Compare the2023 Ford Escape FHEVVS 2023 Honda HR-V

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

Safety

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The Escape FHEV has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The HR-V doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Escape FHEV offers an optional 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The HR-V 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.

The Escape FHEV has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the HR-V Sport/EX-L offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Escape FHEV has standard Cross Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the HR-V Sport/EX-L offers Cross Traffic Monitor and the HR-V’s Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the Escape FHEV and the HR-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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 and available all wheel drive.

Warranty

There are almost 3 times as many Ford dealers as there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape FHEV’s warranty.

Reliability

The Escape FHEV has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The HR-V doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Honda is rated below average.

Engine

The Escape FHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 42 more horsepower (200 vs. 158) than the HR-V’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Ford Escape FHEV is faster than the Honda HR-V:

	Escape FHEV	HR-V
Zero to 30 MPH	3.5 sec	4.7 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.3 sec	11.1 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.9 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	18.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	81 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Escape FHEV
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	42 city/36 hwy
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	42 city/36 hwy
HR-V
	FWD	2.0 4-cyl.	26 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.0 4-cyl.	25 city/30 hwy

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Escape FHEV’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The HR-V doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Escape FHEV higher (8 out of 10) than the Honda HR-V (7). This means the Escape FHEV produces up to 5.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the HR-V every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Escape FHEV’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the HR-V:

	Escape FHEV	HR-V
Front Rotors	13 inches	12.3 inches

The Escape FHEV stops shorter than the HR-V:

	Escape FHEV	HR-V
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Escape FHEV has larger tires than the HR-V (225/65R17 vs. 215/60R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escape FHEV offers optional 19-inch wheels. The HR-V’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The Escape FHEV has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The HR-V doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escape FHEV’s wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer than on the HR-V (106.7 inches vs. 104.5 inches).

Chassis

The front grille of the Escape FHEV uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The HR-V doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Escape FHEV has 3.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the HR-V (102.2 vs. 98.7).

The Escape FHEV has .6 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 1.2 inches more rear legroom, 5.9 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the HR-V.

Cargo Capacity

The Escape FHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the HR-V with its rear seat up (34.4 vs. 24.4 cubic feet). The Escape FHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the HR-V with its rear seat folded (60.8 vs. 55.1 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Escape FHEV offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The HR-V doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Escape FHEV has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The HR-V has no towing capacity.

The Escape FHEV can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Escape FHEV can be unhitched and driven around locally. The HR-V can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Escape FHEV uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The HR-V doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Escape FHEV, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The HR-V doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Escape FHEV’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The HR-V doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Escape FHEV Elite/Platinum offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The HR-V doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the Escape FHEV and the HR-V have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Escape FHEV is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The HR-V prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Escape FHEV SEL/Titanium’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 HR-V Sport/EX-L’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Escape FHEV’s available exterior PIN entry system. The HR-V doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Escape FHEV’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The HR-V’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Escape FHEV Elite/Platinum’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

On extremely cold winter days, the Escape FHEV’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The HR-V doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Escape FHEV offers an optional 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 HR-V doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Escape FHEV 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 is only available on the HR-V EX-L.

Both the Escape FHEV and the HR-V offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Escape FHEV offers optional rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The HR-V doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Escape FHEV’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The HR-V’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

The Escape FHEV Elite/Platinum’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The HR-V doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Ford Escape FHEV and the Honda HR-V, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ford Escape outsold the Honda HR-V by 19% during 2022.