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26/09/2008 23:37. Small SUVs are relatively efficient compared to their larger counterparts, but even in a model like that, topping off the tank can get pricey when gas is above $4 a gallon — as it is in many places around the country.

What's an SUV shopper to do? If you're not ready to downsize to a small car, the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid remains one of the most efficient small SUVs available today, with an EPA-estimated 34/31 mpg city/highway for the front-wheel-drive model and 29/27 mpg for ones with all-wheel drive. I tested an all-wheel-drive version of the new Limited trim level of the Escape Hybrid and found that the government's estimates are easily within reach. Aside from some hybrid-specific drivetrain characteristics, the Escape Hybrid drives like a conventional small SUV. While Ford has... // Cars.com