2008 Ford Escape

By being early to the game, Ford established the Escape as one ofthe undisputed leaders in the compact SUV segment. With over one million units sold in just under seven years excluding its twin, the Mazda Tribute, the Escape is a success story that's put the Blue Oval on most entry-level SUV buyers' shopping lists. Instead of beating around the bush with unnecessary off-roading or on-roading...

Overview The Ford Escape has been thoroughly updated for 2008, reinforcing the character and appeal that have made it America's perennial best-selling small sport-utility vehicle. The improvements nearly cover the spectrum, and inject a new level of refinement. The Escape's standard safety features are upgraded significantly for 2008. We'd call the Escape a little truck among small SUVs. Its new...

Ford's Escape launched in 2001 amid questions of whether a Ford sport-utility could survive with a name that only started with an "E" and not the full "Ex." Perhaps its small size granted it special liberties—if it was about half the size of an Expedition, maybe it only had to plead allegiance to half the naming rule? Even without that critical second letter, the Escape promptly tied with its...

KBB Editors' Overview While the bigger, heavier Escape Hybrid doesn't deliver all the fuel economy of smaller hybrids like the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid, it does offer greater utility and capability, especially when outfitted with four-wheel drive. Choosing the Escape Hybrid over a gas-only model will likely cost you more money up front than you'll end up saving at the pump, but you can...