Small changes indeed, but believe it or not, those two small alterations to the exterior translate to a difference of 0.2 mpg savings overall, and a 0.75 mpg improvement when cruising at 112 km/h.

Ford has also teamed up with Michelin on the new Escape, and the lineup boasts the use of low-rolling-resistance tires. In fact, this alone accounts for approximately 0.2 mpg fuel savings.

The new Ford Escape is going to be good news for Ford, and even better for compact SUV buyers.

Obviously, rising gas prices are on everyone's mind at the moment, and Ford appears to be listening to its customers and giving them exactly what they want, which is more economical vehicles. In fact, you might say that it is giving them more than what they are asking for, because together with more fuel-efficient products, it's offering them more powerful vehicles, and that's a win-win situation for everyone!

Power to the people!
For '09, the Ford Escape offers a new 171-hp, 2.5L 4-cylinder engine with intake variable cam timing (i-VCT) which boasts enhanced fuel economy and performance over the 2.3L motor which it replaces. In fact, when coupled with the new 6-speed automatic transmission, Ford is quoting fuel gains of 1 mpg (or 0.4 L/100 km), both city and highway, over the previous 4-cylinder model, whilst at the same time offering an incredible 11% increase in power output.

Having driven all models in the new lineup, I can state that this new engine offers pretty startling performance for a 4-banger, although I have to say that I found that if you push the pedal to the metal, it wasn't exactly the sweetest sound I've ever heard. Mind you, having said that, it should be noted that we were driving brand-new vehicles and coming from the business, it's not unheard of for the exhaust note to improve as the system ages and carbons up, so I'll leave that alone for now.

However, one small thing which I do feel that I have to point out is the unruly wiring harness which sits atop the 4-cylinder engine. Honestly, it may well do the job, but it lays there like a heap of untidy wires bound together with rolls of electrical tape. Come on now guys, let's smarten things up a little, a bit of plastic conduit wouldn't go amiss there!

For '09, the Ford Escape offers a new 171-hp, 2.5L 4-cylinder engine.