 Honestly I never even looked at a Ford before purchasing this one, but now it is the first brand I look for when car shopping. The things I love: This car sits higher than most cars so it is very easy for my handicapped mother to get in and out. The all wheel drive is amazing. We zip in and out of snowed in places easily while others have to wait for the plow! The sound is great and easily adjustable. There is not a lot of road or motor noise and the seats are plush and comfortable. There is an amazing amount of space in the car! When we purchased it our kids could easily walk between the back of the drivers seat and the back seat when the front seats were in their normal position. The trunk is HUGE!  The only thing we have had to fix on this car in the 9 years and 185,000 miles we have owned it was something in the steering column. We have had to fix it twice and it was not cheap.