2019 Honda CR-V vs 2020 Ford Escape

2019 Honda CR-V
2019 Honda CR-V
$24,450MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Ford Escape
2020 Ford Escape
$24,885MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2019 Honda CR-V
$24,450MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Ford Escape
$24,885MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

Both the 2019 Honda CR-V and the 2020 Ford Escape offer compelling features. However, the 2020 Ford Escape edges out slightly in terms of performance, safety, and technology, making it the recommended choice.

Overview

MSRP

$24,450

MSRP

$24,885

Average price

$23,317

Average price

$20,035

Listings

2121

Listings

3578
Ratings & Reviews
User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

8.0 out of 10

Expert reviews

8.0 out of 10
Pros
  • Multiple powertrain options
  • Stylish design
  • Standard advanced safety features
Cons
  • Not much cargo space

2019 Honda CR-V Reviews Summary

Refined, roomy, and historically reliable, the Honda CR-V has earned its status as one of the best selling vehicles in America. This is a safe SUV, too, and it returns good fuel economy while delivering lively performance. There are few reasons to cross the 2019 Honda CR-V off of your shopping list, and numerous reasons to drive one home from the dealership.

2020 Ford Escape Reviews Summary

In case you didn’t hear, Ford came out with an electric crossover, calling it the Mustang Mach-E. Ford could have called it something else, but the marketing department decided to leverage the famous Mustang name to capture headlines and, hopefully, shoppers. What should not be overlooked is the fact Ford chose to make its first-ever standalone electric vehicle a crossover.

This choice is a testament to how far the sport utility vehicle has come. Paired with Ford's decision to phase out sedans and hatchbacks, it's clear the company is putting all of its eggs into its trucks, SUVs, and crossovers. Suffice it to say, there is just a bit of pressure on the redesigned 2020 Ford Escape.

While the Escape has been around since 2000, it came into its own in 2013 when the “One Ford” philosophy was adopted, meaning that vehicles would be sold in multiple markets around the globe. As a result, the U.S. got Europe’s Ford Kuga, rebranded as the Escape—a high-tech, handsome, and surprisingly athletic small SUV.

So, with all this mind, the new Escape needs to not only be an improvement over the previous generation to compete against the rest of the compact crossover segment, it also needs to win over would-be sedan and hatchback customers. Can the 2020 Escape rise to the occasion?

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

2.4L 184 hp I4

Engine

1.5L 181 hp I3

Drive Train

FWD

Drive Train

FWD

Seating Capacity

5

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

184 hp @ 6400 rpm

Horsepower

MPG City

26

MPG City

27

MPG Highway

32

MPG Highway

33
2019 Honda CR-V
2019 Honda CR-V
$24,450MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Ford Escape
2020 Ford Escape
$24,885MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2019 Honda CR-V
$24,450MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Ford Escape
$24,885MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

Both the 2019 Honda CR-V and the 2020 Ford Escape offer compelling features. However, the 2020 Ford Escape edges out slightly in terms of performance, safety, and technology, making it the recommended choice.

Overview
MSRP
$24,450
$24,885
Average price
$23,317
$20,035
Listings
Ratings & Reviews
User reviews
4.3
4.2
Expert reviews

8.0 out of 10

Read full review

8.0 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Multiple powertrain options
  • Stylish design
  • Standard advanced safety features
Cons
  • Not much cargo space
Summary
Refined, roomy, and historically reliable, the Honda CR-V has earned its status as one of the best selling vehicles in America. This is a safe SUV, too, and it returns good fuel economy while delivering lively performance. There are few reasons to cross the 2019 Honda CR-V off of your shopping list, and numerous reasons to drive one home from the dealership.

In case you didn’t hear, Ford came out with an electric crossover, calling it the Mustang Mach-E. Ford could have called it something else, but the marketing department decided to leverage the famous Mustang name to capture headlines and, hopefully, shoppers. What should not be overlooked is the fact Ford chose to make its first-ever standalone electric vehicle a crossover.

