Compare the2022 Honda CR-VVS 2022 Ford Escape FHEV

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-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 CR-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 CR-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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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 is safer than the Ford Escape FHEV:

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 is safer than the Ford Escape FHEV:

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

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’s reliability 63 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.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda CR-V is faster than the Ford Escape FHEV:

Both the CR-V and the Escape FHEV have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All CR-Vs have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The CR-V stops shorter than the Escape FHEV:

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

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CR-V is .6 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Escape FHEV.

The CR-V EX-L AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Escape FHEV SE AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CR-V Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Escape FHEV SE AWD (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The CR-V 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.

The CR-V has .1 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room and 1.5 inches more rear legroom than the Escape FHEV.

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

The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Escape FHEV with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 34.4 cubic feet). The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Escape FHEV with its rear seat folded (75.8 vs. 60.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CR-V easier. The CR-V’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26 inches, while the Escape FHEV’s liftover is 27.9 inches.

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

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CR-V’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Escape FHEV 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. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The CR-V’s standard 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.

If the windows are left open on the CR-V 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 FHEV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Escape FHEV’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

Insurance will cost less for the CR-V owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CR-V will cost $445 to $1605 less than the Escape FHEV over a five-year period.

The CR-V will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the CR-V will retain 53.54% to 57.3% of its original price after five years, while the Escape FHEV only retains 44.81% to 45.23%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda CR-V will be $4445 to $4456 less than for the Ford Escape FHEV.

The Honda CR-V has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

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 FHEV 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 FHEV has never been chosen.

The Honda CR-V outsold the Ford Escape by over two to one during the 2021 model year.