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2020 Ford Escape hybrids vs other crossover fuel sippers: How they compare on paper

Along with a new generation of Escape, Ford also reintroduced the world to the 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid. And if that weren't enough, Ford is adding a plug-in hybrid version. This is a sign of the times: people are more crossover crazy than ever, but are also seeking ways to use less fuel, whether it's for environmental or purely money-motivated reasons. The Ford hybrids aren't the only fuel-efficient compact crossovers on the market. They will be going head-to-head with conventional hybrids including the 2019 Kia Niro, 2019 Nissan Rogue Hybrid and 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. There are other plug-in hybrids including the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek PHEV, 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the plug-in version of the 2019 Kia Niro. There are even a couple diesels in the form of the 2019 Chevy Equinox and 2019 GMC Terrain. So we've rounded up the details on all these crossovers to see who leads and lags in criteria such as power, fuel efficiency, space and price. Check out all their details below. 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid View 68 Photos How do their engines and fuel economy compare? Conventional Hybrids and Diesels Let's face it, if you're buying one of these crossovers, one of the things that matters most to you is just how frugal with fuel they are. We'll start off with the conventional hybrids and diesels, and the clear victor is the Kia Niro, which in base FE trim, manages to hit 50 mpg combined. This is thanks to it sharing its powertrain with the Hyundai Ioniq, the Hyundai equivalent of the Toyota Prius. Buyers should take note that only the FE returns such high fuel economy. The LX and EX drop to 49 mpg, and the S Touring and Touring get 43. Even then, the least efficient Niro is the most efficient of the normal hybrids and diesels. It is nearly the least powerful, though, with 139 horsepower. Just behind it is the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. It delivers 40 mpg combined, and it has an ace up its sleeve: it comes standard with all-wheel drive. Every other vehicle in this powertrain group has front drive standard, and the Niro isn't available with all-wheel drive at all. If that weren't enough, the RAV4 Hybrid also boasts the most power at 219 horses. While we can't say anything about Escape Hybrid fuel economy, we do know that it will make 198 horsepower, which is close to the class-leading RAV4. The least powerful of these is the Equinox and Terrain, and they return the worst fuel economy at 32 mpg.

Subaru makes Indiana proud by sponsoring 'Parks and Rec' coronavirus reunion

On April 23, NBC Universal announced the return of modern comedy classic "Parks and Recreation" for a special one-time reunion to help raise money for the Feeding America COVID-19 Response Fund. Joining the good-spirited event, Subaru announced this week it would help sponsor the special by matching donations up to $150,000. The all-new show will air Thursday, April 30, at 8:30 p.m. ET, and donations can be made through FeedingAmerica.org. For 30 minutes, fans of Leslie Knope and her trusty crew of buddies will have the chance to temporarily escape the current stressful times caused by the coronavirus and COVID-19 pandemic. The show was filmed from the actors' houses and will adopt a theme set by current times. "Leslie Knope is determined to stay connected to her friends in a time of social distancing," an NBC press release says. All of the original characters will return for the special, including Amy Poehler as Knope, Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson, Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford, Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins, Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate, Chris Pratt as Andy Dwyer, Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, Rob Lowe as Chris Traeger, Retta as Donna Meagle, and Jim O'Heir as Terry Garry Jerry Gergich.  “We were looking for ways to help and felt that bringing these characters back for a night could raise some money,” executive producer Michael Schur said in the release. “I sent a hopeful email to the cast, and they all got back to me within 45 minutes. Our old ‘Parks and RecÂ’ team has put together one more 30-minute slice of (quarantined) Pawnee life, and we hope everyone enjoys it. And donates!” For those who are unaware, "Parks and Recreation" is set in the fictional small-town of Pawnee, Indiana. So, it makes sense that Subaru, a company with a manufacturing plant in the heart of Indiana, would pitch in. Subaru and State Farm will join NBCUniversal, as well as the writers, producers, and cast of "Parks and Rec," in matching donations collected until May 21. Subaru will match donations up to $150,000, as will State Farm, for a potential total of up to $500,000 in matched donations. The donation comes after Subaru previously committed to providing Feeding America with 50 million meals for COVID-19 relief. By the organization's standards, $1 can provide up to 10 meals. Donate at FeedingAmerica.org and watch the show April 30. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Subaru Levorg STI Sport prototype revealed with barely more aggressive looks

The Subaru Levorg STI Sport prototype has been revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon. We were expecting something that added some extra ferocity to the regular Levorg concept shown a few months ago at the Tokyo Motor Show. Instead, we have a wagon that's just barely different at all. The body itself appears unchanged with the sole exception of new fog lights in the lower front fascia. There are STI details sprinkled about, such as the trademark pink badges in the grille and on the hatch. The exhaust also features the logo stamped in the tips. And of course it gets unique wheels from the original prototype. The good news is that the Levorg was already handsome and sporty, but we would have liked to see a little more. Subaru remains mum on mechanical details. We know it will come standard with a new turbocharged 1.8-liter flat-four engine and of course all-wheel drive. We expect it will also have a version of the FA20 2.0-liter turbo engine from the WRX as an option. And speaking of the WRX, the current Levorg shares most of its bodywork with the sports sedan, so when the new generation launches it should look like this wagon. Related Video: