2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The 2020 Ford Escape was a striking compact crossover, sharing its large grille with the outgoing Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks, and featuring headlights inspired by the Ford GT supercar. The previous model had a more upright rear end, but the new curvaceous design, while attractive, came at a cost. Despite this, the Escape remained one of the best-looking small SUVs on the market, trailing perhaps only the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee. Inside, the Escape boasted a modern cabin with a fully digital instrument panel, floating infotainment screen, and a smooth, forward-looking design that kept basic controls in familiar places.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid, introduced with Honda's two-motor hybrid powertrain, retained the familiar look of its gas-only counterparts, with subtle differences like "Hybrid" badges and blue Honda logos. The LED fog lights and rear bumper had a more sophisticated design, but otherwise, it was hard to distinguish it from the standard CR-V. Inside, the CR-V Hybrid featured unique instrumentation showing battery-charge status, power regeneration, and power distribution. The paddles on the steering wheel managed the regenerative braking system, adding a unique touch to the driving experience.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered a variety of engine options, including a new 3-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, standard in the S, SE, and SEL trims. The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, available on the SEL and standard on the Titanium, delivered 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, part of the hybrid drivetrain, produced 198 horsepower, while a plug-in hybrid variant was also available. The conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrids employed a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The most efficient version, the non-Sport hybrid, returned 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid paired a 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine with an electric assist motor and a generator/starter motor, producing a total system output of 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. It featured three driving modes—EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, and Engine Drive—automatically selecting the most appropriate one. Additionally, three driver-selected modes—Econ, Sport, and EV—were available. The CR-V Hybrid's added weight of 194 pounds, carried low in the vehicle, improved its center of gravity and weight distribution. Despite some steady-state droning under acceleration, the CR-V Hybrid was quick off the line, had ample power, and handled predictably. However, it returned 33.7 mpg on the testing route, falling short of the EPA rating of 38 mpg combined.

The 2020 Ford Escape's sleeker design resulted in reduced cargo space, offering 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row, dropping to 34.4 cubic feet in hybrid models. With the backseat folded, it provided 65.4 cubic feet or 60.8 cubic feet in upper-level trims. While this was less than the outgoing model and competitors like the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, and Volkswagen Tiguan, it was comparable to the Mazda CX-5. The Escape emphasized passenger space, with ample headroom and legroom for second-row passengers and commanding seating positions for the front occupants. Real-world storage solutions included deep water-bottle holders and multiple trays and compartments.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid excelled in carrying people and cargo. The front seats were supportive and comfortable, with the driver's seat offering 12-way power adjustment. Heated front seats and high-quality leather were standard, though the front passenger's seat lacked height adjustment. The rear seat room was remarkable, with ample space for adults and a flat floor for accommodating three passengers. Interior storage was impressive, despite the Touring trim's wireless smartphone charger taking up space on the center console. The CR-V Hybrid offered 33.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 68.7 cubic feet with the seats folded, slightly less than the standard CR-V but still competitive.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim featured a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, which stood out as an eyesore in the new "floating screen" design. The SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, offering a fantastic user experience. The Titanium trim included a head-up display (HUD) with a small flip-up screen, which was less effective for taller drivers. Overall, the Escape's technology was modern and user-friendly, with the SE trim providing excellent value.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid's infotainment system, redesigned for the 2017 model year, felt outdated despite its large, flush surface and power/volume knob. The 7-inch touchscreen was smaller than competitors, and the lack of a tuning knob impacted usability. The system was slow to start, and the voice-recognition technology was subpar. However, the Touring trim's nine-speaker premium audio sounded good, and the system supported text messaging, SiriusXM satellite radio, and integrated Pandora internet radio. Wireless smartphone charging was standard on the Touring trim but took up significant space on the center console.

The 2020 Ford Escape came with a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system (TPMS). It earned the best overall score of Good from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) in all phases of testing. The Escape also came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced safety systems including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid was equipped with Honda Sensing, a collection of advanced driving-assistance systems. Standard features included adaptive cruise control with full-stop capability, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and Road Departure Mitigation. The CR-V Hybrid also included blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. It earned a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).