Porsche, Volvo, Saab...we’re still talking utility vehicles, right?

2009 Ford Escape

Like the Mercury Mariner, the 2009 Ford Escape snuck under the radar, only this time at the 2008 Washington D.C. Auto Show. Like its Mercury cousin, the Escape has the same host of upgrades: a V-6 with 30 more horsepower (to 230), and a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 170 horsepower. Ford also upgraded the transmission from four to six-speeds.

• Learn more about the 2009 Ford Escape