3 Big Reasons to Test-Drive the 2021 Ford Escape

Drivers have plenty of choices when it comes to selecting their ideal SUV, yet the Ford Escape has emerged as a popular choice among motorists year after year. For that reason, we're proud to announce that the 2022 Ford Escape is now available at Mission Valley Ford. Here are some of the qualities and features that motorists love about this newly released vehicle. Basics About the 2022 Ford Escape The Ford Escape is a front-wheel drive compact SUV that is capable of seating up to five occupants, making it an ideal choice for many families. It features many trims and customization options, ensuring that motorists can purchase a vehicle that fits their unique needs. These options include performance changes, aesthetic changes, and more, which can dramatically impact the driving experience for Ford Escape owners. more Safety Features One aspect of the Ford Escape that motorists love about the vehicle is its array of safety features. As a family vehicle, such features are particularly important as they enable Escape owners to protect both themselves and their families. A comprehensive set of safety features is standard across all 2022 Escape trims, including forward collision warning with automatic braking, land departure warning with lane keeping assist, and blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Additionally, motorists can purchase the Escape Titanium trim to take safety to the next level. The Titanium trim includes LED headlights which grant increased visibility, park assist, and stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, ensuring the safety of motorists and their passengers in a greater range of situations. Quality of Life Features Another important aspect of a family vehicle is the capacity to keep the family comfortable and entertained. Fortunately, the Ford Escape's quality of life features is another shining aspect of the vehicle that motorists love. The 2022 Escape features a spacious interior, plenty of storage, and textured cloth upholstery to ensure that motorists and their families have plenty of breathing room. Additionally, the base 2022 Escape comes equipped with a 4.2-inch radio display and AM/Fm radio. Other trims grant Escape owners access to an advanced infotainment system featuring an 8-inch touchscreen display that makes use of Ford's latest Sync 3 infotainment interface. These features grant passengers access to a host of entertainment options, making riding along in the 2022 Escape an enjoyable experience for all. New Color Options Historically, one of the standout aspects of the Ford Escape is its array of customization options. The 2022 model features the comprehensive set of options of the previous year's model as well as a few new color options. These new colors include Atlas Blue, Flight Blue, and Iced Blue. As you can see, there's plenty to love about the new Ford Escape. Schedule a test drive at Mission Valley Ford and experience it for yourself! image via ford.com

A commercial van earns its keep by carrying the people, tools, materials, or equipment that make a business run. The 2026 Ford Transit® gives San Jose companies plenty of ways to build around that job, with T-150, T-250, T-350, and T-350 HD configurations, multiple body lengths and roof heights, 2 gas V6 engines, and RWD or available AWD. Cargo capacity can reach 487.3 cu. ft., maximum payload can reach 5,103 lbs., and properly configured gas models can tow up to 6,900 lbs. First, Figure Out What Has to Fit Inside Transit® Cargo Vans come with low, medium, and high roofs and 129.9-inch or 147.6-inch wheelbases, depending on configuration. Overall length starts at 219.9 inches for regular models, reaches 237.6 inches in long configurations, and stretches to 263.9 inches for high-roof extended vans. Cargo volume ranges from 246.7 to 487.3 cu. ft. behind the front seats. A low roof can be easier to live with when San Jose parking structures are part of the route. Medium and high roofs provide more vertical working room for shelving, tools, inventory, and vocational equipment. The correct choice starts with what goes inside the van, not what looks impressive on a specification sheet. T-250 Is the Middleweight That Can Carry Its Share The Transit-250 occupies useful territory between the T-150 and heavier T-350 configurations. Complete-vehicle Cargo Van versions can reach a 9,150-lb. GVWR, with regular and long wheelbases and several roof heights available depending on body configuration. Buyers can also choose RWD or available AWD. For plumbers, electricians, contractors, delivery operations, and mobile-service businesses, T-250 can provide additional capacity for equipment and an upfit without automatically stepping into the highest weight ratings. That's important because commercial vehicles aren't trophies. Capacity earns its place when you're putting it to work. Two V6 Engines, Depending on How Hard You Ask Gas-powered Transit® models offer a 3.5L PFDi V6 producing 275 hp and 260 lbs. ft. of torque or an available 3.5L EcoBoost® V6 with 300 hp and a considerably stronger 400 lbs. ft. of torque. Both pair with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with RWD standard and AWD available. There is no plug-in hybrid Transit® in the U.S. lineup. Businesses interested in electric power can instead consider the E-Transit™, which uses a rear-mounted electric motor producing 198 kW and an 89-kWh battery. Choosing among them should come down to routes, loads, operating needs, and how the van will spend its working hours. A Work Van Should Be Set Up for Work An empty cargo area isn't much help if employees spend every morning digging through it for tools. Ford offers commercial packages designed around specific jobs, including Electrician Trade, General Contractor, Builder's Prep, Upfitter, Wall Liner, and Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow packages. Depending on configuration, these can provide a foundation for shelving, partitions, storage, electrical equipment, and other vocational hardware. Properly equipped gas Transit® models can also tow up to 6,900 lbs. A good upfit isn't decoration. It's about giving tools and equipment a place to live so the person doing the job can spend less time searching for them. Decide if You're Carrying Equipment or People Cargo Van models concentrate on 2 front occupants and working space behind them. Transit® Passenger Vans take a different assignment, with configurations for 12 or 15 passengers. That makes the distinction refreshingly straightforward: tools, deliveries, and mobile operations point toward Cargo Van, while businesses transporting groups should look at Passenger Van configurations. Standard driver-assistance equipment includes Pre-Collision Assist® with Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Lane-Keeping System, and Auto High-Beam Headlamps, adding useful support during the miles between jobs. Put the Right Transit® to Work in San Jose Payload, cargo dimensions, roof clearance, drivetrain, towing requirements, and the planned upfit should decide what belongs in your fleet. San Jose businesses can visit Mission Valley Ford Trucks to compare available Ford Transit® inventory, commercial configurations, and upfit options around the work they perform. Once you've narrowed down the van that fits the job, schedule a test drive online.

