A New Look Inside and Out
Forgive the
2005 Ford Escape if it feels a little over-looked. You would too, if on the eve of your makeover unveiling a fancy
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| The updated 2005 Escape got completely eclipsed by its more media savvy hybrid relative. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
pants cousin showed up to steal your thunder.That's exactly what happened to the redesigned Escape when the all-new Ford Escape
Hybrid was unveiled in early summer as a 2005 model. 'Earth's first and only SUV hybrid' the headlines bellowed two months ago, capturing the motoring public's attention with an application of hybrid technology more logical than the small two-seaters that have been produced to date.
With a sticker price close to the 2005 Escape 4X4 V6 model (this week's test drive), rising oil prices and rising environmental concerns, the Escape Hybrid will certainly eat
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| The conventionally-powered 2005 Escape enters the competition well-prepared for battle. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
into, or maybe more accurately, add to the sales of Canada's most popular SUV. It will be interesting, and telling, to see how the hybrid does against the gas-powered model, as apart from the power supplies they are very similar vehicles. The conventionally-powered 2005 Escape enters the competition well-prepared for battle, however. In addition to getting 'refreshed' looks inside and out, the biggest changes to the model include an all-new four-cylinder engine with newly available automatic tranny, along with updates to the V6 engine.
