Other hybrids may deliver better mileage, but the Escape has a big, boxy, practical cargo area, all-wheel drive and an off-road-friendly ride height, along with stellar fuel economy for an SUV.

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The great thing about the Ford Escape is that, unlike other small crossover SUVs, it isn’t cute. Its look is purposeful. A guy can be seen in public driving one without others questioning his manhood. A woman can get step out of it without having her womanhood questioned. It looks the part of a small, tough truck, one good enough to be competitive in any parking lot beauty pageant.

Climb inside and you’ll find the interior is similarly purposeful, modern and well-designed. The dashboard’s look complements the exterior, but hard plastics remind you that this is a truck. Firm flat seats are supportive, if not exactly comfortable.

Greater comfort comes from the fact that this truck can take you to the backwoods environmentally conscious buyers love, while burning less of a hole in the ozone layer.

With 8.6 inches of ground clearance, along with other fairly high ratings for off-road use, the all-wheel-drive version of the hybrid will make any tree hugger feel good.

And don’t forget, this is a full hybrid, capable of running solely on electric power.

The hybrid system mates a 70 kw electric motor with the vocal 133-horsepower 2.3-liter four used in the base Escape. Ford says the combined engine and motor produce 155 horsepower, with 0-60 mph times close to that of the Escape’s 200-horsepower V6 engine.

But the difference in mileage is remarkable. According to EPA, driving 15,000 miles a year, 45 percent highway, 55 percent city driving, and a fuel price of $3.28 per gallon, the hybrid uses $920 less annually in fuel.

And let’s not forget that the hybrid receives a $3,000 tax credit from the IRS. This helps ease the difference in sticker price: The base V6 model base price is $2,635 less than the hybrid.

And a test of the front-wheel-drive Escape Hybrid returned 29 mpg, good for a tough little truck with the Escape’s abilities.

The Ford hybrid system works like the Toyota hybrid system. The electric motor propels the vehicle at low speeds. Above 20 mph, the gas engine and electric motor work in tandem. At highway speeds, only the gas engine runs. When coming to a stop, the engine and motor shut off entirely to conserve fuel, restarting when the driver hits the accelerator.

The battery pack that powers the electric motor is recharged by energy generated by the gas engine.

The car rewards you by returning stellar mileage for a compact SUV, reaching 25 mpg in highway driving. But the fun here isn’t the fast acceleration or deep reserve of power. The satisfaction comes from driving slow and steady to eke out the best mileage possible.

Does the Toyota Prius return better mileage? Sure. But the Escape has a big, boxy, practical cargo area, all-wheel-drive and an off-road-friendly ride height, along with stellar fuel economy for an SUV.

Ford needs to spend a little more time refining the hybrid drivetrain, rather than trying to extract extra cost out of it. With Ford’s recent financial troubles, one gets the sense that accountants have extracted too great a toll on this vehicle’s feel.

Meanwhile the 2008 test vehicle had a base price $25,075, $1,565 less than the current base price of the Escape Hybrid.

But for those looking for a compact SUV that not only looks like a rugged compact truck and feels like one, the Ford Escape Hybrid is your ride. Don’t like the looks of the Escape? Consider the Mercury Mariner Hybrid or Mazda Tribute Hybrid, which share underpinnings with the Escape. Consider them identical cousins.FORD ESCAPE HYBRID

A rough, rugged hybrid

Pro: Has the practicality of an SUV

Con: But it feels like one

STATS

Engine: 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine and a 70-kw electric motor

Wheelbase: 103.1 inches

Length: 174.7 inches

Weight: 3,638 pounds

Cargo space: 27.8-66 cubic feet

EPA rating (city/highway) : 34/30 mpg

Fuel consumption: 29 mpg

Fuel type: Regular unleaded

Base price: $25,075

As tested: $30,820