Compare the2023 Toyota Rav4 HybridVS 2022 Ford Escape FHEV

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Rav4 Hybrid. But it costs extra on the Escape FHEV.

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 FHEV 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 FHEV 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 FHEV:

	Rav4 Hybrid	Escape FHEV
	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 FHEV:

	Rav4 Hybrid	Escape FHEV
	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 Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Escape FHEV is only a standard “Top Safety 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 FHEV.

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 FHEV.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

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 overall reliability. Ford is ranked 22nd.

Engine

The Rav4 Hybrid’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 19 more horsepower (219 vs. 200) than the Escape FHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid is faster than the Ford Escape FHEV:

	Rav4 Hybrid	Escape FHEV
Zero to 60 MPH	7.1 sec	8.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.1 MPH	84.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Rav4 Hybrid can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 1.6 miles. The Escape FHEV can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Brakes and Stopping

The Rav4 Hybrid stops shorter than the Escape FHEV:

	Rav4 Hybrid	Escape FHEV
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend

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 FHEV.

The Rav4 Hybrid XSE handles at .80 G’s, while the Escape FHEV SE AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Rav4 Hybrid XSE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Escape FHEV SE AWD (27.6 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Hybrid’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Escape FHEV’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 FHEV.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4 Hybrid’s rear seats recline. The Escape FHEV’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 FHEV 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 FHEV with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 60.8 cubic feet).

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

	Rav4 Hybrid	Escape FHEV
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	40”/73.4”	36.7”/68.3”
Max Width	59”	57.3”
Min Width	39.4”	41.4”
Height	36.6”	32.8”

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4 Hybrid. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Rav4 Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Escape FHEV’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 FHEV’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 FHEV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Rav4 Hybrid’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Escape FHEV’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

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 FHEV’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 FHEV doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Rav4 Hybrid and the Escape FHEV 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 FHEV.

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 FHEV doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Ford Escape FHEV isn't recommended.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Ford Escape by almost three to one during the 2022 model year.

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