2021 Ford Escape Hybrid vs Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Ford’s sporty Escape Hybrid offers buyers seating for five with a roomy interior and enough head- and legroom for most adults to sit comfortably in the front seats; the rear row isn’t as spacious because of the battery pack, but can still offer more room after sliding the rear seats back. A sliding 60/40 split-fold down seat capability in the rear seats gives you more options for space in seating and cargo. Cloth upholstery is standard; and synthetic leather upholstery is available on the SEL trim and leather upholstery is available on the Titanium trim. The Escape Hybrid has up to 34.4 cubic feet cubic feet of space behind the second row, depending on how the sliding rear seats are positioned. A total of 60.8 cubic feet of space behind the first row meets its maximum cargo capacity. A Convenience Package option includes a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a rear-seat armrest with two cup holders. The Escape Hybrid comes in three trims: SE Sport, SEL, and Titanium, with a starting price of $30,725 for the SE Sport and ranges to $36,696 for the Titanium.

The RAV4 Hybrid seats up to five people in this SUV, with enough head-and legroom in both rows for most people to be comfortable. Cloth upholstery is standard; and synthetic leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated rear outboard seats, and a leather wrapped heated steering wheel are available. A sunroof and a power liftgate are also available. Higher trims add two-tone paint with black trim. It holds 37.6 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and a total of 69.8 cubic feet behind the front seats when all seats are folded down. The RAV4 Hybrid comes in five trims: LE, XLE, XLE Premium, XSE, and Limited, with a starting price of $28,500 for the LE and ranging to $37,030 for the Limited. For an additional cost, there are packages that include added features.

There are plenty of standard advanced driver’s aids that are included with Ford’s CoPilot360 to keep you safe on the road. The Escape comes standard with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, rearview camera, and lane keep assist. An SOS Post-Crash Alert System is also standard, turning on the vehicle’s hazard lights and honking its horn to notify others of your location after a crash. Available adaptive cruise control, lane centering assist, traffic jam assist, rear parking sensors, parallel and perpendicular park assist, and remote start are options. It features a straightforward, easy-to-use infotainment system with a long list of standard features. Its standard SYNC 3 includes an 8-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, two SUB ports, a six-speaker stereo, satellite radio, voice recognition, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. An optional 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10-speaker Bank & Olufsen premium audio system, and HD Radio are available.

Every RAV4 Hybrid offers Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.0 suite of driver safety systems, including lane keep assist, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights. Also included are lane trace assist, pedestrian detection, rearview camera, and road sign recognition. Available advanced safety features include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, surround-view parking camera system, and front and rear parking sensors. It comes standard with a 7-inch touchscreen display, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa smartphone integration, and one USB media port. Additional USB ports, an 8-inch touchscreen, partial digital instrument cluster, wireless charging pad, navigation, and premium 11-speaker JBL audio system is available.

The Escape Hybrid features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that produce a combined 200 horsepower, making plenty of power for quick acceleration. The Escape Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a battery pack. It puts out a combined 221 horsepower. Both models pair well with the standard continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Its performance gets high marks and is stable even over bumpy roads and around bends. The Hybrid gets an estimated 44/37 mpg city/highway with front-wheel drive. The Plug-In Hybrid gets an estimated combined city/highway 41 mpg when the vehicle is using gas and a combined 102 mpg rating when using electricity. The PHEV has a 37-mile all-electric range.

All RAV4 Hybrid models have two electric motors and a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that makes 219 horsepower, and is paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. This power helps the Hybrid accelerate quickly from a stop and pass at higher speeds. The second electric motor powers the rear wheels when traction is necessary, making this Hybrid standard with all-wheel drive. It has decent handling, though there’s a bit more sway than the non hybrid RAV4. Estimated gas mileage is rated at 41/38 mpg city/highway.