This is my experience with the two mentioned: We traded in a Ford Expedition (older, smaller version, with very uncomfortable seats for long distance driving), to purchase a new Escape in 2001. I traded in the Escape 3 yrs ago as it was falling apart with only 35,000 miles on it. I had to get the brakes done, replace front (sway? bar, can't recall what it was called), and the transmission was going out and was going to cost around $3500 to replace it. It did get great gas mileage and was very comfortable to sit in for long distances. I believe the 2001 was probably the first year Escapes were made so I'm to assume allot of those problems have been corrected.