our 3.0L v6 is a guzzler. if you don't ease up on the gas pedal, you're in for about 5 Km/L or worse. and that's Explorer/Expedition territory! other than that, i think the car is solid. i personally like it much better than the Escape, even if they're mechanically the same car.

about the climbing observation, it seems the 3.0L v6 is low on torque. was driving an Escape along some California freeways and it did seem to need more weight on the gas pedal to get up to speed.