10 Ford Escape Competitors to Consider

2019 Ford Escape Titanium in the city ・ Photo by Ford

Escape has been a stalwart compact crossover vehicle in the Ford lineup for nearly 20 years. The first generation began as a 2001 model, followed by a second generation from 2008 to 2012. The current third-generation Escape debuted as a 2013 model, and continues with evolutionary upgrades, a facelift, and a few other tweaks.

The 2019 Ford Escape rides on a 105.9-inch wheelbase and is 178.1 inches long, 72.4 inches wide (not including mirrors), and 66.3 inches tall, weighing in at 3,515 to 3,755 lbs (depending on powertrain). There are three available four-cylinder engines: a 2.5-liter with 168 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque; a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbo (179 hp/177 lb-ft of torque); and a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbo (245 hp/175 lb-ft of torque). Front-wheel drive is standard; 4WD is available with the turbo engines. Base prices start at $24,105 and go up to $34,120. Here are 10 Ford Escape competitors to consider.

2019 Chevrolet Equinox

Chevrolet has a packed lineup of SUVs, from the subcompact Trax to the full-size Suburban. The 2019 Chevrolet Equinox sits comfortably in the compact slot, bringing some attractive features to the party that make it a great competitor for the Ford Escape. The Equinox debuted as a 2005 model, and just entered its third generation in 2018 with a significant makeover.

Like the Escape, the Equinox has three available four-cylinder engines. There are two gasoline turbo units – a 1.5-liter (170 hp/203 lb-ft of torque) and a 2.0-liter (252 hp/260 lb-ft of torque) – and a 1.6-liter turbodiesel (137 hp/240 lb-ft of torque), capable of delivering up to 39 mpg on the highway. That diesel option is a feature not available on the Escape. Base prices start at $24,995 for the L 1.5-liter turbo with FWD, and go up to $36,195 for Premier 1.6-liter diesel with AWD.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Honda CR-V

Honda’s compact crossover, the CR-V, was the top seller in its class for many years running, through five generations of production since 1997. Recently overtaken in sheer numbers by the Nissan Rogue, the CR-V remains a benchmark vehicle thanks to its sophistication, grace, and reliability.

A makeover for the 2017 model year brought additional standard and available safety and driver assistance technologies, including Honda Sensing, standard on the EX, EX-L, and Touring models. Base LX models come with a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder gas engine (184 hp/180 lb-ft of torque), while the EX, EX-L, and Touring come with a turbocharged 1.5-liter (190 hp/179 lb-ft of torque). Both engines use a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Front-wheel drive is standard, while all-wheel drive is available on all trims. Pricing starts at $24,250.

Photo by Honda

2018 Hyundai Tucson

The Tucson was a hit right out of the gate as a 2005 model, and has been improved and refined over three generations since, with the latest iteration debuting for 2016. Now comfortably ensconced between the new Kona and Santa Fe models in the Hyundai crossover lineup, the 2018 Hyundai Tucson follows the familiar brand formula. It comes with tons of standard and available features, a very reasonable pricing structure, and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty that Hyundai calls “America’s Best Warranty.”

Base prices start at $22,550 and go up to $30,825, plus options. Three four-cylinder gasoline engine choices are available: a 2.0-liter (164 hp/151 lb-ft of torque); a 2.4-liter (181 hp/175 lb-ft of torque); and a 1.6-liter turbo (175 hp/195 lb-ft of torque). Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available on all trim levels.

Photo by Hyundai

2019 Lincoln MKC

If you like the Ford Escape but you seek a more luxurious experience, consider the 2019 Lincoln MKC. Newly updated, the 2019 MKC takes the compact crossover formula up a notch. Particularly notable are the three Lincoln Black Label themes for the MKC – overall color, trim, feature and ambiance packages called “Modern Heritage,” “Indulgence,” and “Center Stage.” Not only does the Black Label experience include vehicle features, it also comes with membership privileges, including annual vehicle detailing, anytime car washes, and curated dining experiences at select restaurants.

MKC pricing starts at $33,995 for the base model, $36,750 for the Select, $40,625 for the Reserve, and $47,200 for the Black Label. A 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine is standard, with a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine available in upper trim levels. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional on all models.

Photo by Lincoln

2019 Jeep Cherokee

Cherokee is a name with some heritage in the Jeep lineup. It achieved consistent popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, while the Grand Cherokee model is currently the brand's flagship. Jeep reset the counter in 2014, reviving the Cherokee badge for the crossover successor to its compact Liberty SUV. The 2019 Jeep Cherokee offers both urban ambitions and off-road chops, with models designed for every purpose.

