We have a 2004 Escape XLS 4x4 we bought new. Best car we have ever owned hands DOWN. Had to have the transmission rebuilt at about 160K. Did all the upgrades to it. Now it has a tic under 200K. There's a BIG difference between the 4x4 and the AWD. I don't recommend the AWD. It has the dreaded fluid viscous coupling. Those are the vehicles that must have sequential serial number tires so they are all the exact same height, or bad things can happen to the viscous coupling. Ours has a REAL transfer case with a switch on the dash that engages it. There is no viscous coupling on the 4x4, unless they've changed them from the design of our car. Ours has been a dang goodun