Ford’s new Escape [Maverick] Hybrid sport utility vehicle, with an electric motor to help its engine wring twice as many miles from a gallon of petrol, will cost at least $US3,300 more than a standard Escape SUV, the carmaker reportedly said on Monday.
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According to Reuters, the base 2005 Escape Hybrid, which gets an estimated 35 to 40 miles per gallon and goes on sale this summer, will be $US26,970, or $28,595 equipped with four-wheel drive. Both prices include destination and delivery charges of $590, the report added.
Reuters said the vehicle is Ford’s first hybrid petrol-electric model, and the first hybrid SUV on the market – the manufacturer’s suggested retail price will be between $3,300 to $3,425 above the price of a comparably equipped Escape XLT model with a V6 engine.
The report noted that carmakers price hybrid petrol-electric models thousands of dollars higher to compensate for the cost of batteries and other components – the recent petrol price surge has generated interest among US consumers in fuel-efficient hybrid engines, although roomy SUVs remain more popular than smaller cars.
Ford reportedly said the Escape Hybrid qualifies for various federal and state incentives, including a “clean fuel vehicles” federal tax deduction of $1,500 for 2004 purchases.
