The Ford Escape was first released for the 2001 model year and was created by both Ford and Mazda designers. This compact sport utility vehicle is badged as the Ford Maverick in the United Kingdom ,the Mercury division of Ford coined their adaptation of the SUV, the Mariner, and the Mazda Tribute is another Escape clone. Though rumors have been spreading that Ford is facing financial troubles, the maker developed a hybrid version of the Escape that holds the title as the first ever SUV to be equipped with hybrid technology.

Often referred to as a smaller version of the full-size Ford Explorer, the Escape is fitted with a buyer's choice of three different engine styles: a 2.0L Zetec I4, a 2.3L Duratec 23 I4, or a 3.0L Duratec 30 V6. Buyers can also choose either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. However, critics claim that while the Escape is more fuel efficient than most SUVs, it lacks the level of power expected in a sport utility vehicle. With optional towing and hauling packages, Ford claims that buyers can easily upgrade to a more powerful and durable version, but that the base model was intended to be an alternative to sport wagons and full-size sedans, not to replace a full-size SUV.

While the Escape hybrid was introduced in 2004, at the 2006 Washington Auto Show. Ford revealed the same hybrid model that will now accept E85 fuel. So, not only does the two-mode hybrid run on both electricity and gasoline, the fuel system is now compatible with the cheaper, cleaner E85.

Unfortunately, while the Ford Escape has had moderate success in the United States, it has also been recalled ten different times for problems ranging from engines that easily catch fire to anti-lock brakes that would suddenly short out. Even with these problems, Ford has continued to produce the Escape and most recently completed a total overhaul of the model's design. The exterior received a facelift with a more muscular build and a new grille design, while the handling was improved with standard electronic stability control.

The Ford Escape has been featured in numerous movies and television shows. Some of the most well-known television spots include the MTV series Laguna Beach, New Amsterdam, Smallville and Alias. Films that have utilized the Ford Escape range from the Bratz movie to A Walk to Remember to the recent blockbuster Live Free or Die Hard. The compact SUV is also regularly used on the cable show Dexter in which the protagonist drives the vehicle as part of the Miami Dade Police Department fleet.