2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Ford Escape was a striking compact crossover, boasting a large grille reminiscent of the outgoing Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks, with headlights inspired by the Ford GT supercar. Its design was more curvaceous than its predecessor, which had a more upright rear end. Despite this change, the Escape remained one of the most attractive small SUVs on the market, trailing only behind the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee. Inside, the Escape featured a modern cabin with a forward-looking design that retained essential controls. The test model included a fully digital instrument panel and a floating infotainment screen, contributing to its smooth, contemporary aesthetic.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Highlander stood out in the midsize SUV segment with its distinctive design. Its front end, though less dramatic than the Sienna minivan, made a statement with wide headlights, a long hood, and an assertive trapezoidal grille. The side profile featured a character line similar to the Supra sports car, while the rear boasted taillights reminiscent of Lexus models. The Highlander managed to appear longer and lower than its predecessor without sacrificing size. The new XSE trim level added a sportier appearance with a restyled front end and 20-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the Limited trim offered an upscale feel with chrome accents and a near-flawless fit and finish, emphasizing luxury over sportiness.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered a diverse range of engine options, setting it apart from its competitors. It featured a new three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, standard in the S, SE, and SEL trims. Additionally, a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, available on the SEL and standard on the Titanium, delivered 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration. The Escape also offered hybrid options, including a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a battery pack, producing 198 horsepower. A plug-in hybrid model was available on the SE, SEL, and Titanium trims. The Escape's conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrids employed a CVT. The most efficient version was the hybrid, with fuel consumption figures of 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 6.3 on the highway with FWD.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options. While not designed for high-performance driving, the Highlander provided smooth and predictable operation, making it suitable for family use. The Highlander's powertrain compared well with competitors like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride, offering similar horsepower and torque levels. The XSE trim added sportier suspension tuning, but the Highlander remained focused on comfort and reliability rather than sporty performance.

The 2020 Ford Escape's sleeker design resulted in reduced cargo space compared to its predecessor. It offered 974 litres of cargo space behind the second row and 1,852 litres with the rear seats folded down, or 1,722 litres in upper-level trims. While this was less than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, the Escape prioritized passenger space. Second-row passengers enjoyed ample headroom and legroom, while the front seats provided commanding positions with good visibility. The Escape also featured numerous storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and multiple trays and compartments.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in passenger comfort and cargo versatility. It featured shelves ahead of the front seats for convenient storage, with a wireless charging pad available on XSE and above trims. Second-row passengers enjoyed ample legroom, with available captain's chairs that could recline. The third row offered limited space for adults, but the second row could be adjusted to provide more room. Cargo space behind the third row was 453 litres, expanding to 1,150 litres with the third row folded and 2,245 litres with both the second and third rows down. While not as spacious as a minivan, the Highlander offered ample cargo capacity for most needs.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim featured a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, while the SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Titanium trim included a head-up display, although its flip-up screen design limited its effectiveness for taller drivers. The latest version of Sync allowed for multitasking, enhancing the user experience.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander offered an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen available on the Platinum trim. Both systems were user-friendly, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard across the lineup. The 12.3-inch unit was bright and crisp, although it limited certain apps to an 8-inch rectangle. A JBL audio system was available from the Limited grade up, providing good sound quality.

The 2020 Ford Escape came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. It earned a Good rating from the IIHS in all phases of testing. The Escape also featured Ford Co-Pilot360, which included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support. It also offered adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. Blind spot monitoring was standard, and the Highlander received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.