The Ford Maverick XLT, or the Escape in America, was first launched in the UK in 2001 and was a collaboration between Ford and Mazda, with Mazda launching the Tribute at the same time.
The Maverick was intended to replace the previous UK Maverick and Nissan Terrano II with two engines available to chose from. A 2 litre Zetec manual and a 3 litre V6 automatic. Both cars are All Wheel drive (AWD) vehicles, and while most of the power from the engine is sent to the front wheels, if traction is lost, more power is automatically sent to the rear.
While the 3 litre V6 is certainly more of a gas-guzzler, it is by far the best engine out of the two available, although the gear ratios are something to be desired, having only 4 normal gears, and 2 low range.
As for off-roading? Well it would seem that Ford had decided for us that we didn't want to drive this car on anything beyond lose gravel, and even though it does handle reasonably well in our "Arctic" winters, i wouldn't want to tow a caravan with it over a frozen lake!
So why, you ask, do i own one? Well, i am a wheelchair user, and for me, power and off-road ability is not that important for me. What is important for me, is space and comfort. All of which this car has in abundance. And although it has solid rear axles designed for carrying heavy loads, it is still remarkably comfortable and the boot is more than big enough for a wheelchair.
Safety equipment features are driver, passenger (and optional, but recommended)
side impact air bags. Stiff anti-roll bars, allowing some lean
when going round corners, but no risk of rolling,
unless going round a hair-pin at 80mph!
The ignition key has a chip inbedded into it, which the car reads when the key is inserted. If the car fails to read this chip, the car will not start, even if the key has been cut to exactly match the original. Due to this, the Maverick/Escape has some of the
lowest reported thefts in its class.
For those of you who are looking for a car to take to the top of Snowdon, then i might suggest going for a Range Rover. But if the only off-roading you will ever be doing is parking on the beach, then this will do the trick just nicely.
