Which is the better rival to Toyota’s RAV4 hybrid crossover throne?
Honda CR-V Hybrid vs Ford Escape PHEV Powertrains
- 2024 Ford Escape PHEV FWD powertrain: 2.5L I-4 + electric motor w/14.4-kWh battery, net 210 hp
- 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid powertrain: 2.0L I-4 & 135-kW motor w/1.4-kWh battery, net 204 hp, 247 lb-ft
The plug-in Escape gets a little more oomph under the hood than the normal hybrid; total power when combined with the 2.5L four-cylinder combustion engine is 210 hp at 6,250 rpm. The Escape PHEV also boasts approximately 60 km of electric-only range thanks to a 14.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. As is commonplace with hybrid vehicles, the transmission is continuously variable.
Honda’s CR-V is only just behind, with its 2.0L hybridized engine and electric motor combining for a total of 204 hp. Peak torque of 247 lb-ft is rated at just 2,000 rpm, making for what should be sufficient shove when driving around town. It’s also equipped with a continuously variable transmission.
CR-V Hybrid vs Escape PHEV Efficiency
- 2024 Ford Escape PHEV FWD efficiency: 5.6 / 6.3 / 5.9 Le/100 km City / Highway / Combined
- 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid efficiency: 6.0 / 6.9 / 6.4 L/100 km City / Highway / Combined
With that out of the way, the Escape’s ability to run on battery-only power for a claimed 60 kilometres is extremely useful. For those looking for a small family vehicle that can handle urban driving duties while burning almost no fuel, the Escape plug-in lets you handle the school run or the daily commute fully on electrons, then plug in overnight at even a standard outlet and be ready to go again for tomorrow’s duties.
Compare Ford Escape PHEV and Honda CR-V Hybrid Specs
The CR-V, in typical Honda fashion, doesn’t require much thought about its powertrain. No need to remember to plug it in (perhaps you’re parking on the street anyway), just a dependable 6.0 L/100 km city mileage and 6.9L/100 km highway. These numbers don’t look as impressive as those of the Escape Hybrid, but note that all-wheel-drive does ding the mileage a little. Still, non-plug-in versions of the Escape are rated at 6.0 L/100 km combined, so the CR-V is a little behind in efficiency.
Honda CR-V vs Ford Escape Practicality
The reason the original Insight never really caught on was because people mostly didn’t want a commuter-oriented vehicle that came with enough practicality drawbacks to require a second car for the family. Happily, both these crossovers are usefully sized for everyday activities.
Both are so close on passenger space as to be a draw. Both have big forward bins for storing your smartphone, both have plenty of storage cubbies up front, and both offer split folding rear seats. The CR-V has the luggage space advantage with 1028 litres to the Escape’s 974 L of room, but it’s again not a profound difference. Towing capability for the Escape (when properly equipped) is 1500 pounds compared to the CR-V’s 1000 lb., so things even out there too.
Competition in this market segment is about as fierce as it gets, and the pressure means that rivalries are closely matched.
Honda CR-V Hybrid vs Ford Escape PHEV Ride and Handling
If we can’t divide these two on pragmatic reasons, we can on personality. Basically, the Escape doesn’t have one.
As it is, the Escape is smooth, quiet, and unremarkable. It’s very comfortable, even with 18-inch wheels as standard, and you’d only notice the lack of all-wheel-drive in particularly poor driving conditions. Handling is likewise unremarkable but competent – driving satisfaction here comes mostly from knowing that you’re saving at the pump.
It’s still comfortable of course, and still feels fresh in this sixth generation. The powertrain can be a bit noisy when you’re pushing it on an onramp, but overall the CR-V is composed, enjoyable to drive, and nearly as quiet as the Escape.
Honda CR-V vs Ford Escape Technology
Honda’s infotainment system isn’t quite as slick as Ford’s, either in looks or operation. The Escape’s 13.2-inch touchscreen is both bigger than the CR-V’s nine-inch screen, and it looks more modern. The flipside, however, is that the CR-V’s dashboard relies more on conventional physical controls. In all likelihood, the Honda layout is more likely to be the better choice in the long term.
CR-V Hybrid vs Escape PHEV Safety
As both these crossovers are going to be cross-shopped by family buyers, safety considerations carry extra weight here. Surprisingly, the crash-test results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) show some disparity between these two.
The CR-V scores well across the board, apart from the IIHS’s updated small overlap test, where it scored poorly for rear seat passengers. The Escape, on the other hand, outperformed the Honda in the updated small overlap, but underperformed it with a marginal result in the updated side impact test.
2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs 2024 Ford Escape PHEV Final Thoughts
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