This choice is a testament to how far the sport utility vehicle has come. Paired with Ford's decision to phase out sedans and hatchbacks, it's clear the company is putting all of its eggs into its trucks, SUVs, and crossovers. Suffice it to say, there is just a bit of pressure on the redesigned 2020 Ford Escape.

While the Escape has been around since 2000, it came into its own in 2013 when the “One Ford” philosophy was adopted, meaning that vehicles would be sold in multiple markets around the globe. As a result, the U.S. got Europe’s Ford Kuga, rebranded as the Escape—a high-tech, handsome, and surprisingly athletic small SUV.

So, with all this mind, the new Escape needs to not only be an improvement over the previous generation to compete against the rest of the compact crossover segment, it also needs to win over would-be sedan and hatchback customers. Can the 2020 Escape rise to the occasion?

Video
Popular Features & Specs
Engine
2.4L 184 hp I4
1.5L 181 hp I3
Drive Train
FWD
FWD
Seating Capacity
5
5
Horsepower
184 hp @ 6400 rpm
MPG City
26
27
MPG Highway
32
33
Look and feel
2019 Honda CR-V
9/10
2020 Ford Escape
9/10
CarGurus experts rate the 2019 Honda CR-V as 9 out of 10 and the 2020 Ford Escape as 9 out of 10. The 2019 Honda CR-V offers four trim levels—LX, EX, EX-L, Touring—each equipped with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The CR-V exudes quality with an upscale look and a well-arranged interior. The 2020 Ford Escape boasts a sleek design and a modern cabin, with a variety of trim levels offering different features and options.
Performance
2019 Honda CR-V
7/10
2020 Ford Escape
8/10
CarGurus experts rate the 2019 Honda CR-V 7 out of 10 and the 2020 Ford Escape 8 out of 10. The 2019 Honda CR-V offers a choice between a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, delivering satisfying performance and impressive fuel economy. The 2020 Ford Escape offers four engine options, including a new 3-cylinder engine, a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, and two hybrid setups, providing a range of power and efficiency options.
Form and function
2019 Honda CR-V
9/10
2020 Ford Escape
7/10
CarGurus experts rate the 2019 Honda CR-V 9 out of 10 and the 2020 Ford Escape 7 out of 10. The 2019 Honda CR-V provides ample space for passengers and cargo, making it an ideal choice for families. The 2020 Ford Escape, while offering a sleek design, sacrifices some cargo space for a more modern look, but it compensates with a focus on passenger space and real-world storage solutions.
Technology
2019 Honda CR-V
7/10
2020 Ford Escape
8/10
CarGurus experts rate the 2019 Honda CR-V 7 out of 10 and the 2020 Ford Escape 8 out of 10. The 2019 Honda CR-V offers a long list of infotainment upgrades, driver-assistance features, and collision-avoidance systems, while the 2020 Ford Escape comes with a variety of tech features, including the latest version of Sync, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, as well as a head-up display in the Titanium trim.
Safety
2019 Honda CR-V
8/10
2020 Ford Escape
9/10
CarGurus experts rate the 2019 Honda CR-V 8 out of 10 and the 2020 Ford Escape 9 out of 10. The 2019 Honda CR-V comes with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced safety features, while the 2020 Ford Escape offers Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced safety systems, as standard, along with additional features such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Cost Effectiveness
2019 Honda CR-V
8/10
2020 Ford Escape
7/10
CarGurus experts rate the 2019 Honda CR-V 8 out of 10 and the 2020 Ford Escape 7 out of 10. The 2019 Honda CR-V offers good value for its quality and utility, while the 2020 Ford Escape presents itself as a greater value in the SE trim, with premium materials and the latest technology and infotainment features.
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By: CarGurus + AI

This car comparison has been created with using generative AI. It is based entirely on CarGurus expert review content, ratings and data, and leverages our extensive library of hands-on product tests to create thousands of unique comparisons to help shoppers choose the right car.