PHILLIPS: We'll take a look at the best and the brightest vehicles of 2004 according to "Popular Science." Here's today's best of what's new.</s>ERIC ADAMS, "POPULAR SCIENCE": We chose the Dodge Magnum as our grand award winner for the competition, because it's the only vehicle that really in a way was almost a whole new type of car. It's a high performance, high-powered sort of station wagon, sort of sedan. And it's just exciting. It's very aggressively styled, it's very functional. And it's just a lot of fun to drive. The Ford Escape hybrid represents the pinnacle of achievement that we're seeing now. This is the first time an SUV has been available in a true hybrid. It's a complete package, because they haven't made any sacrifices. You don't have to give up power and performance. You can haul a thousand pounds. You can go off-roading in it if you want to. It's not a soft SUV, it's a fully capable SUV, but it gets incredible gas mileage.
Best and Brightest Vehicles of 2004