2020 Ford Escape vs 2020 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2020 Ford Escape was a striking compact crossover, sharing its large grille with the outgoing Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks, and featuring headlights inspired by the Ford GT supercar. The previous Escape had a more upright rear end, but the new curvaceous design, while attractive, came at a cost. Despite this, the Escape remained one of the best-looking small SUVs on the market, trailing perhaps only the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee. Inside, the Escape boasted a modern cabin with a fully digital instrument panel, floating infotainment screen, and a smooth, contemporary design. The base S trim included 17-inch steel wheels, a 4.2-inch instrument-panel screen, and Sync infotainment with a 4.2-inch screen. Higher trims like the SE added features such as a 10-way power driver's seat and an 8-inch Sync 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premier trim, with a more powerful engine, AWD, and a Confidence and Convenience II option package, was priced at $40,040, including destination charges. However, Chevrolet often offered significant rebates and incentives. The Equinox Premier featured a clean design with 19-inch wheels, gray contrast cladding, roof rails, and extra chrome detailing. Inside, the high-contrast cabin with Jet Black and Brandy leather, a panoramic sunroof, and polished metallic accents looked upscale but felt less so due to the presence of hard, shiny plastics. The Premier trim included an 8-way power front passenger seat, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The sliding rear seat maximized passenger or cargo space, and the Premier trim added rear air conditioning vents and USB ports.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered four engine options, including a new 3-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, standard in the S, SE, and SEL trims. The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, available on the SEL and standard on the Titanium trim, produced 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, part of the hybrid drivetrain, made 198 horsepower and was standard on the SE Sport and available on the Titanium. A plug-in hybrid variant was optional on the SE, SEL, and Titanium trims. The conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrids used a CVT. The 3-cylinder engine and non-plug-in hybrid were available with FWD or AWD, while the turbo engine and plug-in hybrid came standard with AWD. The Escape Titanium, with the most powerful engine, offered plenty of power around town and shined on the highway. The Escape's steering was direct and taut, with strong, responsive brakes, giving it an athletic feel. The most efficient version was the non-Sport hybrid, with fuel economy of 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox offered two engine options. The standard turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine provided 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The 2.0-liter turbo engine, with 252 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, offered better performance and a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. It used a 9-speed automatic transmission and was available with FWD or AWD. The 1.5-liter engine averaged 24.3 mpg with AWD, while the 2.0-liter engine averaged 22.1 mpg. Both versions had firm, connected ride qualities but suffered from road and wind noise. The Premier trim, with 19-inch wheels, felt more athletic and enjoyable to drive on winding roads. The Equinox exhibited a flat cornering attitude, well-controlled body motions, and natural steering and braking feel.

The 2020 Ford Escape's sleeker design resulted in reduced cargo space compared to its predecessor. It offered 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, dropping to 34.4 cubic feet in hybrid models. With the backseat folded down, the Escape provided 65.4 cubic feet of cargo space, or 60.8 cubic feet in upper-level trims. This was less than the outgoing 2019 Escape and competitors like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. However, the Escape emphasized passenger space, with plenty of headroom and legroom for second-row passengers. The front seats provided commanding positions and good visibility. The Escape also featured numerous storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and multiple trays and compartments.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox LS had cloth upholstery with a 10-way power driver’s seat, while the Premier trim featured leather, an 8-way power front passenger seat, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. Both trims were comfortable but could benefit from longer seat cushions with more thigh support. The sliding rear seat maximized passenger or cargo space, with generous legroom in the rearmost position. The Premier trim included rear air conditioning vents and USB ports. Cargo volume measured 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The Equinox also offered plenty of storage in the cabin, with a large center console storage bin and various bins, trays, and cubbies throughout the interior.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim featured a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, while the SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync 3 screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The latest version of Sync allowed for multi-tasking, enabling the use of different apps on the phone while projecting on the car’s display. The Titanium trim included a head-up display (HUD) with a flip-up screen, which was less effective for taller drivers. The SE trim was recommended for its value, offering an 8-inch Sync 3 screen, automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a power driver’s seat.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox offered several infotainment systems with 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen displays. All systems included Bluetooth pairing for two devices, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and Chevrolet Connected Access services. Upgrades included a high-definition display, cloud connectivity, improved voice recognition, HD Radio, satellite radio, navigation, and a Bose premium sound system. The Equinox LS rental had the basic setup, which worked well for navigation and had a 6-speaker audio system. The Premier trim featured a larger high-definition 8-inch touchscreen and Bose sound system. The Equinox also offered wireless smartphone charging and a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2020 Ford Escape came with a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system (TPMS). It earned the best overall score of Good from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) in all phases of testing. The Escape also came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced safety systems including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. It also included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox featured Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, a safe following distance monitor, and automatic high-beam headlights. A reversing camera, rear-seat reminder system, and Teen Driver technology were also standard. Upgrades included adaptive cruise control, lane change warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, and a Safety Alert Seat. The Equinox earned top ratings from the IIHS and 5-star ratings from the NHTSA, making it a safe SUV. However, Chevy needed to make the blind-spot warning system more accessible.