The
Ford Escape is a
compact crossover vehicle sold by
Ford since 2000 over three generations. Ford released the original model in 2000 for the 2001
model year—a model jointly developed and released with
Mazda of Japan—who took a lead in the engineering of the two models and sold their version as the
Mazda Tribute. Although the Escape and Tribute share the same underpinnings constructed from the
Ford CD2 platform (based on Mazda GF underpinnings), the only panels common to the two vehicles are the roof and floor pressings. Powertrains were supplied by Mazda with respect to the base
inline-four engine, with Ford providing the optional
V6. At first, the twinned models were assembled by Ford in the US for North American consumption, with Mazda in Japan supplying cars for other markets. This followed a long history of Mazda-derived Fords, starting with the
Ford Courier in the 1970s. Ford also sold the first generation Escape in Europe and China as the
Ford Maverick, replacing the
previous model. Then in 2004, for the 2005 model year, Ford's luxury
Mercury division released a rebadged version called the
Mercury Mariner, sold mainly in North America. The first iteration Escape remains notable as the first SUV to offer a
hybrid drivetrain option, released in 2004 for the 2005 model year to North American markets only.