When are 2013 models available for rent?
 

Looking to rent with Budget a Ford Escape in late June 2012.
Question -- Ford shows mid-2012 as availability of their new Escape 2013 model.

How long after a model's introduction are they available for rent at a Budget airport rental location - California to be more specific.

IIRC, 2013 Escapes are supposed to start showing up at dealer lots in May. It's plausible to think they'll start going into fleet inventories about the same time. Whether that means your location will have one at the precise moment of your vehicle pickup is quite another matter.

Why would you want one of the 2013s? I drive a 2010 Mariner and just googled the 2013 Escape to see how it compares, I guess I'll drive my Mariner until the engine falls out or Ford gets new management.

Thanks for the detail 3CForme. Planning to rent in Orange County...so I guess OC being one of the capitals of car consumerism...perhaps the odds may be better than elsewhere.

The Ford Escape 2013 is a re-design apparently.....so kind of curious if I would be getting one of those models or a 2012 model -- which is the same design for the last several years+.

The 2013 Escape is a totally new design based on the European Ford Kuga. Here's what it's going to look like. It's eagerly awaited and should sell very well off the bat, leaving few cars for rental fleets.

I for one, am greatly looking forward to renting the 2013 models.

I think the refreshed 2013 VW CCs and Ford Tauruses should hit the rental fleets soonest.