2023 Ford Escape vs 2023 Subaru Forester

The 2023 Ford Escape showcased a departure from its earlier rugged, boxy design, embracing a more European aesthetic. This shift was evident in its refreshed front end, which replaced the previous grille with a more traditional look, featuring the Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. Despite its smaller size in Ford's SUV lineup, the Escape managed to present an upscale appearance, especially in the ST-Line Elite trim, with its 19-inch wheels and sleek body-colour accents. Inside, the Escape offered diamond-stitched leather upholstery, which, while visually appealing, felt somewhat hard and plasticky. The interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt cost-cutting, but the overall design was comfortable, with supportive seats and a well-positioned driver's seat.

In contrast, the 2023 Subaru Forester maintained a consistent design language reminiscent of its predecessors, with a focus on function over form. The Premier trim, which we tested, featured appealing 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome exterior trim, enhancing its otherwise utilitarian appearance. The Forester's interior was characterized by brown leather and metallic accents, with a traditional Subaru design that included analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen. While hard plastic was prevalent, it contributed to an easy-to-clean cabin. The Forester's design was busy, with a mix of grey and silver cladding, but its control layout was intuitive, relying on traditional buttons and knobs for ease of use.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered a range 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 could be configured with either FWD or AWD, providing competitive performance within its segment. Higher trims like the ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite featured a more powerful 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, exclusively with AWD. Despite its impressive output, the Escape's suspension remained soft, prioritizing comfort over performance. The brakes provided predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors.

The 2023 Subaru Forester was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, generating 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, powering all four wheels through a CVT. The CVT featured eight programmed ratios, and the SI-Drive system offered a Sport mode for enhanced responsiveness. The Forester's X-Mode off-road traction control system, with hill descent control, added to its capability, especially in the Wilderness trim. During testing, the Forester Premier handled adverse weather conditions with ease, showcasing its confidence-inspiring driving dynamics. The Forester's steering was light and accurate, and its suspension provided a comfortable yet communicative ride. However, the engine was merely adequate, and the Forester's fuel economy fell short of expectations, highlighting the need for a turbocharged or hybrid option.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered a comfortable interior with supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel, though plain, was pleasant to hold, and the armrests were well-positioned. The Escape's cargo space was somewhat limited, with 1,061 litres behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the seats folded, falling short of some competitors. Passenger space was adequate, with good headroom and padded front-seat backs, but rear-seat legroom was slightly less than rivals.

The 2023 Subaru Forester prioritized function over style, offering features like a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats in the Touring trim. Higher trims added leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control. The Forester's visibility was excellent, thanks to its high seating position and large windows. However, the panoramic sunroof's lack of tinting led to solar heating, and the rear seats could be more supportive. The Forester's cargo area was well-designed, with 762 litres of space behind the rear seats and 1,957 litres with them folded, providing ample storage for most needs.

The 2023 Ford Escape featured the Sync 4 infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look and offered intuitive navigation through various applications. While Sync 4 was generally user-friendly, it 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 Subaru Forester's technology appeared outdated at first glance, but its functionality was commendable. The Base trim included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a CD player. An 8-inch screen with navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system was available on higher trims. The Forester's user interface was straightforward, with separate climate controls and easy-to-use knobs. However, the voice-recognition system was unreliable, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable for navigation.

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 features like forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured the next-generation EyeSight system, with improved software and cameras. Adaptive cruise control was standard, and higher trims included Automatic Emergency Steering and Rear Automatic Braking. The Forester's DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System was exclusive to the Limited and Premier trims. The Forester earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with an Acceptable score in side-impact protection and a Marginal rating in a new frontal-impact test. The NHTSA awarded it five-star crash-test ratings and a four-star rollover resistance rating.