2024 Ford Escape vs 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid

The 2024 Ford Escape carried forward the significant updates from its 2023 redesign, which included a restyled front end, new wheel designs, and an updated trim lineup. These changes, along with next-generation infotainment and enhanced safety features, made the SUV more appealing. The previous model's wide-eyed, toothless smile was replaced by a more aggressive look, although the rest of the SUV retained a soft and generically appealing appearance. In Canada, the 2024 Escape was available in several trims, including Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, Platinum, ST-Line Elite, and Plug-in Hybrid, with prices ranging from $33,049 to $46,999, excluding destination and dealer fees. The ST-Line Elite trim, which we tested, featured extra-cost Rapid Red paint, black 19-inch wheels, the Premium Technology Package, and a Panoramic Vista Roof, bringing the total price to $49,924. The interior, while initially appearing upscale with diamond-stitched, perforated leather and tech upgrades, revealed excessively glossy surfaces and stiff upholstery, raising questions about its value.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid debuted with a redesign that introduced a more cohesive look for the sixth-generation compact SUV. While it lost some of its distinctiveness, the new design featured less body sculpting and a blockier shape, giving it more visual heft. The Forester Hybrid shared its rugged appearance with its conventionally powered sibling, featuring black plastic elements that hinted at its off-road potential. Inside, the Forester retained some of its previous flavour with a beveled dashboard centre section, now dominated by a large vertical infotainment touchscreen. The cabin had a mix of hard plastics and soft-touch materials, with the rear seating area prioritizing durability. The front seats provided ample cushioning and support, enhanced by ventilation, while heated outboard rear seats added comfort. Despite losing some personality, the Forester's redesign aimed for broader appeal.

The 2024 Ford Escape ST-Line Elite offered a choice between a 192-horsepower hybrid powertrain, expected to achieve 6.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The latter averaged 8.4 L/100 km in combined driving with all-wheel drive (AWD) and 8.0 L/100 km with front-wheel drive (FWD). Our test vehicle featured the turbo engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD, standard in Canada from ST-Line Select and up. The AWD system included a driveline disconnect feature to improve fuel economy, and drivers could select between Eco, Normal, Sport, and Slippery driving modes. The turbocharged engine provided quick acceleration, but the driving dynamics didn't match the sporty appearance promised by the ST badge. The ride was soft and compliant, with nimble handling in typical driving situations, but the suspension allowed too much body motion. The brake pedal was responsive, but the steering felt sluggish and numb. The turbo engine seemed wasted in this application, and the hybrid powertrain was recommended for better fuel economy.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-litre horizontally opposed flat four-cylinder "boxer" engine, combined with a parallel hybrid system featuring two motor/generators and a 1.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This setup produced 194 horsepower, surpassing the standard Forester's 180 hp output. The hybrid powertrain, similar to Toyota's, featured a standard all-wheel drive system with a traditional driveshaft, promising better traction and consistent reactions off-road. Acceleration was adequate, with the electric motor responding immediately to pedal input, followed by the internal combustion engine. The hybrid transmission made the Forester feel slower than it was, with the engine revving at higher speeds and emitting a monotone groan. The hybrid system functioned smoothly, with seamless transitions between electricity and the engine. The brakes remained consistent, and the Forester tracked predictably on twisty roads, though body roll discouraged sporty driving. The ride quality was firmer than expected, but small bumps were well smoothed over. Off-roading was where the Forester Hybrid excelled, with X-Mode drive programming and hill descent control enhancing its capabilities.

The 2024 Ford Escape ST-Line offered a black interior with cloth inserts and artificial leather bolsters, accented by red stitching. Leather was optional with the ST-Line Elite trim, but it was not recommended due to its unpleasant feel. The test model featured ambient interior lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The front seats were large and soft, providing good support, while the back seat was comfortable when slid into its rearmost position. Interior storage was generous in the front, but rear passengers had less accommodation. Cargo volume measured 1,061 litres behind the back seat (974 litres for the hybrid), expanding to 1,852 litres (1,721 litres in the hybrid) with the rear seat folded. The test vehicle included deep storage areas and a grocery bag hook in the cargo area.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid impressed with its unimpeded forward view, thanks to thinner front roof pillars. The front seats offered ample space and an open, airy feel, while the rear seats provided plenty of legroom and headroom. The standard panoramic sunroof enhanced the sense of openness for rear passengers. A wireless charging pad was a welcome standard feature, though its hard plastic surface allowed phones to slide during turns. Storage options included moderately sized cup holders, a deep centre armrest bin, and medium-sized door pockets. USB-A and USB-C charge ports and air vents were available for rear passengers, but separate temperature controls were absent. The Forester Hybrid offered 779 litres of cargo space, with a standard hands-free power liftgate and power remote seatback releases for easy loading.

The 2024 Ford Escape featured digital instrumentation, with lower trims having an 8-inch display and upper trims, including the ST-Line Elite, boasting a 12.3-inch display. The test vehicle's 13.2-inch Sync 4 infotainment system impressed with its landscape format and intuitive layout, though the colour theme appeared washed out, and thin fonts were difficult to read. The dual-zone automatic climate controls were integrated into the screen, which was not ideal. Lower trims had an 8-inch display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and FordPass Connect services. The larger touchscreen added a one-year subscription to connected navigation. A Bang & Olufsen premium sound system was available, but the test vehicle's speakers were damaged. The Sync 4 system exhibited lag time, and the wireless smartphone charger heated the phone excessively. The voice recognition system was excellent, and the head-up display (HUD) was included in the optional Premium Technology Package. Active Park Assist 2.0 provided semi-autonomous parking assistance.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid came with an 11.6-inch vertical infotainment touchscreen with built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Lower trims in the non-hybrid had a smaller eight-inch screen. The Starlink infotainment system received high marks for its large on-screen buttons and easy-to-navigate menus. Some functions were anchored to the top of the screen, while climate controls remained at the bottom. Physical buttons flanking the screen allowed for no-look temperature adjustments. The X-Mode off-road drive menu was accessible by swiping the top section of the screen, and external camera views aided off-roading. The Forester Hybrid also featured an 11-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The 2024 Ford Escape included a standard post-collision automatic braking system and Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of driving assistance systems. Features included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. The ST-Line Elite added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, evasive steering assist, lane-centring assist, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. The lane-keeping systems displayed inconsistent behaviour, and the predictive speed assist slowed the SUV excessively. On highways, the Co-Pilot360 technology performed better. The NHTSA awarded the 2024 Escape five-star ratings, except for a four-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not rated the 2024 Escape, but the 2023 model received Good ratings, except for a Marginal score in a new side-impact safety test.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests, except for a four-star rollover protection rating. The IIHS awarded the non-hybrid model top scores of "Good" in most categories, with an "Acceptable" rating in the moderate frontal overlap test, earning it an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. All Forester models came with Subaru's EyeSight suite of advanced safety features, including frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane-keep assist. The top-trim Forester Hybrid added rear automatic braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver attention monitor, and a surround-view monitor. The safety systems functioned well, with the adaptive cruise control being particularly smooth.