Toyota Highlander vs Ford Escape

The 2022 Toyota Highlander boasted a modern and somewhat aggressive front-end design, with flared fender arches and a distinctive third-row window that gave it a compact appearance despite its spacious interior. Inside, the Highlander offered ample cabin space and clever storage solutions, making it ideal for families. The XSE trim, in particular, stood out with its bold red leather interior, unique exterior styling, ambient lighting, and sport-tuned suspension, providing a blend of luxury and sportiness. The Highlander’s trim lineup in Canada included LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum, each offering a range of features from standard AWD and an 8-inch touchscreen to premium audio systems and panoramic moonroofs.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape embraced a more European design language, moving away from its previous blocky exterior. The refreshed model featured a traditional front end with a stylish LED light bar and the Ford blue oval logo. The Escape was one of the smallest vehicles in Ford’s lineup, yet it offered a sleek design with 19-inch wheels and body-colour mirror caps. Inside, the ST-Line Elite trim showcased diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt hard and plasticky. The Escape provided comfortable seating and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, but the interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt cost-cutting.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD, offering drive modes like Sport, Normal, and Eco, as well as AWD modes for different terrains. The V6 provided better pickup at cruising speeds, with a throaty exhaust note during overtakes. The Highlander’s handling was commendable, with a sport-tuned suspension in the XSE trim that reduced body roll while maintaining comfort. It could tow up to 2,268 kilograms and had a max payload of 775 kilograms.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The latter was available on higher trims and provided better acceleration and passing power. However, the Escape’s suspension remained soft, and the transmission lacked performance tuning. The brakes were predictable, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander offered up to 2,387 litres of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded, 1,370 litres with the second row in use, and 453 litres behind the third row. The power liftgate was standard on trims above the base LE, with hands-free operation on Limited and Platinum trims. The cabin featured deep cargo pockets, multiple storage ledges, and a spacious centre console. Second-row captain’s chairs provided easy access to the third row, which was less comfortable for adults on longer trips.

The 2023 Ford Escape, while comfortable with supportive seats and good ergonomics, fell short in cargo space compared to segment leaders. It offered 1,061 litres of storage behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the second row folded. Passenger space was slightly less than competitors, but the back seat provided good headroom and soft, scalloped front-seat backs for tall passengers.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came with an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with Bluetooth connectivity and five USB ports. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with hard buttons complementing the touchscreen. A wireless charging pad and additional USB ports were available in higher trims, along with a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL audio system.

The 2023 Ford Escape featured the Sync 4 system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims. The larger screen enhanced the cabin’s look and offered intuitive navigation with individual tiles for various functions. A wi-fi hotspot was available, and the system included a static “Home” button for easy navigation. However, Sync 4 was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob’s placement was inconvenient. A Bang & Olufsen sound system was optional on higher trims.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and eight airbags. Optional safety features included parking sensors and a surround-view monitor. The Highlander received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Ford Escape earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but did not receive a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS due to a Marginal score in the side-impact test. It came standard with Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite, offering features like forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera for enhanced safety.