Ford Escape: How your vehicle differs from other vehicles
SUVs and trucks can differ from some other vehicles in a few noticeable ways. Your vehicle may be:
• Higher – to allow higher load carrying capacity and to allow it to travel over rough terrain without getting hung up or damaging underbody components.
• Shorter – to give it the capability to approach inclines and drive over the crest of a hill without getting hung up or damaging underbody components. All other things held equal, a shorter wheelbase may make your vehicle quicker to respond to steering inputs than a vehicle with a longer wheelbase.
• Narrower – to provide greater maneuverability in tight spaces, particularly in off-road use.
As a result of the above dimensional differences, SUVs and trucks often will have a higher center of gravity and a greater difference in center of gravity between the loaded and unloaded condition.
These differences that make your vehicle so versatile also make it handle differently than an ordinary passenger car.
4WD system (if equipped)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a four-wheel drive (4WD) system. With the 4WD option, power will be delivered to the front wheels and distributed to the rear wheels as needed. This increases tra ...Information about uniform tire quality grading
Tire Quality Grades apply to new pneumatic passenger car tires. The Quality grades can be found where applicable on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum section width. For exampl ...See also:
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes. The
ABS will operate to prevent the wheels from
locking up. Steer the ve ...
Exterior care
Exterior general caution It is very important to follow the label directions
when using any chemical cleaner or polish. Read all warning and caution statements
that appear on the label. Finish mai ...
Switching off the engine
With the engine running, press the START/
STOP ENGINE button.
If the gear selector is not in the P position or if
the vehicle is moving, press the button twice or
press and hold it in until the ...