2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2020 Ford Escape was a striking compact crossover, sharing its large grille with the outgoing Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks. Its headlights were inspired by the Ford GT supercar, and while the previous Escape had a more upright rear end, the new curvaceous design came at a cost. Despite this, the Escape remained one of the best-looking small SUVs on the market, trailing only the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee. Inside, the Escape featured a modern cabin with a fully digital instrument panel, floating infotainment screen, and a smooth, forward-looking design that kept basic controls in familiar places.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, with a styling theme dating back a decade, received minor tweaks for the new model year. The grille and front bumper were new, and every trim level got standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation. A new gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretched the width of the taillights, and new wheel designs debuted for the top three trim levels. These modifications modernized the Odyssey by reducing brightwork. Inside, the Odyssey Elite trim featured perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, new dashboard ambient lighting, and tri-color floor mats that better hid dirt.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered a variety of engine options, including a new 3-cylinder engine making 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, 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. The conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrids used a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The most efficient version, the non-Sport hybrid, returned 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a ten-speed automatic transmission, making 280 horsepower. The transmission included Normal, Sport, Econ, and Snow driving modes, as well as paddle shifters. The V6 engine featured variable cylinder management for fuel efficiency, with an EPA rating of 22 mpg combined. The Odyssey lacked all-wheel drive, putting it at a disadvantage in snowy regions. However, it had a new electronic brake booster for improved brake pedal feel and response. The Odyssey's ride and handling were enjoyable, with firm but comfortable suspension and well-managed body motions. The brakes, however, did not withstand heavy use well, suffering from fade during intense driving conditions.

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, it provided 65.4 cubic feet or 60.8 cubic feet in upper-level trims. Despite the reduction, the Escape emphasized passenger space, with ample headroom and legroom for second-row passengers and commanding seating positions for the front occupants. The interior featured numerous storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and multiple trays and compartments.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey excelled in storage space, with a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat standard in all but the base LX trim. The Elite trim added a heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats. The Odyssey's Magic Slide second-row seat layout allowed for various seating configurations, including Wide Mode, Buddy Mode, and Super Mode. The third-row seats accommodated both children and adults comfortably. Cargo space measured 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 88.8 cubic feet with the third row tumbled, and 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed. However, removing and reinstalling the second-row seats was cumbersome.

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 screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Titanium trim included a head-up display (HUD) with a flip-up screen, which was less effective for taller drivers. The latest version of Sync allowed for multitasking, enhancing the user experience.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey's EX trim and above came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and a Cabin Control smartphone app. The Touring trim added a navigation system, HondaLink subscription service plans, WiFi capability, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk in-vehicle PA system. The Elite trim featured an 11-speaker premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch screen, Blu-Ray disc player, and built-in streaming apps.

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. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor were also standard.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety with the standard Honda Sensing suite, which included adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, pedestrian braking, road-sign recognition, and a new Honda Sensing menu button. The Odyssey earned top five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for every assessment except rollover resistance, which received a four-star score. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) ratings were expected to carry over, with the addition of standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam assist.