i personally own a ford escape 04' XLT, and i love it , its a smaller type of SUV. but my parents have owned for the past years all fords my family loves them , we have previously owned, at least 4 expeditions, i love them, which is a bigger SUV , and a hummer h2, boy is that amazing, i your looking for a truck i would say go for the explorer, unless you want a small SUV. the escape has plenty of room , the only complaint i have is the mats, they are a bit cheap , and the ride is a bit noisy. but besides that its great with space and on gas.