The front-wheel-drive Ford Escape Hybrid was one of the big...

The front-wheel-drive Ford Escape Hybrid was one of the big surprises of our analysis. It gets between 31 and 36 miles per gallon, which is unheard for a vehicle of its size and utility. It has a four-cylinder engine but gives drivers nearly the power of a six-cylinder engine without hurting their wallet. And the industry is finding that all hybrids are proving to be well engineered and therefore allow owners to maintain a very low Cost of Ownership.