Buyers can choose between a 2.4-liter Tigershark inline four-cylinder engine (180 hp/170 lb-ft of torque), a 3.2-liter Pentastar V6 (271 hp/239 lb-ft of torque), or a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder gasoline engine (270 hp/295 lb-ft of torque). 4x2 is standard and 4x4 is available on all models. Prices start at $24,195 and go up to $36,465 for the superstar of the lineup, the Trailhawk Elite.

Photo by Fiat Chrylser Automobiles

2019 Kia Sportage

The Sportage was one of the vehicles that put Kia on the map in the United States when it arrived as a 1994 model. The compact SUV was inexpensive, cute, and well-engineered with help from Ford and Mazda. Now in its fourth generation, the 2019 Kia Sportage is a worthy competitor for the Ford Escape.

A choice of two four-cylinder engines is offered: a 2.4-liter with 181 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque and a 2.0-liter turbo (237 hp/260 lb-ft of torque), each with gasoline direct injection. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive with a locking center differential is available with each engine, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Pricing starts at $23,750 for the LX and goes up to $33,100 for the SX Turbo, plus options. A 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty is included with all Kia vehicles.

Photo by Kia

2018 Mazda CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 is currently in its second generation and is a stout competitor for the Ford Escape. The CX-5 replaced the Tribute (derived from an earlier Escape generation) in Mazda’s lineup in 2013, and it was the first vehicle to feature the complete suite of Mazda's Skyactiv technologies, including a new platform that uses high-strength steel for great rigidity and light weight and a Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine (187 hp/186 lb-ft of torque).

Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional on all trim levels. Pricing starts at $24,150 for the Sport FWD and goes up to $30,945 for the Grand Touring AWD. An available head-up display puts vital information onto the windscreen, part of Mazda’s commitment to making each of its vehicles a true driver’s car. Add in G-Vectoring Control, and you’ve got a crossover that handles as well as many sedans – and better than most of its crossover competitors.

Photo by Mazda

2019 Nissan Rogue

Nissan got a late start in the compact crossover race, but it has come on strong with the second-generation Rogue, currently the best-selling SUV in the United States. It has even sprouted a smaller variant, the Rogue Sport. The Rogue is available with a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine (170 hp/175 lb-ft of torque), or with a hybrid gasoline-electric powerplant using a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine (141 hp/144 lb-ft of torque) and a 30 kW electric motor that brings net system horsepower up to 176.

Nissan is devoted to the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), the only available option for the Rogue. Front-wheel drive is standard with both gas and hybrid versions, and all-wheel drive is available for both, too. Pricing starts at $24,800 for S FWD models and goes up to $33,730 for SL Hybrid AWD examples.

Photo by Nissan

2019 Subaru Forester

Go to New England, the Pacific Northwest, or the Rocky Mountains, and you’ll notice an abundance of Subaru vehicles. That’s probably because every current Subaru model (except the BRZ sports car) comes standard with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. The 2019 Subaru Forester is no exception. Ever since the first-generation Forester debuted in the U.S. as a 1998 model, the Forester has been a popular choice for drivers seeking a capable, fun-to-drive compact crossover with a reputation for go-anywhere chops.

The Forester has evolved over five generations to become more than just a tall wagon with awkward proportions into a sophisticated, well-equipped crossover with near-luxury possibilities. 2019 represents the beginning of a new generation for the Forester, which now includes standard EyeSight Driver Assist Technology and a DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System. Prices start at $24,295 and go up to $34,295.

Photo by Subaru

2018 Toyota RAV4

Now in its fifth generation, the Toyota RAV4 has long been a significant competitor for the Ford Escape, and a leading seller in the compact crossover class. For 2018, the RAV4 is available as a gasoline-powered vehicle, or as a hybrid gasoline-electric crossover. The hybrid powertrain can be selected at every trim level for $2,725 — a unique strategy. Traditionally, hybrid setups have been bundled with a host of options. Toyota obviously has extensive experience with hybrids, which is a big confidence boost for buyers who are considering the technology for the first time.

Pricing on the RAV4 LE with a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine (176 hp/172 lb-ft of torque) starts at $24,660; while a RAV4 LE Hybrid with 194 net system horsepower starts at $27,385. A top-of-the-line XLE Hybrid starts at $29,280. Front-wheel drive is standard with gasoline-only models, and all-wheel drive is optional. All-wheel drive is standard with hybrid models.

Photo by Toyota