Ford Motor Co. (Dearborn, MI) reported that the new Escape Hybrid sport utility vehicle (SUV), with an electric motor to help its engine wring twice as many miles from a gallon of gasoline, will cost at least $3,300 more than a standard Escape SUV. The base model of the 2005 Escape Hybrid, which gets an estimated 35 mpg to 40 mpg, and goes on sale this summer, will be $26,970, or $28,595 for the model equipped with four-wheel drive. Both prices include destination and delivery charges of $590.
The vehicle is Ford's first hybrid gasoline-electric model, and the first hybrid SUV on the market. The manufacturers suggested retail price of the Escape Hybrid will be between $3,300 to $3,425 above the price of a comparably equipped Escape XLT model with a V-6 engine. The Escape Hybrid qualifies for various federal and state incentives, including a "clean fuel vehicles" federal tax deduction of $1,500 for 2004 purchases.
