Ford Helps Your New Driver Escape the Ordinary

Choosing the right vehicle for your teen driver can be tricky, so we’ll make it simple: the Ford Escape is an excellent first car thanks to its reliability, solid performance, and fantastic safety features over the years. While some people splurge and choose a new vehicle for a new driver, this is often a mistake, and it’s typically a much better choice to go with something like a used Ford Escape. Not only has the Escape been a terrific choice for many years, giving you access to a wide range of great models when looking for a used car, but this can help save you a lot of money overall.

We know that looking at cars for a new driver can be stressful since the very idea of your kid gaining so much freedom and responsibility can make the best of us anxious. That’s why it’s important to have experts to work with and stand next to you as you look at the options available. Here at DePaula Ford, we’re happy to show you everything we have to offer and explain the various features of each model to help you choose the perfect vehicle for your new driver. Let’s take a look at why we think a used Escape is a great pick for the first car your teen will make a ton of memories in.

Strong, Reliable Performance

We all worry about our kids, but a good first vehicle will make that unnecessary––you’ll still worry, of course, but some part of your brain will know you don’t need to. The Ford Escape has been one of our favorite models for a long time due to its terrific engines that offer great performance you can count on. You don’t want to give a new driver a sports car or something with that kind of power in it, but the Escape has plenty of oomph so that they can still enjoy their time on the road while learning good habits and responsible behavior.

When looking at used models, you’ll want to remember the following: the third generation for the Escape ran from 2013 to 2019, with an update and refresh for the 2017 model year, while the fourth generation kicked off for the 2020 model year and received a facelift for the 2023 model. The types of features you find on a used Escape will depend greatly upon the model year you look at, particularly in terms of which generation it is a part of. For example, looking at the 2018 model, you’ll find a standard 2.5L four-cylinder engine that delivers 168 hp. Higher trims feature either a 1.5L EcoBoost engine with 179 hp or 2.0L EcoBoost with 245 hp.

On the other hand, if you’re considering a 2021 Escape, you can find a standard 1.5L EcoBoost engine with 181 hp, a more powerful 2.0L EcoBoost engine with 250 hp, or even one of two different hybrid options. At the end of the day, any of these engines work well though you may find greater comfort if your new driver has one of the less-powerful options offered for the Escape. Recent models come with a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty from the factory, so you know that the engine will last a while, and we offer additional warranties if you want some extra peace of mind.

An Interior That’s Not Too Spacious

We sometimes see people shopping for a first car for their teen driver, and they’re looking at something that we consider much too large. A full-size SUV with seating for eight people can be a great choice for families, but that’s a lot of power and bulk for a new driver to learn to control. It’s typically better to go with something a bit smaller and easier for a young driver; plus, you don’t need your teen to have half a dozen friends inside the vehicle with them, creating distractions and causing general chaos.

As a compact crossover, the Escape is perfectly sized––large enough that you know your kid is protected by the vehicle but small enough to be easy to control. The Escape has two rows of seating for up to five people, which is perfect if you have several kids and want your teen to be able to run them around when you can’t. This is also enough room for them to have a friend or two along with them but not enough for them to load up with too many people. The crossover design also gives them plenty of room inside for stuff they need to take with them, such as projects for school, instruments or sports equipment for after-school activities, and emergency supplies (just in case).

Great Options Inside

Some critics have complained that the Escape doesn’t have the most refined interior, particularly when looking at older models. As far as we’re concerned, this is perfect for a teen driver because it means you’re not looking at something expensive and easily damaged. What you find inside will depend on the model year and trim you’re looking at as you shop for a used Escape, so keep that in mind, but any vehicle from recent years will have good stuff that your new driver will enjoy.

Going back a generation to a 2019 model, you’ll find basic interior features on S and SE trims. But if you look at the Titanium trim, you’ll find leather seating, metallic details, and power-operated front seats. Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system is standard on most models from 2019 and includes an eight-inch display, which makes it easy for your teen driver to keep track of navigation and take a phone call from you while keeping their hands on the wheel.

What about the latest generation? If you find a vehicle from 2020, standard models come with cloth seating, though higher trims include leather seating surfaces and more luxurious details. The base S trim for the 2020 model has a 4.2-inch infotainment display standard, but most used Escapes from this generation feature a larger eight-inch screen to improve visibility. High trims come with additional luxuries like a 12.3-inch digital gauge display for the instrument cluster and even a head-up display projected onto the windshield, but these aren’t necessary for a new driver.

Innovative Driver-Assist Features

Absolutely nothing is more important when choosing a car for a new driver than how well it can help keep them safe on the road. The Ford Escape has some of the most advanced driver-assist features out there, making it a terrific choice as long as you pay attention to the model year. For the third generation, like a 2018 or 2019 model, advanced features such as Adaptive Cruise Control and a Forward Collision Warning were available, and you’ll typically find them on higher trims.

Starting with the 2020 model, many of these features became standard as part of Ford’s Co-Pilot360 package on every trim. No matter what Escape you’re looking at from 2020 or later, it will have Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, a Blind-Spot Information System, a Lane-Keeping System, and more included. Since these are newer pre-owned models, they’ll likely cost a bit more, but we think the extra expense is well worth it to ensure your teen driver is as safe as possible behind the wheel.

The Escape Has a Lot to Offer

You can see that the Ford Escape has had a lot to offer, year after year, making it a great choice for new drivers. With so many terrific options to choose from in recent years, it helps to have someone by your side as you search for the perfect car with everything your young driver needs. Here at DePaula Ford, we offer a wide range of pre-owned vehicles in excellent condition, and our friendly salespeople are committed to making sure you get the right one. Call or come visit us at DePaula Ford today and let us take some of the stress and worry out of finding a great vehicle for your teen driver to safely enjoy.