Ford is taking a different swing at the electric truck with the new Ford Fathom™. Due in 2027, it’s a midsize EV pickup built on Ford’s new Universal Electric Vehicle Platform. That price is going to get attention. The bigger question is how much truck Ford can deliver for it. We don’t have every answer yet, but the details Ford has released give us a decent idea of what the Fathom™ is supposed to be. A New Kind of Ford EV The Fathom™ will be the first vehicle built on Ford’s Universal Electric Vehicle Platform. Rather than adapting an existing gas-powered vehicle for an electric drivetrain, Ford developed this architecture specifically for a new generation of more affordable EVs. Ford hasn’t released horsepower, torque, battery capacity, EPA-estimated range, charging speed, towing capacity, or payload figures yet. Those are some pretty big blanks for a pickup, so there’s still a lot we need to learn before judging its capability. We do know Ford is aiming for more interior room than its midsize dimensions might suggest. The company projects the Fathom™ will have more passenger volume than the Toyota RAV4. For drivers around San Jose, CA who want a truck without dealing with full-size pickup dimensions every day, that could be one of its strongest selling points. Plenty of Technology Comes Standard Ford isn't treating the lower starting price as an excuse to gut the cabin. Every new Ford Fathom™ will get a large touchscreen with navigation powered by Apple Maps, along with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility. Digital Key will allow a compatible device to serve as the vehicle key, and owners will be able to access connected functions remotely through the Ford app. The Fathom™ will also be BlueCruise capable. Ford describes it as next-generation BlueCruise capability, although we’ll have to wait for more information about exactly what changes or improvements that brings. Bidirectional Power Could Be a Big Deal One of the more interesting, confirmed features has little to do with the touchscreen. The Fathom™ will support bidirectional power, meaning its battery won’t only take electricity in. It will also be able to send stored energy back out for compatible uses. Ford hasn’t released output figures or all the details about what equipment will be required. Still, there’s obvious potential here. Portable battery power could come in handy at a jobsite, campsite, tailgate, or anywhere else you’d rather not drag along a separate generator. That feature makes sense on a pickup. It turns the battery into something useful even when the truck isn't moving. What We Still Need to Know There are a few numbers that will ultimately decide how good this truck is. Range is an obvious one, especially for California drivers covering longer distances. Charging speed matters nearly as much. Truck buyers will also want firm towing and payload ratings before deciding if the Fathom™ can replace their current pickup. Then there's the standard-range battery itself. Until those details arrive, it's better to think of the Fathom™ as promising rather than proven. The New Ford Fathom™ Arrives in 2027 Preorders are expected to open in early 2027, with more specifications likely to arrive as launch gets closer. Drivers around San Jose, CA, can visit Mission Valley Ford Trucks to learn more about Ford's current truck and EV lineup and keep up with new Fathom™ availability. Once we have the range, charging, towing, and payload numbers, we'll have a much clearer idea of what Ford's affordable electric truck can really do.