pillboy Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 Is it just me or does it look like the rear hatch is relatively unprotected by the bumper in low speed collisions? I think a good pop in the back will bork the tailgate in addition to the bumper cover. Happened twice to my wife's last new car, at 1 month of age and 13 months. Only needed to fix the bumper cover both times, but the bumper extends a good six inches past any of the other parts of the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSchicago Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 I believe the bottom part of the hatch is plastic, I'll have to check tomorrow.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transitman Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 It does appear that theres's no protection for bottom of the rear hatch. It must be difficult to tell from the pictures. The thing is, that area has to meet a minimum crash standard so the protection must be engineered in somehow. Maybe that bottom piece of the tail gate is designed to be replaceable in a low impact crash. LSchicago, let us know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svtenthusiast Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 The bottom part of the tailgate is a replaceable plastic hollow piece attached to the inset metal tailgate underneath. It's a pretty cool optical illusion as you don't notice at first glance where it comes together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sassy7 Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 pillboy, Maybe your wife should go through the red lights like others do so she won't get rear ended again? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pillboy Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 Is the Escape classified as a car or a truck? I believe at one time bumper standards were different, but I haven't Googled at any length yet. Subaru's Outback is classified as a truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sassy7 Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 (edited) CUV? What Edmunds Says: The 2013 Ford Escape is a winner in the segment of small crossover utility vehicles thanks to athletic driving dynamics, an inviting cabin and plenty of useful high-tech features. Edited July 23, 2012 by Sassy7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transitman Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 Is the Escape classified as a car or a truck? I believe at one time bumper standards were different, but I haven't Googled at any length yet. Subaru's Outback is classified as a truck. I printed my VIN Results from www.fleet.ford.com and it states that the Body Style is SUV and the Vehicle Type is Truck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pillboy Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 The Kuga does not have the plastic piece on the liftgate thus allowing the rear bumper to extend past it and I think this is a much better design to decrease the chance of liftgate damage in a low speed collision. I also wonder how this plastic is fastened to the metal liftgate on the Escape...if it is bolted on there is no way the metal will escape (pun!) damage if the plastic is damaged, and is this another area for rust to start? Look at the rear license plate eyebrow on numerous Ford liftgates and notice how a good number of them have rust creeping out from under them once they get a few years old. I'm just saying... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pillboy Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Why do automakers always seem to give the North American market the design rejects from other parts of the world? I know design is subjective, but not only is the Kuga's rear better looking, but in my opinion the front is too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pillboy Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Some further Googling seems to have led me to a plate full of crow. It looks like the Kuga pics I have posted are prefacelift and the current Kuga is styled exactly like the 2013 Escape. I might have to move and buy a used one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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