2025 Ford Escape vs. the Competition

Compact crossover SUVs have exploded in popularity for a wide variety of reasons. For those with growing families or drivers living active lifestyles, these vehicles offer an unrivaled combination of versatility, capability, and value that other classes of vehicles simply cannot match. If you’re searching for a compact crossover, it’s only natural that the Ford Escape has caught your eye. To demonstrate how the Escape continues to set the benchmark for the segment, Germain Ford of Beavercreek has assembled this in-depth comparison. We’ll take a closer look at how the Escape measures up against some of its top rivals including the Nissan Rogue, Chevrolet Equinox, and the Honda CR-V.

Ford Escape vs Nissan Rogue

In our first comparison, the Ford Escape goes up against the Nissan Rogue. Comparing base trim levels, the two are nearly identically priced. Perfect for young drivers just hitting the road, Ford MyKey technology lets you set boundaries, speed limits, and audio restrictions to help encourage safe driving habits. An extra cubic foot of rear cargo space means you’ll have more room for your gear inside the Ford Escape as well.

A standard 8-speed automatic transmission offers superior response and durability compared to the questionable CVT included as standard on the Rogue. Helping to ensure that you always enter a vehicle that’s at a comfortable temperature, the Escape comes standard with remote start functionality through FordPass Connect. When it comes to rear-seat comfort, the clear choice is also the Escape which offers greater rear legroom and headroom compared to the smaller Nissan Rogue. Lastly, you’ll enjoy greater peace of mind when you drive a Ford Escape thanks to 5 years or 60,000 miles of roadside assistance coverage. That’s a full 2 years or 24,000 miles longer than what Nissan includes with the Rogue.

Ford Escape vs Chevrolet Equinox

Our next comparison is to the Chevrolet Equinox. There is a price difference here, which isn’t huge, but it is enough that selecting the optional all-wheel drive for the Escape would make it almost exactly the same price as the front-wheel drive Equinox. The Escape makes a bit more power too, which isn’t a big deal on its own, but the Escape also has an advanced 8-speed automatic transmission, which will give you a much more engaging driving experience than the CVT in the Equinox, especially when combined with the extra power. Speaking of power, the Escape is offered with four different drivetrains, including a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid, compared to the single engine offered by Chevrolet for the Equinox. It should be noted that, while the 3,500-pound maximum towing capacity on the Escape is specifically with the 2.0-liter engine, there is no drivetrain available for the Escape that doesn’t offer significantly better towing capacity than the Equinox.

The Escape offers more space, more cargo space for when you need to do a lot of hauling, as well as an inch and a half more front legroom. But that’s not the only reason you’ll enjoy a more comfortable experience in the Escape, as both a power adjustable driver’s seat and dual-zone climate control come standard, but the same can’t be said for the Equinox. Lastly, although both vehicles come with a 6-speaker stereo system, there is no option to upgrade in the Equinox, while the Escape offers an excellent system by Bang & Olufsen®.

Ford Escape vs Honda CR-V

Last but certainly not least, the Ford Escape goes up against the Honda CR-V. While we’ve compared base trims in the two prior matchups, the CR-V starts at a much higher price than the Escape, so we’ve chosen the well-equipped Escape ST-Line Select and the base CR-V EX with AWD for something closer to an equivalent matchup.

The Escape has significantly more horsepower and torque than the CR-V along with a more advanced 8-speed automatic transmission for more responsive acceleration. Every Escape comes standard with a class-exclusive SecuriCode keypad which allows you to lock and unlock your doors without having to use a key. Other advantages of the Escape ST-Line Select include a standard emergency alert included with the SYNC 4 Assistant and your mobile device along with the standard rear Reverse Sensing System.

Great for those chilly winter mornings, the Escape ST-Line Select comes standard with a heated steering wheel to keep your hands warm. When it comes to comfort and interior space in the front row of seats, the obvious choice is the Ford Escape. It offers greater front headroom and legroom than the Honda CR-V. Finally, Ford’s roadside assistance coverage of 5 years or 60,000 miles is far more than the 3 years or 36,000 miles included on the Honda CR-V.