2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Ford Explorer

The 2020 Ford Escape was a striking compact crossover, borrowing design elements from the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks, with headlights inspired by the Ford GT supercar. Its curvaceous design marked a departure from the previous model's upright rear end, making it one of the most attractive small SUVs, trailing only behind the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee. Inside, the Escape boasted a modern yet practical cabin, featuring a fully digital instrument panel and a floating infotainment screen, maintaining a balance between futuristic design and user-friendly controls.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, part of Ford's SUV lineup, shared a family resemblance with its siblings, the Edge and Expedition. Its exterior was sporty, with raked belt lines and distinctive visages. The Explorer offered six trim levels, each with varying grille designs and increasing levels of luxury. Inside, it provided three rows of seating as standard, with cloth upholstery on the base model. The dashboard was clean, featuring an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and a center console with a rotary gearshift, maximizing storage space. The XLT trim was the most popular, offering enhanced features like a power front passenger seat and a 6.5-inch instrument panel screen.

The 2020 Ford Escape stood out among small SUVs with its 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, offering brisk acceleration. The hybrid drivetrain, with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, produced 198 horsepower, standard on the SE Sport and available on the Titanium. A plug-in hybrid variant was also available. The Escape's steering was direct and taut, providing an athletic feel, with strong brakes enhancing its sporty personality. The most efficient version was the non-Sport hybrid, achieving 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, weighing 4,345 pounds at its lightest, featured a base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The Limited Hybrid offered a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. Higher trims boasted a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, producing 365 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, with the sport-oriented ST trim offering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Explorer excelled in towing, with capacities ranging from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the trim and engine.

The 2020 Ford Escape's sleek 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, it provided 65.4 cubic feet, or 60.8 cubic feet in upper-level trims. Despite the reduced cargo capacity, the Escape emphasized passenger space, offering ample headroom and legroom for second-row passengers, along with numerous storage solutions for gear.

The 2021 Ford Explorer accommodated seven passengers in the base model, with captain's chairs in higher trims reducing capacity to six. It offered 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers, surpassing some competitors. With the third row deployed, it provided 21 cubic feet of cargo space, and 81 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, positioning it among smaller SUVs in terms of cargo volume.

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 Titanium trim included a head-up display, though its flip-up screen design limited its effectiveness for taller drivers.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, with features like AM/FM radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G WiFi hotspot. The Limited trim added a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, with higher trims offering a 10.1-inch touchscreen and up to 14 speakers. Charging options included two USB ports and five 12-volt power points, with a 110-volt AC power outlet available on the ST and Limited trims.

The 2020 Ford Escape came with a comprehensive array of airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. It earned a "Good" rating from the IIHS in all phases of testing and featured Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced safety systems including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top "Good" scores in crash tests. It offered the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite as standard, including features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ suite, available on higher trims, added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and speed sign recognition.