Ford Escape vs Toyota RAV4 Plug-in 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 gave the Escape a more aggressive look, replacing the previous model's wide-eyed, toothless smile. Despite these updates, the overall appearance remained soft and generically appealing. 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 additional options like Rapid Red paint, black 19-inch wheels, and a Panoramic Vista Roof, bringing the total cost to $49,924. The interior, while initially appearing upscale with diamond-stitched leather and tech upgrades, revealed excessively glossy surfaces and stiff upholstery, raising questions about its value.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid was available exclusively in the Sport design in Canada, with trims including the base SE, XSE, and the new GR Sport. The sixth-generation RAV4 maintained the same footprint as its predecessor, but the GR Sport's assertive grille and rear diffuser extended its length by nearly five centimetres. The RAV4 adopted a boxier, truck-like presence, consistent with Toyota's other new SUVs, featuring boxy wheel arches and bulges over the fenders. The Sport trims showcased gloss black accents, red brake calipers, and 20-inch black alloy wheels. Inside, the RAV4 offered a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.5-inch touchscreen, with a more streamlined design. The GR Sport trim featured red stitching on black upholstery and additional badging. The RAV4's interior was optimized for storage, with clever features like a shelf over the dashboard and deep door pockets. Despite its compact size, the RAV4 provided ample passenger space, although the cargo area was slightly reduced compared to the standard model.

The 2024 Ford Escape ST-Line Elite offered two powertrain options: a 192-horsepower hybrid and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, delivered quick acceleration but fell short in driving dynamics. The Escape's ride was soft and compliant, with nimble handling in typical driving situations. However, the suspension allowed too much body motion, and the steering felt sluggish. The turbo engine's fuel economy averaged 9.8 L/100 km, missing the official rating of 8.4 L/100 km. The Escape could tow up to 1,587 kilograms, but the turbo engine felt wasted in this application. The hybrid powertrain, while not as quick, promised better long-term savings.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured an updated 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine with 186 horsepower, paired with a larger 22.7-kwh battery pack. The PHEV's power increased to 324 horsepower, making it the most powerful RAV4 to date. All-wheel drive was standard, with a large front motor and a smaller rear motor. In EV mode, the RAV4 excelled in quiet cruising but plateaued at 50 km/h. In Auto mode, the RAV4 achieved a 0-100 km/h time in the low five seconds. The RAV4 offered Hybrid and Charge modes for different driving scenarios. The transition of power was seamless, and the ride was spirited without sacrificing comfort. The GR Sport trim, with its lower stance and enhanced suspension, provided improved handling over rough terrain.

The 2024 Ford Escape ST-Line featured 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 uncomfortable feel. The test model included ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable seats, and heated front seats. The Escape's front seats were large and supportive, while the back seat offered comfort when slid to its rearmost position. Interior storage was generous in the front, but rear passengers had limited accommodations. Cargo volume measured 1,061 litres behind the back seat, expanding to 1,852 litres with the rear seat folded down.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid's base SE trim came equipped with power-adjustable and heated front seats, five USB ports, and push-button start. The interior featured synthetic leather upholstery, with ventilated seats standard on the GR Sport and XSE trims. The RAV4's dimensions remained similar to the previous generation, but the interior was optimized with clever storage features. The RAV4 offered ample passenger space, with 960 millimetres of rear legroom. The cargo area measured 951 litres, expanding to 1,798 litres with the rear seats folded down. The RAV4's interior was designed for practicality, with deep door pockets and multiple storage shelves.

The 2024 Ford Escape featured digital instrumentation, with an 8-inch display on lower trims and a 12.3-inch display on upper trims. The ST-Line Elite test vehicle had a 13.2-inch Sync 4 infotainment system, presented in a landscape format. While the system was intuitive, the colour theme appeared washed out, and the climate controls were integrated into the screen. The test vehicle also had a Bang & Olufsen sound system, but the speakers were damaged. The voice recognition system was excellent, but the wireless smartphone charger heated the phone excessively. The optional head-up display projected data onto a clear plastic piece, and Active Park Assist 2.0 provided semi-autonomous parking assistance.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.5-inch touchscreen system, with a larger 12.9-inch touchscreen on top trims. The touchscreen had customizable tiles and a quick menu for commonly used settings. The RAV4's new operating system, Arene, improved responsiveness and loading times. The Voice Assistant responded to a range of prompts, and the system could locate chargers along the route. The RAV4's technology was designed for convenience, with a focus on user-friendly interfaces and enhanced connectivity.

The 2024 Ford Escape came with a standard Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The ST-Line Elite also featured adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a 360-degree camera system. The Escape received favourable crash-test ratings from the NHTSA, with five-star ratings across the board, except for a four-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not rated the 2024 Escape at the time of writing.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid included Toyota Safety Sense 4.0, with a wider view for cameras and a broader detection range for radar. The system featured automatic emergency braking, lane departure alert, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and a safe exit alert. All but the base SE had a surround-view camera system. The RAV4's safety enhancements aimed to improve its already strong safety record, with crash-testing results pending from the IIHS and NHTSA.