2023 Subaru Outback vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Subaru Outback received a facelift that gave it a more aggressive appearance. It featured redesigned LED headlights, a restyled grille, and a revised bumper with dark grey vertical cladding, simulating large air intakes at each corner. The addition of a jutting simulated skid plate, fog lights in oversized housings, and asymmetrical wheel arch trim reminiscent of the Wilderness model contributed to its bold look. While these changes might not appeal to everyone, opting for a dark paint colour could help tone down the design's excesses. The Outback Onyx Edition, with its black wheels and trim, complemented the audacious cladding well. The Limited trim, with its Cosmic Blue paint and Java Brown premium Nappa leather upholstery, offered an upscale and cohesive interior, despite some hard plastic elements. The large infotainment screen and gloss black trim on the centre console, however, were prone to collecting dust and smudges.

The 2023 Ford Escape, in contrast, moved away from its previous blocky design to adopt a more European aesthetic. The refresh included a traditional front end with a Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. Despite its smaller size in Ford's lineup, the Escape maintained a sleek design with 19-inch wheels and body-colour mirror caps. Inside, the ST-Line Elite trim featured diamond-stitched leather upholstery, which, while visually appealing, felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power adjustable driver's seat allowed for easy customization. However, the interior was dominated by plastic, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced. Despite these drawbacks, the Escape's steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors.

The 2023 Subaru Outback offered two engine options: a standard 2.5-litre flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 2.4-litre flat-four engine in the XT models, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. The standard engine, paired with a CVT, struggled with passing and climbing power, and its fuel efficiency was less than expected, returning 9.2 L/100 km instead of the anticipated 8.3 L/100 km. The XT models, while more powerful, were less fuel-efficient, with ratings of 9.5 L/100 km combined, and 10.1 L/100 km for the Wilderness trim. The Outback's AWD system and X-Mode traction system enhanced its off-road capabilities, while its suspension provided a firm yet comfortable ride. However, the standard engine's lack of power was a notable drawback.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered a choice between a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque, and a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. The latter, available only with AWD, provided better acceleration and high-speed performance. Despite its power, the Escape was not a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and no paddle shifters for manual gear changes. The brakes were predictable and linear, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the over-boosted feel of some competitors. The Escape's suspension was a boon on rough roads, providing a comfortable ride.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized utility with features like a robust roof rack and flat door sill trim. The Limited trim offered a comfortable interior with a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front and rear seats, and premium Nappa leather upholstery. The Outback provided ample cargo space, with 923 litres behind the back seat and 2,141 litres with the seats folded. Its high ground clearance made entry and exit easy, and the roof rack was ready for accessories. However, the Outback could benefit from more practical storage space in the cabin.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered comfortable seating and good ergonomics, with well-positioned armrests and a head-up display. However, it fell short in cargo space, offering 1,061 litres behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the seats folded, less than some competitors. Passenger space was also slightly limited, though the back seat provided good headroom. The Escape's interior was functional but lacked the spaciousness of some rivals.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured a Starlink 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity from the Touring trim upwards. The system included physical controls for volume and climate settings, but other functions were embedded in the touchscreen. While improved, the system's graphics and voice recognition were lacking. Additional technologies included a digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree front-view camera, though a surround-view camera was not available.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 system, featuring an optional 13.2-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system was well-organized, with easy navigation between applications and a static "Home" button for quick access. While the system was occasionally slow to respond, its feature set and layout were commendable. A six-speaker sound system was standard, with a Bang & Olufsen system available on higher trims.

The 2023 Subaru Outback earned top marks from the IIHS, including in the new side-impact crash test. Its EyeSight system included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking, among other features. The system's new Automatic Emergency Steering function could steer to avoid obstacles if necessary. However, the adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist systems felt artificial, and the rear automatic braking system was incompatible with some driveways.

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. Its Co-Pilot360 suite included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring as standard. The optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and lane-centring technology, along with a surround-view camera.