2020 Ford Escape vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Ford Escape was a striking compact crossover, borrowing design cues from the outgoing Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks, with headlights inspired by the Ford GT supercar. Its curvaceous design, while attractive, came at the cost of some cargo space. Inside, the Escape featured a modern cabin with a fully digital instrument panel and a floating infotainment screen, maintaining a balance between futuristic design and practical controls. The Escape was available in multiple trims, from the base S to the range-topping Titanium, each offering a variety of features and enhancements.

The 2020 Honda CR-V, in its fifth generation, had a familiar and fun design, with curvy, car-like lines and a family resemblance to Honda’s sedan lineup. Its interior, however, was a mix of high-quality materials and low-quality plastics, reminding drivers that even the pricier models were upgrades of a commodity car. The CR-V was available in four trims: LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring, each offering a straightforward set of features. The CR-V’s design leaned more towards a station wagon than an SUV, making it a modern family transportation staple.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered a diverse range of four engine options. The base 3-cylinder engine produced 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, delivered 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration. The hybrid drivetrain, combining a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with electric power, produced 198 horsepower and was standard on the SE Sport and available on the Titanium. A plug-in hybrid variant was also available. The Escape’s engines were paired with either an 8-speed automatic or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for the hybrids. The most efficient version, the non-Sport hybrid, returned 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined.

The 2020 Honda CR-V simplified its lineup by replacing the previous base engine with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, mated to a CVT. This powertrain provided a well-matched and responsive driving experience, especially in Sport mode. The CR-V’s car-like demeanor was reflected in its excellent road manners, with nimble handling and minimal body roll. The CR-V’s low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its agility and fuel efficiency. FWD models achieved 30 mpg combined, while AWD models managed 29 mpg. The CR-V Hybrid, introduced for 2020, offered even higher fuel economy, competing with hybrid versions of the RAV4 and Escape.

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, the Escape provided 65.4 cubic feet of cargo space, or 60.8 cubic feet in upper-level trims. Despite the reduced cargo capacity, the Escape emphasized passenger space, with ample headroom and legroom for second-row passengers and a commanding seating position for the driver and front passenger. The Escape also featured numerous storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and multiple trays and compartments.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and clever storage solutions. Its cabin was roomy, with excellent head- and legroom for both the driver and passengers. The CR-V’s seating position and low cowl provided excellent front visibility. The cargo compartment offered 75.8 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded, thanks to a smart two-position load floor. The center console featured a deep well with a sliding cover, inspired by the Honda Odyssey minivan, providing ample storage for small items. The CR-V’s door pockets were also spacious, extending behind the lower door panel for extra room.

The 2020 Ford Escape’s base trim featured a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, which stood out as an eyesore due to the floating screen design. The SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync screen, which included Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Titanium trim added a head-up display (HUD) with a small flip-up screen, which was less effective for taller drivers. The latest version of Sync was praised for its functionality, allowing multitasking and better integration with smartphones.

The 2020 Honda CR-V’s infotainment system showed its age, with a 5-inch screen in the base LX trim that offered limited features. Higher trims featured a 7-inch touchscreen, which still felt small compared to competitors. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available only with the larger screen, providing better navigation than Honda’s system. The CR-V Touring trim added a wireless phone charger and additional USB ports, enhancing its tech offerings.

The 2020 Ford Escape came standard with a full array of 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 featured Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced safety systems including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor.

The 2020 Honda CR-V included the “Honda Sensing” system as standard, offering forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. Automatic high beams were standard, while blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring were available on EX trims and above. The CR-V earned five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, with the caveat that only the Touring trim’s LED headlights scored well.