Ford Escape 2000–2004 car dimensions: 4393 mm long, 1780 mm wide and 1756 mm high. Braked towing is 1,588 kg.
The cabin seats five with standard air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, tilt steering wheel, remote keyless entry and an AM/FM stereo with single CD player. Cruise control comes in the convenience group, standard on XLT and optional on XLS. ABS is standard on XLT and optional on XLS. Dual front airbags are standard with side airbags optional. The layout puts audio and climate controls in an easy-to-reach center stack oriented to the driver. Storage includes a center console with cupholders and under-seat space on higher options.
Cargo volume is 34.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 68.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat. The liftgate has a separate flip-up glass and low liftover height for easy loading. A roof rack is standard and holds additional gear.
Maximum towing is 3500 pounds when equipped with the V6 and Class II trailer tow package, which includes a hitch receiver, wiring and engine oil cooler. Without the package the V6 tows up to 2000 pounds and the four-cylinder tows up to 1000 pounds. Payload capacity is 978 pounds.
The cabin seats five with cloth front buckets and a folding rear bench that offers solid leg and hip room for the class. Height-adjustable driver seat and tilt wheel are available. Center console holds multiple cupholders. Rear seats fold flat for cargo. Air conditioning is standard. Controls sit in easy reach. Interior feels roomy and practical with good visibility and low step-in.
EPA fuel economy around 16 city/22 highway for V6 automatic. better with four-cylinder manual.
Dual front airbags standard. side airbags optional.
ABS optional on XLS, standard on XLT.
NHTSA frontal ratings 5 stars driver, 4 passenger. side 5 stars. rollover 3 stars.
IIHS moderate overlap front Marginal.
Child seat anchors and door locks standard.
Fuel use depends on the engine and drive. The base four-cylinder with manual returns higher economy figures than the optional V6 automatic. Tank holds about 16 gallons. Regular unleaded is specified.
Servicing follows the scheduled maintenance guide in the owner's manual. Oil and filter changes occur at the intervals listed there. Fluids, filters, and belts are checked per the guide. No fixed long-interval claims appear in the public record for this year.
Safety kit centers on dual front airbags with pretensioners and load limiters. Side airbags and ABS are available options on the XLS. Child anchors and locks come standard. Unibody structure aids protection. Crash results show strong side scores and solid frontal driver protection but a lower rollover rating.
Live with it by watching for known early issues such as fuel system or brake items covered in recalls. Keep fluids fresh and follow the maintenance guide to hold value. Cargo space expands with the fold-flat rear seat. Roof rails handle light loads.
Length 4393 mm, Width 1780 mm, Height 1756 mm, Wheelbase 2620 mm (Escape 2000–2004)
Sources: manufacturer data, 2001 Ford Escape brochure, 2001 Ford Escape Owner's Manual, Capacities and specifications, Ground clearance.