Compare the2022 Honda HR-VVS 2021 Ford Escape FHEV

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the HR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The HR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Escape FHEV’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the HR-V and the Escape FHEV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda HR-V is safer than the Ford Escape FHEV:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The engine in the HR-V has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Escape FHEV has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the HR-V’s reliability 80 points higher than the Escape FHEV.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 17 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The HR-V’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escape FHEV’s standard 65 series tires. The HR-V Sport’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Escape FHEV Titanium’s 55 series tires.

The HR-V EX-L AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Escape FHEV SE AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The HR-V EX executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Escape FHEV SE AWD (27.8 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The Honda HR-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 650 pounds less than the Ford Escape FHEV.

The HR-V is 10.1 inches shorter than the Escape FHEV, making the HR-V easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The HR-V Sport/EX/EX-L uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the HR-V’s rear seats recline. The Escape FHEV’s rear seats don’t recline.

The HR-V’s driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Escape FHEV’s standard driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

Consumer Reports rated the HR-V’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Escape FHEV’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”