The restyled Escape Hybrid is equipped with a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that utilizes 16 valves. The Duratec engine is mated to a Ford four-speed transaxle. This has resulted in an increase in horsepower and torque over the 2007 version.

The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are disc. Steering is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The Escape uses power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. Load balancing is provided by coil front springs and coil in the rear.

Vehicle Statistics

The dimensions of the Escape Hybrid are 71.10 inches wide by 174.70 inches long. It sits 67.70 inches off the ground. It seats a standard five passengers, with 4 doors. The wheelbase of 103.10 allows for extra leg room for the rear passengers.

The standard warranty period for the Escape is 36 months, or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is standard in the sport utility market.

The listed retail price in 2008 (MSRP) was $21,305, with a dealer invoice cost of $20,095. This price is on target the industry average price for a four-door Sport Utility.

Fuel Efficiency

The fuel system for the 2008 Escape is a traditional SFI, running on ELECTRIC/GAS fuel. The fuel is controlled by an electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The capacity of the fuel tank is 16.50 gallons.

The 2008 Escape gets 26 miles/gallon on the highway and only 20 in the city. This is subpar for a sport utility truck.

We Think...

There are several reasons why the Ford Escape Hybrid sold well in 2008. Mainly the increase in availability and a marked improvement in quality meant the buying public was more apt to choose a Ford, specifically a Escape.

Related posts:

1. Getting 25 Miles a Gallon: The Ford Escape for 2005 In 2005 Ford released the Escape Hybrid to the...
2. A Better 2006′s Model: The Ford Escape for 2007 One of the staples of the Sport Utility segment...
3. First Impressions of the Ford Escape for 2009 A high point in the sport utility market is...
4. A Better 2005′s Model: The Ford Escape for 2006 The Ford Escape is a 4-door truck available at...
5. Insight Into the Ford Escape for 2008 The 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid was introduced to compete...

Tags: 4-Door, Canada market, Ford Escape, Hybrid, Sport Utility

This entry was posted on Monday, April 20th, 2009 at 8:43 pm and is filed under 2008, Escape, Ford. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.