Ford also puts a paramount to safety in its SUV and for 2008, the Escape receives the Safety Canopy system.  Combined with standard dual SRS front and side impact airbags, the Escape has the most airbags in its class.  Ford also revised its all-wheel drive system on the Escape.  Dubbed AdvanceTrac, it eliminates the need for any dash-mounted switches.  It also integrates RSC or Roll Stability Control.

Little has been changed under the hood for the North American Escape.  The Duratec 2.3-liter inline-4 has been retained with the same 153 horsepower output.  Transmission options remain to be the 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.  Meanwhile, the Duratec 3.0-liter V6 continues to make 200 even horsepower and is mated solely to a 4-speed automatic.  The V6 is of particular interest as towing capacity has been increased to 3,500 pounds from roughly 1,500 pounds.

Although little has been changed by way of engines and transmissions, Ford has given the Escape better fuel efficiency with the use of EPS or Electric Power Steering system.  Also found in the Mazda3 2.0 and Ford Focus, the EPS delivers better fuel economy and reduces the hydraulic noise typical of conventional power steering systems.

The Ford Escape Hybrid is still offered for the 2008 model.  Again, little has changed by way of engine design as it still employs the same 2.3-liter Duratec/AC synchronous electric motor combination.  All in all, the Atkinson cycle inline-4 will switch from gasoline to electric and back seamlessly and it will still deliver 0-100 km/h times comparable to the 3.0 V6 while having 75 percent better fuel economy.  The Escape Hybrid is only offered with CVT or Continuously Variable Transmission.  A software upgrade was done though to further improve the transition between different engine types.

Whether America continues to love their SUV is another thing.  During a time when car makers are beginning to shift out of the segment, Ford is sticking it with their tried-and-tested Escape.  Although more car than truck to begin with, only when it begins selling next year will we see if people would dig the new rugged looks and very SUV styling cues.

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