Compare the2022 Toyota Rav4 HybridVS 2022 Ford Escape PHEV

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Rav4 Hybrid has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Rav4 Hybrid XSE/Limited offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Escape PHEV only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Rav4 Hybrid and the Escape PHEV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available 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 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid is safer than the Ford Escape PHEV:

	Rav4 Hybrid	Escape PHEV
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches

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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid is safer than the Ford Escape PHEV:

	Rav4 Hybrid	Escape PHEV
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	83	197
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	138 lbs.	191 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	508 lbs.	816 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	299	344

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Rav4 Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 116 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Escape PHEV is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 Hybrid for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Escape PHEV.

Reliability

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 Rav4 Hybrid’s reliability 19 points higher than the Escape PHEV.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 14th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 22nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Ford is ranked 22nd.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Rav4 Hybrid has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Escape PHEV (14.5 vs. 11.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Rav4 Hybrid is .6 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Escape PHEV.

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Hybrid’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Escape PHEV’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.2 feet).

Passenger Space

The Rav4 Hybrid has .2 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Escape PHEV.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4 Hybrid’s rear seats recline. The Escape PHEV’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Rav4 Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Escape PHEV with its rear seat up (37.6 vs. 34.4 cubic feet). The Rav4 Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Escape PHEV with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 60.8 cubic feet).

The Rav4 Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the Escape PHEV’s in almost every dimension:

	Rav4 Hybrid	Escape PHEV
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	40”	36.7”/68.3”
Max Width	59”	57.3”
Min Width	39.4”	41.4”
Height	36.6”	32.8”

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4 Hybrid. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Rav4 Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Escape PHEV’s (1750 vs. 1500 pounds).

Ergonomics

The Rav4 Hybrid’s front and rear power windows all 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 PHEV’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Rav4 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. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Escape PHEV 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 Rav4 Hybrid’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Escape PHEV’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Rav4 Hybrid Limited offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Rav4 Hybrid and the Escape PHEV offer available heated front seats. The Rav4 Hybrid Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Escape PHEV.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Rav4 Hybrid Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Rav4 Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Rav4 Hybrid will cost $580 less than the Escape PHEV over a five-year period.

The Rav4 Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Rav4 Hybrid will retain 56.17% to 57.16% of its original price after five years, while the Escape PHEV only retains 43.49% to 43.64%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid will be $6093 to $6799 less than for the Ford Escape PHEV.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Ford Escape by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.