Compare the2022 Honda CR-V HybridVS 2021 Ford Escape

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CR-V Hybrid. But it costs extra on the Escape.

Both the CR-V Hybrid and the Escape have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda CR-V Hybrid is safer than the Ford Escape:

	CR-V Hybrid	Escape
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	141	143
Neck Stress	175 lbs.	185 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	65/19 lbs.	188/315 lbs.

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

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, results indicate that the Honda CR-V Hybrid is safer than the Ford Escape:

	CR-V Hybrid	Escape
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	71	197
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	142 G’s	191 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	567 lbs.	816 lbs.

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

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the CR-V Hybrid’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Escape’s camshafts. If the Escape’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

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 CR-V Hybrid’s reliability 40 points higher than the Escape.

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.

Engine

The CR-V Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 31 more horsepower (212 vs. 181) and 42 lbs.-ft. more torque (232 vs. 190) than the Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda CR-V Hybrid is faster than the Ford Escape turbo 3 cyl.:

	CR-V Hybrid	Escape
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	8.4 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	16.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	86.3 MPH	84.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V Hybrid gets better mileage than the Escape:

			MPG
CR-V Hybrid
		2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/35 hwy
Escape
	FWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	28 city/34 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/31 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the CR-V Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Escape doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda CR-V Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Escape with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda CR-V Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Ford Escape (5 to 7). This means the CR-V Hybrid produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Escape every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Escape doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The CR-V Hybrid stops much shorter than the Escape:

	CR-V Hybrid	Escape
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CR-V Hybrid has larger tires than the Escape (235/60R18 vs. 225/65R17).

The CR-V Hybrid EX/EX-L’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escape’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CR-V Hybrid EX/EX-L has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Escape.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CR-V Hybrid is .5 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Escape.

The CR-V Hybrid Touring handles at .81 G’s, while the Escape Titanium AWD pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the CR-V Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Escape (8.2 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the CR-V Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The CR-V Hybrid uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Escape doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

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

Cargo Capacity

The CR-V Hybrid has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Escape with its rear seat folded (68.7 vs. 65.4 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CR-V Hybrid easier. The CR-V Hybrid’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26 inches, while the Escape’s liftover is 28.1 inches.

The CR-V Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the Escape’s in almost every dimension:

	CR-V Hybrid	Escape
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.5”/71”	37.8”/68.5”
Max Width	54”	57.3”
Min Width	41.5”	41.4”
Height	41”	34.8”

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CR-V Hybrid’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Escape doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the CR-V Hybrid. The Escape doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Ergonomics

The CR-V Hybrid’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Escape’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. The Escape SEL/Titanium’s .

If the windows are left open on the CR-V Hybrid the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Escape can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Escape doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The CR-V Hybrid’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Escape’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

The CR-V Hybrid’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Escape and aren’t offered on the Escape S.

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Escape S doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Escape and isn’t available on the Escape S.

The CR-V Hybrid’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Escape S doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the CR-V Hybrid has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Escape S doesn’t offer rear vents.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda CR-V Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Ford Escape isn't recommended.

The CR-V was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 20 years. The Escape has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

Motor Trend selected the CR-V as their 2018 Sport Utility of the Year. The Escape has never been chosen.