This discussion about the Ford Escape has been sponsored. I was allowed to test drive the Ford Escape for a week in order to facilitate my review.
I like to think that I lead a fairly green life but there are definitely areas that could use some improvement in the coming years. My husband and I do not own particularly eco friendly vehicles. Thankfully he takes a vanpool to work and I work from home most days so we don’t burn through a ton of gas. Regardless, my next car purchase is definitely going to be something more environmentally friendly than my 13 year old pickup truck. When I got the chance to check out the new Ford Escape I was excited to see what sort of features it offered. I thought I would share a few of the highlights of my week and give you a bit of insight as to how the Ford Escape can help you lead a greener life!
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Let me just say that the moment my shiny Ford Escape was delivered into my driveway I was in love! How did they know I have always wanted a red car? Slipping into the drivers seat was so relaxing! Soft, cushiony seats, dual climate zones, XM radio….I’m sure these are features you can find in a lot of new cars but considering I haven’t had a new car in 13 years I was in awe! The interior is incredibly room and in some models you even have a hands free lift gate in the rear for those days when your arms of full of groceries. Just tap the underside of the rear bumper with your foot while the keys are in your pocket and up it goes! A trip to the grocery store has never been easier! Don’t forget the reusable bags when you go!
The Ford Escape offers a number of features that would be appealing to anybody trying to reduce their carbon footprint. The gas mileage is amazing (up to 32 mpg on the highway) and the two EcoBoost engines offer an amazing amount of ‘get up and go’! In this Atlanta area traffic, being able to get up to speed FAST on the highways is extremely important! If you don’t move fast enough you could get run over by an 18 wheeler! Turns were smooth, acceleration was quick and the ride was incredibly quiet (accept for the excited teenagers in the backseat!). Our trip to Whole Foods has never been more enjoyable. Of course, having the XM stereo to play with kept the teenagers happy.
I am really impressed with the Ford Escape’s ease of handling and comfort but what really made my day was all of the ways that Ford has worked to make this car easier on the environment. A key goal in Ford’s sustainable materials strategy is to find ways to use recycled or renewable materials instead of nonrenewable virgin material in its vehicles. Here are just a few green features that you will find in the 2014 Ford Escape:
Soy-based polyurethane foams used for seat cushions, seatbacks and headliners
Wheat straw and other plant fiber-reinforced plastic used for vehicle storage bins and interior door panel
Post-industrial yarns made into seat fabrics
Post-consumer cotton from blue jeans made into interior padding
Post-consumer nylon carpeting made into resin for cylinder head covers
About 85 percent of the materials used on Ford vehicles by weight are recyclable, and approximately 95 percent of all vehicles retired from use each year are processed for recycling. That is pretty impressive! Researchers and developers are continually looking for new ways to incorporate renewable and post consumer products into the design of not only the Ford Escape but many other Ford models as well. The 2014 Ford F-150 truck uses the equivalent of about 10 pairs of jeans, 26 bath towels or 31 T-shirts as carpet insulation or sound absorber. If you need a lot of towing and hauling capability, the Ford 150 would be a great option. Coming from someone who has had a pickup truck for 13 years, they really are incredibly useful!
I really loved the amount of space in the Ford Escape. As a busy mom, avid gardener, obsessive recycler, and dog owner I have discovered that I need to be able to haul things around. There is plenty of space in back to throw the recycling, a few bags of garden soil, or all the gear a kid would need for a weekend in the woods with the scouts. The Ford Escape is a great balance between the comfort and handling of a car and the hauling capabilities of a truck. This is definitely a car I will be looking into purchasing in the next few years. I have a teenager who will be driving soon (horrifying!) and will be passing on the 13 year old pickup truck to him. I am thinking mom deserves something shiny and red when that happens!
Sustainability, high safety ratings, and amazing comfort definitely make the Ford Escape this green bloggers car of choice!
Diane is a professional blogger and nationally certified pharmacy technician at Good Pill Pharmacy. She earned her BS in Microbiology at the University of New Hampshire and has worked in cancer research, academics, and biotechnology. Concern over the growing incidence of human disease and the birth of her children led her to begin living a more natural life. She quickly realized that the information she was learning along the way could be beneficial to many others and started blogging and freelance writing to share this knowledge with others. Learn more about her HERE.
Wow! I really like Ford as a company and they do social media really well. I wonder if I could use one of these in the future. I am wedded to my minivan right now but I also know the C-Max is created for some similar family use. I know tons of folks with the Ford F-150. It’s a lovely truck and it gets through most anything Canada can throw at it.
One of our big family vacations was a trip to the Canadian Rockies. We rented a Ford Escape when we were there and we loved it. It is much roomier than it looks and did a great job in the mountains.
You know, that’s not a bad size vehicle for me… I think I’ll be in the market before too long. I like what I see.
PS. Cheetos and Diet Coke 4-evah!
Wow! I really like Ford as a company and they do social media really well. I wonder if I could use one of these in the future. I am wedded to my minivan right now but I also know the C-Max is created for some similar family use. I know tons of folks with the Ford F-150. It’s a lovely truck and it gets through most anything Canada can throw at it.
I LOVE my Ford Escape! When we are looking to buy a new vehicle in the next year or two we are going to be looking at the Ford Explorer.
One of our big family vacations was a trip to the Canadian Rockies. We rented a Ford Escape when we were there and we loved it. It is much roomier than it looks and did a great job in the mountains.
We’ve been trying to decide if we need a truck or another van. This seems to be a great compromise!!