8 Top Ford Escape Competitors
The 2022 Ford Escape has lots of competing alternatives to consider, starting with the Mazda CX-5.
Written by Mary Alice Morris
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The Ford Escape has been a family-favorite compact SUV crossover for more than two decades. We know it, we love it, and we’re accustomed to all its quirks, yet we can’t help but wonder—is there something better out there?
Depending on your needs, the answer is: maybe!
Some options, like the Nissan Rogue, offer more rugged styling and better economy. Others, like the Kia Sportage, are a little more modern inside and have generous infotainment options compared to the base-level Escape’s 4.2-inch AM/FM radio display.
If you like the size, look, and feel of the Escape, you should take a look at some of today’s other compact crossover SUV models. Many offer just about everything that the Escape boasts, plus broader standard features and more power.
To guide you through the alternatives,
Jerry
, the car insurance
comparison app, put together this guide to the top eight competing models stacked up against the Ford Escape. We'll even help you find the lowest Ford Escape car insurance costs
.Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™
Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers1. Mazda CX-5
Starting price: $27,475 to $40,225
Selling points: Feels like luxury for a modest price, great handling
Weak spot: Only a fair towing capacity of 2,000 pounds, low cargo volume
The 2022
Mazda CX-5
came out with a newly improved suspension to top off its standard all-wheel drive and six-speed automatic transmission. The standard engine is a steady 187-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder, with an available upgrade to a 256-horsepower turbocharged version. On the base engine, you’ll get 24 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway. The turbocharged engine drops these figures down by two miles in the city and three on the highway.
Each trim level comes standard with an impressive 10.3-inch touchscreen display that includes voice command operation and steering-wheel control buttons. You can add a subscription WiFi hotspot service, but you don’t have to pay any extra for a generous package of safety features, including adaptive cruise control on every model.
MORE:
Are Mazdas good cars?
2. Hyundai Tucson
Starting price: $26,245 to $47,775
Selling points: Newly redesigned and attractive exterior, roomy and functional cabin
Weak spot: The sports-branded trims are in name only as appearance packages
With 12 trim levels to choose from the 2022
Hyundai Tucson
offers something for almost everyone unless you want to go off-roading. You can buy a package with all the looks of a recreational off-road SUV, but it sadly lacks the functionality. Still, the Tucson makes up for that in other areas. The standard engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder set-up, but the hybrid and PHEV options are powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor. The model has an eight-speed automatic transmission with standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive.
With the front-wheel drive non-hybrid models, you’ll see 26 mpg in the city and 33 on the highway. The hybrid gets 38 and 38, and the PHEV model achieves a combined MPGe of 80.
Inside, the Tucson has a standard 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that can be upgraded to a larger size. Oddly, there is no volume knob, so you’ll have to rely on touch-sensitive controls.
MORE:
Hyundai resale value
3. Toyota RAV4
Starting price: $28,310 to $38,250
Selling points: Comfy ride and rugged paired with Toyota’s rep for dependability
Weak spot: Lower trim levels are super basic
The 2022
Toyota RAV4
is equipped with a standard 203-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s a front-wheel drive with available all-wheel drive options and gets a modest but respectable 0-60 mph time of 8 seconds. Inside, you won’t find many comfort perks until you get up to the XLE Premium trim, which is third from the bottom level. However, each model is generously furnished with an extensive suite of standard assistance and safety features, including adaptive cruise control.
You’ll get a decent 28 combined mpg with the non-hybrid model. With the hybrid, you can achieve 41 MPGe in the city and 38 on the highway.
4. Subaru Forester
Starting price: $27,070 to $36,420
Selling points: Standard all-wheel drive, tough-looking re-designed exterior
Weak spot: Hesitant acceleration, base trim is relatively unequipped
In addition to all-wheel drive, each trim level of the 2022
Subaru Forester
comes with an included torque-vectoring system, Subaru Si-Drive driving mode selector, an electronic parking brake with auto-hold function, lots of safety tech features, and an auto start-stop feature. Each model has a 182-horsepower 2.5-cylinder flat-four engine, which is suitable but not sporty. It will grant you 26 mpg in the city and 33 on the highway.
You’ll also get a tremendous amount of cargo space, especially if you fold down the back seat. Each trim has a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen display that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
5. Honda CR-V
Starting price: $28,045 to $39,045
Selling points: Excellent fuel economy, comfortable ride, generous tech features included
Weak spot: Noisy engine at higher speeds, and acceleration that’s anything but punchy
You have two engine choices for the 2022
Honda CR-V
, and the hybrid is the more powerful option. It’s a 2-liter four-cylinder backed up by two electric motors that achieve up to 212 horsepower. Otherwise, the CR-V offers a 190-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder gas-powered engine. The gas engine gets up to 28 mpg with city driving and 32 for highway driving, while the hybrid achieves a respective 40 and 35 mpg.
If you fold down the rear set, the CR-V gets best-in-class cargo volume, but it also has some odd quirks. The base trim has a 5-inch color screen that’s not a touchscreen, and all other trims get a 7-inch touchscreen display. There is no auxiliary input jack in any of the models.
