2023 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Ford Escape showcased a departure from its earlier rugged, boxy design, embracing a more European aesthetic. The refresh introduced a traditional front end with a central Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar, replacing the previous grille. Despite its sleek design, the Escape maintained a compact stature within Ford's SUV lineup, offering a range of trims from Active to ST-Line Elite. The ST-Line Elite trim, which we tested, featured 19-inch wheels and body-colour mirror caps, giving it an upscale appearance akin to a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the Escape boasted diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt somewhat hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, with a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat, but the interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt cost-cutting.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid, tested in Santa Barbara, California, presented a more refined and luxurious experience. The RX 350h Luxury model, with its Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, exuded elegance. The RX 500h F Sport Performance variant stood out with its Copper paint, blacked-out grille, and matte-black 21-inch wheels, offering a sportier look. Inside, the RX adopted a minimalistic design with contemporary textures and ambient lighting. The RX 500h featured artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim, with an option for Rioja Red upholstery. Despite its blunt-nosed design, the RX maintained a balanced size, offering a comfortable and luxurious interior experience.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered a variety of powertrain options, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine was available with both FWD and AWD. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a more powerful 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, exclusively with AWD. While the Escape's suspension was soft and compliant, making it comfortable for everyday driving, it lacked the performance tuning of a genuine performance crossover. The brakes provided predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid, on the other hand, offered a more efficient and powerful driving experience. The RX 350h featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 246 horsepower and 233 lb-ft of torque, achieving 6.5 L/100 km in combined driving. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model boasted a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 366 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, with an estimated fuel consumption of 8.6 L/100 km. The RX 500h's adaptive damping suspension, upgraded brakes, and rear-wheel steering provided a dynamic driving experience, with a Sport mode for enhanced performance. However, accessing the drive modes required navigating the infotainment system, which could be cumbersome.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered a comfortable interior with supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The front-door armrests and centre console's armrest were well-positioned, and the head-up display was easy to adjust. However, the Escape fell short in cargo space, offering 1,061 litres behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the second row folded, lagging behind competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Rear-seat legroom was slightly less than rivals, but headroom was impressive, with deeply scalloped front-seat backs maximizing space for tall passengers.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid provided a luxurious and comfortable interior, especially in the RX 350h Luxury trim with its ten-way power-adjustable seats and premium leather. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model featured eight-way power-adjustable seats with larger side bolsters and standard-grade leather. The RX's battery placement under the rear seat resulted in excellent leg support and good legroom, though rear headroom was tight. Cargo space was improved, with 838 litres behind the rear seat and 1,308 litres with the back seat folded, surpassing the previous model but still falling short of some competitors.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring an optional 13.2-inch touchscreen that enhanced the cabin's look. The system was well-organized, with easy navigation between Android Auto and the native navigation system. A wi-fi hotspot was available with a subscription, and a static "Home" button facilitated quick access to various applications. However, the system was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient. A six-speaker sound system was standard, with a Bang & Olufsen system available on higher trims.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system, requiring a subscription for connected services after the trial period. The Lexus Interface offered cloud-based navigation and an Intelligent Assistant, though it occasionally provided inaccurate results. The system's single-screen menu view required frequent navigation, and the display suffered from reflections. The head-up display, available with dual-function touch-sensing control pads, was challenging to use with polarized sunglasses. Despite these issues, the system offered a modern and connected experience.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side-crash tests. However, the IIHS did not award it a Top Safety Pick designation due to a Marginal score in the updated side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, with new motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance. Proactive Driving Assist maintained safe distances and recharged the battery through regenerative braking. The system's front cross-traffic alert and curve-speed reduction features had some limitations, and the driver monitoring system could be obstructed by certain driving positions. Traffic Jam Assist and Advanced Park were available but not tested.