New Car Overview of the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid Compact Sport Utility Vehicle

Description: Compact Sport Utility Vehicle and Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Base MSRP Range: $26,380 - $28,005
Invoice Price Range: $24,385 - $25,864
Where built: USA

The compact-class Escape crossover wagon spawns a new fuel-efficient hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) for 2005 labeled, logically, Escape Hybrid. The HEV version resembles a conventional Escape, although powertrains differ.

For the HEV there's a thrifty 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine aboard that operates on gasoline plus a battery-powered electric traction motor of permanent-magnet design. The electric motor is capable of propelling the wagon by itself, or it can work in concert with the gasoline engine to deliver a power boost that approximates the kick of a V6 pushing 200-hp. Ford adds an electronic control module to manage all energy produced by the two plants and apply it directly to the front wheels -- or to all four wheels for the optional AWD version -- in infinitely variable measures through an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Fuel economy figures rise to 40 mpg and above for running on city streets, and the reduced emissions qualify the HEV for stringent Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) standards. Adding AWD traction trims fuel economy numbers on Escape Hybrid, but not by much.