Brian’s Hacks: Why I Keep Buying Ford Escapes (And Why You Shouldn’t Ignore One)

Posted Friday, Jul 10, 2026

Used Cars Grand Strand shoppers are always asking me the same question: “Brian, what’s the best SUV under $10,000?”
My answer surprises a lot of people.

The Ford Escape.
Now before the internet experts come after me… yes, some model years had transmission issues. I’m not pretending they didn’t. But here’s the difference between reading horror stories online and actually buying, fixing, driving, and selling hundreds of vehicles.
When the transmission is healthy, these things are fantastic.
I’m driving one right now, and every time I get behind the wheel I’m reminded why I keep buying them. They’re comfortable, quiet, easy to park, get excellent fuel economy, and honestly drive like an SUV that costs twice the money.
The steering feels tight, visibility is excellent, and they’re just… easy. Easy to own. Easy to drive. Easy to recommend.
At Bernard Motorcar Company, we don’t buy vehicles based on internet opinions. We buy them based on experience. We inspect them, road-test them, and fix what needs fixing before they ever hit the lot.
A clean Ford Escape with a solid service history can be one of the best values on the market. In a world where used car prices have gone crazy, finding a dependable SUV for under $10,000 is getting harder every year. The Escape is still one of those rare bargains.
That’s Brian’s Hack: don’t let a vehicle’s reputation scare you away without looking at the individual vehicle. A well-maintained Escape can deliver years of dependable service and put a lot more money back in your pocket than chasing a flashy badge.
If you’re shopping for Used Cars Grand Strand, don’t overlook the Ford Escape. It might just be the smartest SUV purchase you’ll make.