ve got to take a point away based on the potential for early corrosion in the struts and shocks.
• Reliability 8/10 – Premature rust is the only major maintenance issue you need to worry about.
• Safety 7/10 – Crash test ratings are solid and safety technology, though dated by now, is decent for 2005.
• Gas Mileage 7/10 – The 2005 Ford Escape averages 22/25 miles to the gallon, city/highway, in the base model. The high-end Limited averages 20/25 miles to the gallon at 200 horsepower. There are more efficient compact SUVs out there, but the Escape’s not bad.
• Value 8/10 – The 2005 Ford Escape is a decent SUV at a very good price. Low cost of ownership helps to sweeten the deal, with decent fuel economy, few major repair issues to look out for, and a quarter million mile life expectancy.

What Do Critics Say About the 2005 Ford Escape?

Consumer Reports found the 2005 Ford Escape to be an improvement on the 2001 model, being more comfortable, quieter, safer, and more agile, but with less grip, longer braking distance, and lower maximum speed.

Kelley Blue Book users give the 2005 Ford Escape a strong 88% recommendation, praising the SUV’s longevity, its powerful engines, and even the easy-cleaning interior. Drivers were less enthusiastic about the loud engine, and some peeling paint and rust dents after twenty years on the road.

Edmunds liked the 2005 Escape’s powerful V6 engine, the generous cargo capacity, the comfortable interior, and the carlike handling. They didn’t like the i4 models as much, and found the interior materials a bit cheap.

What Common Problems Does the 2005 Ford Escape Have?

456 of the 2005 Escape’s 1,572 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration complaints are for structural issues. The major issue here is severe rust in the subframe. This is most common in states with cold winters, where you’ll be exposed to more road salt, but a coating of anti-rust spray is a good idea wherever you’re buying.

The rust issues extend to the suspension, where there are 486 complaints on file. Major external rust might not always be visible, but you will hear clanking sounds as you go over bumps. Make sure to check the suspension on your test drive.

If you can avoid the worst of the rust problems, engine and powertrain complaints are few. If you allow the rust to settle in, you could have the transmission falling out before you reach 200,000 miles.

The 2005 Ford Escape has 5 recalls on file with the NHTSA, which is within reason for an SUV of this age. But, 1,572 complaints is a lot.

How Long Will the 2005 Ford Escape Last?

Drivers report that a Ford Escape can last up to 250,000 with regular maintenance. Assuming that you don’t have to deal with any premature corrosion, you can expect to reach at least 200,000 before you see any major repairs, with 250,000 being a typical life expectancy.

RepairPal report an annual maintenance cost of around $600. The most expensive common fix is a new exhaust manifold, starting at around $1,070.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology in the 2005 Ford Escape is pretty good, considering the vehicle’s age. You’ve got a CD player as a standard feature and a 6-disc changer in the high-end models. No MP3 players though.

Safety technology is pretty good for 2005. You’ve got full dual-stage airbags with occupant sensors, and anti-lock brakes. Dated, sure, but not necessarily a given in 2005.

Is the 2005 Ford Escape a Good Value?

The 2005 Ford Escape is a pretty good value. The entry-level XLS is typically priced at around $3,420, while the high-end Limited is priced at about $4,597.

Cost of ownership is low, with the SUV getting decent mileage and not being too expensive to keep running. These models were priced with under 160,000 miles on the odometer, so you should have anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 miles left on the original transmission.

What are the Different Models of the 2005 Ford Escape?

Not counting the Hybrid Escape, which is marketed and sold as its own vehicle, the 2005 Ford Escape is sold in three trim levels from the base XLS to the high-end Limited.

With the entry-level XLS you’re getting:

• Cloth seating
• Remote keyless entry
• Manual air conditioning
• CD player
• Power windows and door locks

The mid-range XLT adds:

• Premium cloth seating
• Fog lights
• 6-way power adjust driver seat
• 6-disc CD changer

Finally, the top-of-the-line Limited features:

• Leather seating
• Leather wrapped steering wheel
• 3.0L V6 engine

What Engines Come In the 2005 Ford Escape?

• The base engine in the 2005 Ford Escape is a 2.3L inline-four delivering 152 lb.-ft. of torque and 153 horsepower. The engine is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission, it’s configured in front/four wheel drive, and it averages 22/25 miles to the gallon.
• Limited editions are equipped with a 3.0L V6 engine delivering 200 horsepower and 193 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic, configured in front/four wheel drive, and averages 20/25 miles to the gallon.

What Colors Does the 2005 Ford Escape Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2005 Ford Escape?

The 2005 Ford Escape is fairly comfortable. With 49 inches of rear hip room you’ve got enough space for a couple adults in the back row, or three kids. The suspension rides smooth and the seating is nice and firm.

Your biggest concern is going to be premature corrosion in the suspension. Once the rust settles in it’s effectively impossible to fix, but it’s easy to prevent with a coating of anti-rust spray.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2005 Ford Escape Have?

The 2005 Escape starts off with 29 cubic feet of space in the rear, and that can extend to 66 cubic feet with the seats folded down. There are larger compact SUVs out there, like the CR-V and Chevy Equinox, but this should be enough space for anything you can expect to carry in a crossover.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

2005 was the fifth model year in the Ford Escape’s 1st Generation, which ran from 2001 to 2007.

2002: The Limited trim made its debut in 2002.

2003: Ford remodeled the interior for 2003, and they introduced two-tone cabin color schemes.

2004: Airbags and seatbelts were redesigned for 2004, and the front bumper was redesigned.

2005: The i4 trims were paired with automatic transmission options for 2005.

2006: Ford offered i4 engines in the XLT for the first time in 2006.

2007: Ford were phasing the 1st Generation Escape out at this point, so there were no major changes in 2007 beyond some new appearance packages.

How Does the 2005 Ford Escape Compare to the Competition?

Year after year, the Honda CR-V is pretty much the best overall compact SUV on the market, and 2005 was no exception. 2005’s CR-V was more nimble, more comfortable, roomier, and more efficient than the Ford Escape. It also costs anywhere from one to two thousand dollars more than a comparable Escape.

The 2005 Subaru Forester is a little more powerful than the Escape at the entry level, and a little less fuel efficient, but you probably won’t notice the difference on the test drive. The Forester averages a few hundred dollars more than a comparable Escape.

There are faster, stronger, more efficient, and roomier compact SUVs on the market than the 2005 Ford Escape, but, for this model year, it might be the best SUV you’re going to find for under four grand.

Do Owners Recommend the 2005 Ford Escape?