Who’d have thunk it? The Ford Escape Hybrid is this summer’s most coveted recreation vehicle.
At least, that’s one of the conclusions drawn from a new survey commissioned by www.leasetrader.com.
LeaseTrader recently asked more than 1,500 participants what recreation vehicle they’d prefer to acquire this solstice. The number one choice was the Escape Hybrid, followed by the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Mazda CX-7.
Call it the “Goldilocks Factor”: the top three choices are neither econoboxes nor Fat Bastard SUVs. While the Escape is an SUV, it’s certainly no Expedition. Meanwhile, the Tiguan and CX-7 are more diminutive than the Touareg and CX-9 respectively.
Surely the Escape’s ascent as top dog on the list is yet another telltale sign of a wonky economy and spiking gas prices as consumers rationalize their vehicle preferences. “Living large” has apparently been eclipsed by “medium motoring.”
LeaseTrader spokesman John Sternal admits the Escape Hybrid is “not the first vehicle you’d think of” in terms of being a must-have set of wheels. But he notes the Escape does embody a fair degree of utility; it’s relatively affordable; and it’s good on gas thanks to its dual-mode powerplant. As such, the Escape Hybrid offers that trifecta many car consumers are coveting these days.
Still, how times have changed! When the same survey was conducted two years ago by LeaseTrader, the results were radically different. The most coveted car in the summer of 2007 was any vehicle with a BMW logo on the hood.
Meanwhile, the most appealing convertible in 2007 was the Mercedes-Benz CLK; this year, the Mini Cooper ragtop snags top honours. Sternal says this result is likely due to an increase in bottom line due diligence during uncertain times: a Mini at about $400/month is far more doable than a CLK at about $700/month.
The bright side: even a downscaled vehicle still beats public transit.
This story posted by LeaseTrader.com, the automotive service company that lets people transfer out of their Car Leases early. If you're looking to swap a lease or transfer out of your car lease, please visit www.leasetrader.com