2009 Ford Escape and 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid
Small SUVs may not be politically popular choices, but American can't seem to kick the SUV craze. Sure, crossovers have gained popularity as of late, but the SUV is still one of the most American segments in existence and it's no wonder a domestic automaker is building one of the best examples of the bunch.
The 2009 Ford Escape (and Mercury Mariner) offers a choice of an economical four-cylinder engine or a more powerful V-6, and either engine can power the front wheels or all four. Inside, the Escape is a very pleasant place and the optional navigation system is very easy to use; it looks as elegant as any other system on the market. Pricing starts a bit over $20,000 for four-cylinder models.
If you need an SUV but don't want to foot a huge bill for gasoline, the Ford Escape Hybrid could be perfect for you. With an EPA-estimated 34/31 mpg for front-wheel-drive models, the Escape Hybrid actually returns better fuel economy than many mid-size sedans, and there isn't even a noticeable loss of cargo space with the hybrid versus a standard Escape. The sticker price of $30,030 (including destination) is quite a bit more than that of the base Escape, but the driving experience is arguably better than the standard four-cylinder SUV. ...next page >>