Cute? Yes. Brute? Relatively.

By Larry Printz

The Virginian-Pilot

Just as the line between the sexes are ever-more blurred, (Did I hear someone mention full-service salons for men?) sport utility vehicles have seen similar changes, trading their chiseled looks for softer lines, their rugged capability for snow-day school duty.

The transition from backwoods bruiser to shopping mall cruiser makes choosing an SUV more difficult than ever. What guy wants to be stuck behind the wheel of a chick car?

So it's refreshing to drive the 2008 Escape, Ford's smallest SUV, and find a truck that bucks the trend of turning SUVs into namby- pamby family haulers.

In a town where a new Ford is still news, this Escape's rugged demeanor turned heads. While the basic body shell is similar to the 2007 Escape's, Ford has reworked the hood, grille, fascia, rear hatch, head lamps and tail lamps.

The interior was renovated to match the exterior's buff new bod. Here's a vehicle that's seen a gym.

Its ride seems even stiffer than before, with firm reactions to the broken concrete that passes for a road surface along some of I- 64. Firm seats and a good dose of tire and road noise make the Escape seem like a real truck for real truck-lovers.

But surprise, surprise, peaking under the Escape's knickers proves the SUV to be more poseur than real deal. That's because it's built very much like a car. It comes with front-wheel-drive or all- wheel-drive, but the all-wheel-drive works only when slippage is detected. The SUV lacks a low-range gear for true off-road control.

Engine choices are similar to last year's. The base engine is a 153-horsepower 2.3-liter four-cylinder. A 200-horsepower 3-liter V6 is optional.

Both engines can be had with all-wheel-drive. A five-speed manual or four-speed automatic mates with either engine. Both engines run on regular unleaded gasoline. A gas-electric hybrid also returns as a 2008.

Still, the Escape has much to recommend it over the 2007 model. It feels more substantial. The new instrument panel is very easy to use, and the controls seem to fit the truck's personality.

Of special note is the truck's night time dash lighting. Ford is switching from green to blue, and aims to make this a signature of Ford interiors.

Another signature of Ford trucks, roomy cabins, is evident. There's plenty of room for two - three if they're friendly - in the rear seat. The lack of a third row means there's plenty of cargo space for stuff. The second row folds for longer items.

Standard safety items include side-impact airbags and four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes.

Prices for the Escape start at just under $20,000 . The test vehicle, a fully-loaded Limited, topped out at just over $30,000.

This makes the Escape a nifty truck for a small family, one with rugged good looks and equipped with enough y-chromosomes to make it a good choice for any guy.

(c) 2007 Virginian - Pilot. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.