Compare the2022 Honda HR-VVS 2022 Ford Escape

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’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the HR-V and the Escape 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:

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the HR-V is 1.6% to 3.9% less likely to roll over than the Escape.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshaft in the HR-V’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.

The engine in the HR-V has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the Escape have 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 29 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.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda HR-V 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.

The HR-V 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.

The HR-V stops shorter than the Escape:

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’s standard 65 series tires. The HR-V Sport’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Escape’s optional 55 series tires.

The HR-V EX-L AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Escape Titanium AWD pulls only .76 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 SE (27.8 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

The Honda HR-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 pounds less than the Ford Escape.

The HR-V is 10.1 inches shorter than the Escape, 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 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the HR-V EX-L AWD is quieter than the Escape SE AWD (69 vs. 70 dB).

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the HR-V’s rear seats recline. The Escape’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’s standard driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

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

For greater rear passenger comfort, the HR-V has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Escape S doesn’t offer rear vents.

The HR-V will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the HR-V will retain 53.35% to 56.69% of its original price after five years, while the Escape only retains 43.72% to 45.2%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the HR-V is less expensive to operate than the Escape because it costs $10 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the HR-V than the Escape, including $1264 less for a muffler, $30 less for front brake pads, $45 less for fuel injection, $640 less for a timing belt/chain and $142 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda HR-V will be $6098 to $8638 less than for the Ford Escape.