Ford Escape
EP3WFStock varies — page stays liveMid-generation update for the APAC market substituting the older 2.0L engine with a more modern and torque-rich 2.3-liter Mazda MZR/Duratec unit featuring variable valve timing.
Engine
L3-VE 2.3L Duratec
Displacement
2,261 cc
Drive
4WD
Gearbox
4AT
Fuel
Petrol
Body
SUV
Ford Escape — representative 1st Gen Facelift (EP/ZC) imageChassis variants of the Escape
ChassisEngineDisplacementDriveGearbox
EPEWFYF 2.0L DOHC1,988 cc4WD4ATEP3WFL3-VE 2.3L Duratec2,261 cc4WD4AT
LFACTMWNDuratec 2.3L I4 VVT2,261 ccFF4ATLFACTFWNDuratec 2.3L I4 VVT2,261 cc4WD4ATLFACTZWNDuratec 2.3L I4 (e-VAVT)2,261 ccFF4ATDimensions & shipping volume
Length
4,430 mm
Width
1,825 mm
Height
1,710 mm
Weight
1,540 kg
Shipping volume
13.82 M³
Manufacture year vs. registration year
Japanese paperwork shows the first registration date, but African customs count age from the month of manufacture. Verify with the chassis serial before purchase:
Serial prefixProduction periodSeries
EP3WF-100XXXXXXNov 2003 – May 20062.3L Duratec facelift
Import eligibility by country
Age limits are counted from the month of manufacture, not first registration. This EP3WF was produced 2003–2006; the statuses below are checked against Aug 2026.
KenyaNot eligible
8-year limit from manufacture — all units now exceed it.UgandaNot eligible
15-year limit from manufacture — all units now exceed it.TanzaniaEligible
No age ban; vehicles over 10 years pay additional excise duty.ZambiaEligible
No age limit; surtax applies to vehicles older than 5 years.MalawiEligible
No age limit; duty calculated on cc and age band.Common questions about the EP3WF
Is the column shifter standard in the EP3WF chassis?
Yes, JDM and APAC first-generation Escape models maintained the space-saving column-mounted shift lever for the automatic transmission.