MORE: Everything you need to know about Land Rover electric cars
6. Chevrolet Equinox
Starting price: $27,695 to $32,895
Selling points: Extensive passenger volume and oversized offering of infotainment features
Weak spot: Relatively weak engine and less cargo volume than many competitors
Every trim level of the 2022
Chevy Equinox
has the same engine: a 170-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder. Despite the turbocharged status, it’s a little apathetic in its performance but still manages to get the job done. It also delivers a moderate towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The Equinox falls mid-range in terms of efficiency, with 26 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway.
However, its standard infotainment features are quite compelling. Each trim gets a 7-inch touchscreen display that includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, an auxiliary input, and a WiFi hotspot.
7. Kia Sportage
Starting price: $25,305 to $34,965
Selling points: Heated front seats, power liftgate, and dual-zone climate control on each trim level
Weak spot: Skimpy cargo volume and poor fuel economy compared to other compact SUVs
The 2022
Kia Sportage
has an exhilarating 237-horsepower turbocharged engine available, but it’s only an option for the SX Turbo trim. And if you want it, you’ll pay about $10,000 more than the base trim.Otherwise, your Sportage will be powered by the unexciting but trusty 181-horsepower, 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine, which despite its small size, gets dismal fuel economy. The best you’ll see is 23 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway for the front-wheel drive models.
If you spring for the optional all-wheel drive, your efficiency is even worse.
Where the Sportage excels, though, is on the inside. High-quality and comfortable interior materials, like the cradling seats, make it feel like something more expensive than a Sportage.
On-trend with other models, the 2022 Sportage is generous with its standard infotainment offerings, plus has more available as upgrades. Standard safety features include forward-collision warning and lane departure assist, with more optional add-ons.
8. Nissan Rogue
Starting price: $28,445 to $38,225
Selling points: Nice interior tech offerings, lots of cabin room, and handsome exterior
Weak spot: The powertrain feels uninspired and there’s nothing roguish about the handling
The
Nissan Rogue
is back for 2022 with a newly updated CVT transmission and a new 201-horsepower, turbocharged, 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine that’s better than the prior generation, but not exactly breathtaking. It’ll get you from 0-60 in an unimpressive but acceptable 8.2 seconds. The Rogue has standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive, but the AWD system will sacrifice some of the Rogue’s excellent fuel efficiency for added traction. With the FWD Rogue, you can get 30 mpg in the city and 37 on the highway.
Inside, you’ll find the Rogue is comfortable and equipped with plenty of cubbies in thoughtful locations for the storage of personal items and electronics. You’ll get a standard 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but you can update to the 9-inch screen on some of the higher trims.
Each trim level has some nice safety features included, like automated emergency braking and pedestrian braking. If the basics aren’t enough, though, you can opt for a package that includes adaptive cruise control and semi-autonomous driving.
Ford Escape vs. the competition
If you’re still undecided, take a look at a simplified comparison between the Escape and its top eight competitors, outlined in the table below:
Model | Starting price range | Engine options | Maximum seating capacity | Maximum cargo volume | Maximum towing capacity | Fuel economy (city/highway/combined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$28,660 to $42,120 | Three-cylinder, four-cylinder, hybrid, and PHEV | 5 seats | 65.4 cubic ft | 3500 lb | 26/31/28 mpg | |
$27,475 to $40,225 | Four-cylinder | 5 seats | 58.1 cubic ft | 2000 lb | 28/34/31 mpg | |
$26,245 to $47,775 | Four-cylinder or PHEV | 5 seats | 41.2 cubic ft | 2000 lb | 26/33/29 mpg | |
$28,310 to $38,250 | Four-cylinder | 5 seats | 37.6 cubic ft | 3500 lb | 27/33/29 mpg | |
$27.070 to $36,420 | Four-cylinder | 5 seats | 74.2 cubic ft | 3000 lb | 26/33/29 mpg | |
$56,350 to $71,650 | Four-cylinder | 5 seats | 75.8 cubic ft | 1500 lb | 28/34/30 mpg | |
$27,695 to $32,895 | Four-cylinder or hybrid | 5 seats | 63.9 cubic ft | 6000 lbs | 26/31/28 mpg | |
$25,305 to $34,965 | Four-cylinder | 5 seats | 60.1 cubic ft | 1653 lbs | 20/28/23 mpg | |
$28,445 to $38,225 | Three-cylinder | 5 seats | 61.1 cubic ft | 1500 lbs | 30/37/33 mpg |
Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™
Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversMORE: The 10 best SUVs for towing
How to compare car insurance quotes in under a minute
It takes a lot of time, research, and attention to comparison shop for the best new car to meet your needs and expectations. Luckily, comparison shopping for the best insurance isn’t nearly as complex. Just use
Jerry
!You can download the
licensed broker app
to your mobile device, and within minutes Jerry will put together a set of competitive car insurance quotes for you to pick from. They’ll come from our network of over 55 top-rated national providers. It’s fast, easy, and totally free to use, and best of all, it can save you money! “I was paying $350 a month for my new car. WithJerry, I set up a new policy in under 30 minutes that will save me over $1,000 a year!” —Mariah K.
Reduce your monthly car payments in minutes?
Find out if Jerry can reduce your payments by an average of $150/month
4.7You might also be interested
