2008 Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD

The Ford Escape has been completely updated for 2008, continuing to make it America's best-selling small sport-utility vehicle.

The Escape Hybrid 4WD ($26,825) is very different from the gasoline-only models. Its battery pack is automatically recharged by the gasoline engine and by applying the brakes, which captures energy that is otherwise wasted when a vehicle loses momentum and sends it to the batteries. By combining a four-cylinder gasoline engine with the boost from an electric motor, the Hybrid can deliver a significant fuel-economy improvement and also reduce emissions. The Escape Hybrid is a full hybrid, meaning it can run on 100 percent electric power up to about 25 mph to maximize in-city fuel economy. It was the first hybrid-powered SUV available in the United States, and the first hybrid with optional all-wheel drive and significant towing capacity (1000 pounds). The Hybrid's primary source of power remains the gasoline engine. It's nearly identical to the 2.3-liter four in gasoline-only models, except that it runs on something called the Atkinson cycle, which improves its fuel efficiency but reduces horsepower by 20 (to 133). The companion, 70-kilowatt electric motor can kick in and deliver more torque to the wheels when a driver demands full acceleration or it can power the Escape Hybrid by itself in certain circumstances, such as creeping along in a traffic jam or driving through a parking lot. The Hybrid model delivers acceleration times comparable to the gas-only V6, with a 55 percent improvement over gas-only four-cylinder models in City mpg, according to the EPA (29/27 mpg City/Highway for the Hybrid 4WD).

If you want the best fuel economy, you'll want to go easy on the gas pedal. It will maximize the times that the Escape travels only on electric power. Hit the pedal quickly, or much past a quarter of its travel, and the gas engine restarts immediately to provide what the control electronics determine to be a demand for serious acceleration. Even if a driver is not going to exceed 20 mph, which is well within the limit of electric-only speed, the gas engine will start if the pedal is applied too strong. Long, steady, coast-down stops, using more engine compression than wheel brakes, are best for charging the batteries. For technical people, the optional navigation system for the Hybrid ($2,695) is a must have, which includes an energy-meter function that graphically illustrates how well you're doing at saving fuel. It includes instant and average fuel economy readouts, and tells you when the gas engine is running, when the electric motor is doing the work and when the batteries are charging. It's a valuable tool to learn how to maximize economy with the Escape Hybrid.

For all-purpose, fuel efficient daily transport in the city and on the road, the Hybrid Escape rates among the best smaller SUVs.

Denis and his wife Jeanie live in Evergreen and own the Mountain Man Nut & Fruit store in Bergen Park.