2023 Ford Escape vs 2023 Volkswagen Taos

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was designed to appeal to a broad audience, offering a balance of affordability and comfort. It was particularly popular in Canada, where it aimed to capture the market left by the discontinued Volkswagen Golf. The Taos was available in Trendline, Comfortline, and Highline trims, with prices ranging from $26,995 to $37,695, excluding a $2,050 destination charge. The Highline trim, which we tested, featured 4Motion all-wheel drive, bold 19-inch alloy wheels, and a stylish Cornflower Blue paint job. Inside, the Taos Highline boasted a premium feel with light grey leather seats, gloss black trim, and metallic detailing, making it resemble a more affordable Audi. It was also one of the roomiest subcompact SUVs, nearly matching the larger Tiguan in interior space.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape embraced a more European design language, moving away from the rugged, boxy aesthetic of its predecessors. A 2023 refresh introduced a more traditional front end with a stylish LED light bar. The Escape was one of the smallest vehicles in Ford's lineup, available in various trims, including the ST-Line Elite, which we tested. This top-trim model featured 19-inch wheels and a sleek design, reminiscent of a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the Escape ST-Line Elite offered diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, with a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, making it suitable for long drives. However, the interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while all-wheel drive versions featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Taos offered up to five driving modes, but its powertrain response was unpredictable, with occasional surges of torque and delays in response. On a mountainous driving loop, the Taos averaged 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres, slightly above the official rating of 8.5 L/100 km for AWD models. Despite its sporty handling and firm ride, the Taos lacked power compared to competitors like the Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai Kona N.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque. This engine could be paired with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Higher trims, like the ST-Line Elite, featured a 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, it wasn't tuned for performance. The brakes provided predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness found in some competitors.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos offered a range of interior options, with cloth seats in the Trendline trim, CloudTex artificial leatherette in the Comfortline, and real leather in the Highline. Cold-weather features were standard in Canada, including heated side mirrors, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Highline trim added rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control, and ventilated front seats. The Taos provided ample rear-seat space, with 790 litres of cargo space behind the back seat and 1,866 litres with the rear seat folded down. However, with 4Motion, these figures were slightly reduced.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered comfortable and supportive seats, with well-positioned armrests and convenient cupholders. The test vehicle featured a head-up display, adjustable for drivers of different heights. While the Escape's cargo space was competitive, it fell short of segment leaders like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The rear-seat legroom was slightly less than some competitors, but the headroom was impressive, and the front-seat backs were padded to maximize space for tall passengers.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos came with standard digital instrumentation, with an 8-inch screen in Trendline and Comfortline trims and a 10.25-inch display in the Highline. Infotainment systems ranged from a basic 6.5-inch touchscreen to an 8-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in higher trims. The Highline featured a native navigation system and an eight-speaker Beats Audio system. However, the user experience was marred by hidden virtual controls, a cumbersome radio tuning process, and ineffective voice-recognition technology.

The 2023 Ford Escape featured the Sync 4 infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen in lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen in higher trims like the ST-Line Elite. Sync 4 was well-organized, with easy navigation between Android Auto and the native navigation system. A wi-fi hotspot was available with a subscription. While Sync 4 was occasionally slow to respond, its layout and ease of use were impressive. The Escape offered a standard six-speaker sound system, with a Bang & Olufsen system optional on higher trims.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos improved its standard safety features, including Front Assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Comfortline trim added Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The Taos also featured a post-collision automatic braking system, automatic high-beam headlights, and parking sensors with automatic braking. Travel Assist performed well, maintaining proper distance and navigating curves smoothly. However, crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were decent but not perfect.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, with five stars in frontal- and side-crash tests. However, IIHS did not grant it a Top Safety Pick designation due to a Marginal score in the updated side-impact test. The Escape came with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and lane-centring technology, offering a semi-autonomous driving experience.