Compare the2023 Honda CR-V HybridVS 2023 Ford Escape PHEV

The Honda CR-V Hybrid has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-V Hybrid 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 Hybrid’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Escape PHEV’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

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

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the CR-V Hybrid’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the CR-V 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, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the CR-V Hybrid for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Honda will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Escape PHEV.

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.

The CR-V Hybrid has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Escape PHEV (14 vs. 11.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better traction, the CR-V Hybrid has larger tires than the Escape PHEV (235/60R18 vs. 225/60R18).

The CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escape PHEV’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring has standard 19-inch wheels. The Escape PHEV’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CR-V Hybrid is .9 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Escape PHEV.

The CR-V Hybrid uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The CR-V Hybrid has .4 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room and 1.5 inches more rear legroom than the Escape PHEV.

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

The CR-V Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Escape PHEV with its rear seat up (39.3 vs. 34.4 cubic feet). The CR-V Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Escape PHEV with its rear seat folded (76.5 vs. 60.8 cubic feet).

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

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

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

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the CR-V Hybrid’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The CR-V Hybrid uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Escape PHEV uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

On a hot day the CR-V Hybrid’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance with the keyless remote or at the outside door handle. The driver of the Escape PHEV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CR-V was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 21 years. The Escape PHEV 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 PHEV has never been chosen.

The Honda CR-V outsold the Ford Escape by 75% during the 2022 model year.