Produced by the Ford Motor Company, the Escape was introduced in 2001 as a compact crossover SUV. The Escape was developed in conjunction with
Mazda and was priced cheaper than the
Ford Explorer. The Escape is also sold in Europe, but under the name of Ford Maverick and Mazda has an almost identical vehicle called the
Mazda Tribute. By March of 2005 more than 100,000 Ford Escape models had been sold. The Ford Escape is built on the Ford CD2 platform, and that platform is modeled after the Mazda GF platform, which was used for the
Mazda 626.
In 2004 the Ford Motor Company released the Hybrid version of the Escape. The Ford Escape Hybrid is 75% more fuel efficient than the original Escape according to the tests done by the Environmental Protection agency. This was the first hybrid SUV that was made available to the public.
The Escape was redesigned for the 2005 model and was given a new 2.3-liter Duratec 23 engine. Airbags, seatbelts, and safety systems were added to this updated model as well. All wheel drive systems and attractive exterior changes made the Escape even more attractive to potential buyers. The Escape has been a great seller for the Ford Motor Company.
