Mechanically speaking, apart from the engine changes and variants (2.0L I4, 3.0L V6, 2.3L I4), the Escape has always been the same vehicle. All it's had are essentially facelifts.
That's good to know. This bodes well for an Escape purchase.

What engine do you run in yours?
I'd steer clear of the 3.0L V6 as its reputation for gas guzzling is justified. My aunt drives one she got second-hand, and the thing swills unleaded faster than a drunkard at happy hour...and for all its thirst it's not all that powerful either.