After we posted a "Just in" for the redesigned Ford Escape (ratings and pricing available to online subscribers) in May, some of you faithful readers have been posted messages and e-mailed asking for a follow up. And, I suppose it's about time: Ford's popular small SUV has already seen over 3,000 miles of service in our test fleet. Why? Well, judging by the remarks made in the Escape's logbook, we're fairly impressed with its "just right" size, torquey engine, and (generally) improved controls. But is it all rosy in Escape land? Read on for candid commentary from our experts:

"Much nicer than the 'newer' Ford Edge...seems roomier with more head room, better visibility, and decent cargo space."

"Good power...seems more abundant than the previous version."

"V6 runs out of steam and gets a little thrashy at high RPMs."

"Four-speed automatic transmission hunts between 3rd and 4th when climbing hills on the highway."

"300-mile cruising range is poor."

"The ride is a bit stiff and rocky."

"Lost some of the good handling [compared to the previous version]."

"Small seats are OK, but not enough lower-back support and no adjustments I can find."

"The cabin is not very quiet, with [too much] engine and road noise."

"Easy for kids to access and see out of."

"New control stack is a lot better than the previous car, with well-sized and intuitive controls."

"Finally - a tuning knob on a Ford radio!"

"Fit and finish is no better than average, with exposed screws and lots of plastic."

"Spotted a water leak on the driver's side."

"Decent value compared to Honda CR-V, [especially considering] the inevitable rebates."

"Put a third-row seat in a lengthened Escape and Ford has a competitive crossover SUV."

"This is a good, small SUV."

So there's mostly good news about the redesigned Escape. It's certainly family-friendly and fairly easy to live with on a day-to-day basis. We'll see how it compares to some of the other new models in this class--including the Jeep Patriot, Kia Sportage, and Saturn Vue--in an upcoming test.

--Mike Quincy