2023 Ford Escape vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Ford Escape showcased a departure from its earlier rugged, boxy design, embracing a more European aesthetic. This model featured a refreshed front end with a traditional grille and a stylish LED light bar, giving it a more upscale appearance akin to a Mazda CX-5. Despite its sleek design, the Escape remained the smallest SUV in Ford's lineup, offering a range of trims from Active to ST-Line Elite. The interior of the ST-Line Elite trim boasted diamond-stitched leather upholstery, which, while visually appealing, felt somewhat hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power adjustable driver's seat provided excellent ergonomics for long drives. However, the interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced.

In contrast, the 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its familiar design with minor tweaks to the Wilderness trim, including a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The Premier XT trim, tested in an appealing Autumn Green Metallic, featured tasteful chrome accents and a variety of wheel designs across trims. The interior of the top-trim model was surprisingly luxurious, with Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery that was both handsome and supple. The Outback offered a range of seating materials across trims, from cloth to synthetic leather, catering to different preferences. The overall design emphasized capability without sacrificing comfort, making it a strong contender for those seeking a balance between ruggedness and refinement.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered a choice between two engines: a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque, and a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder producing 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. The latter was exclusive to higher trims and provided a more robust driving experience, particularly in acceleration and high-speed situations. Despite its power, the Escape's suspension remained soft, prioritizing comfort over performance precision. The brakes were predictable and linear, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness common in some competitors.

The 2024 Subaru Outback, true to its brand, featured a "Boxer" engine. The base model had a 2.5-litre flat-four engine with 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, while the XT trims, including the Wilderness, were equipped with a 2.4-litre turbocharged engine delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This turbo setup significantly improved towing capacity and overall performance. The CVT mimicked the feel of an eight-speed transmission, and the steering, while not sporty, was adequate for a comfortable ride. The Outback's suspension and ground clearance, especially in the Wilderness trim, made it well-suited for off-road adventures.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided a comfortable interior with supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. However, it fell short in cargo space, offering 1,061 litres behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the seats folded, lagging behind competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Passenger space was adequate, with good headroom and well-padded front-seat backs, but rear-seat legroom was slightly less than some rivals.

The 2024 Subaru Outback, despite its sleek design, excelled in interior space. It offered more headroom and legroom than the CR-V and RAV4, although it had slightly less cargo space with all seats in place. The Outback's features included dual-zone climate control, heated seats, and a power-adjustable driver's seat, with higher trims offering additional amenities like a heated steering wheel and power moonroof. The hands-free power liftgate and versatile roof rails added to its practicality.

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 intuitive, with easy navigation between applications like Android Auto and the native navigation system. 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 2024 Subaru Outback offered a mix of old-school and modern technology, with USB-C and USB-A ports across all trims. The top-trim model featured an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, while lower trims retained a dual-7-inch system. The Subaru Starlink platform, though dated in appearance, included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with some hard buttons for convenience. Most trims boasted a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, enhancing the in-car entertainment experience.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but did not earn a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS due to a Marginal score in the side-impact test. It came equipped 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 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. It featured the EyeSight suite of driver-assistance technologies, with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automatic pre-collision braking as standard. The Touring trim added reverse automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring, while the Premier XT included a digital rearview mirror and driver-attention monitor.