A completely new vehicle a year ago, the Ford Escape is among the best small sport-utilities vehicle on sale today, especially if you spend little time off road.

Being able to see the leading edge of the hood from the driver's seat makes the Escape easier to maneuver in tight places, whether you're deep in the woods or (more likely) in a tight big-city garage. If you are deep in the woods, its 8.5 inches of ground clearance may help clear obstacles. Outside door handles are easy to grab and feel like they're going to last.

Accessories from Ford Outfitters include a snap-in pet barrier and a system to haul two mountain bikes in the cargo area. Bike racks can also be mounted on the roof; the standard roof rack with crossbars holds up to 100 pounds. We don't like the idea of getting vehicles with tall ground clearances then bolting running boards on them. Ford says it designed the running boards on the Escape so that they do not lower the ground clearance. They are expected to be popular on the Escape and are designed to make it easier to install kayaks, snowboards and other toys on the roof rack. Likewise, the rear bumper was designed to aid roof access.

Front-seat roominess is similar to that of the Explorer. Rear seats offer good knee room. White-faced instruments, in vogue these days, are in a straightforward instrument panel.

Side airbags are optional.

The audio system and heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls in the center stack are angled slightly toward the driver to ease reach while driving. Ford engineers say they tested the placement of the controls by using blindfolded occupants.

Steering is responsive. It feels direct and accurate without a big dead spot in the center. There's enough feeling in the steering to impart a sense of control. Though this is not a sports car, the tires provide respectable grip in paved corners.

When pushed beyond their limits, the front tires start slipping before the rear tires, just like most front-wheel-drive sedans. Called understeer, this means the Escape will describe a wider and wider arc through a corner as it is driven harder into a turn. So it's expected and predictable. Simply back slightly off the throttle and the vehicle tightens its line.

The Escape provides surprisingly good transient response in a series of left-right-left corners. This permits quick, yet smooth, driving. Two passengers never paused in an in-depth marketing discussion despite the fact that we were escaping at a brisk pace down Highway 1.

The V6 engine delivers good acceleration performance. While there's no such thing as too much power, I never felt lacking in the Escape. The engine and four-speed automatic transmission communicate and work well together. The transmission shifts smoothly up and down appropriately for the situation and the engine's broad power band never lugs or strains. It isn't the smoothest V6 on the market, nor is it the roughest. But it is smoother and more satisfying than the four-cylinder engines found on most small sport-utilities.

Brakes are smooth and responsive. The anti-lock brakes (ABS) come into play just when expected and are detectable by the familiar pulsating sensation. ABS lengthens braking distances on wet, slimy clay, however, so I found it difficult to slow the vehicle in time for tight switchbacks on the unpaved roads. (This is no different than any other SUV with ABS, however.)