2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

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 only behind 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 Titanium trim offered premium features like a B&O audio system and a dual-panel moonroof.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander stood out in the crowded midsize SUV market with its distinctive design. Its wide headlights, long hood, and assertive grille made a statement, while the character line along the side added a sporty touch. The rear taillights, reminiscent of Lexus models, contributed to its upscale appearance. The Highlander XSE trim introduced a more aggressive front end and sportier suspension tuning. Inside, the Limited trim featured near-flawless fit and finish, with tan leather seats and dark brown trim. The wood details, although not real, looked fabulous. The Highlander excelled in comfort and convenience, essential for a family car, with features like a wireless charging pad and ample legroom for second-row passengers.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered a diverse range of engine options, starting with a 3-cylinder engine producing 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 most efficient version, the non-Sport hybrid, returned fuel economy of 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined. The 1.5-liter turbo engine achieved 27/33/30 combined, while the 2.0-liter turbo with AWD returned 23/31/26. The Escape's steering was direct and taut, with strong, responsive brakes, giving it an athletic feel.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain provided smooth and predictable operation, suitable for merging onto highways without feeling underpowered. The Highlander Hybrid, covered separately, offered an alternative for those seeking better fuel efficiency. The Highlander's performance was comparable to competitors like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride, though it fell short of the Ford Explorer ST in terms of power. The XSE trim added higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, and a rear stabilizer bar, enhancing the driving experience without turning it into a track beast.

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. While this was less than rivals like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, the Escape emphasized passenger space. Second-row passengers enjoyed ample headroom and decent legroom, while the front seats provided a commanding view and good visibility. The Escape also featured numerous storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and multiple trays and compartments.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in passenger comfort and convenience. It featured large shelves ahead of the front seats for storing cell phones, with a pass-through for charging cords. Second-row passengers enjoyed plenty of legroom, with seats that moved forward and backward to optimize space. The third row could accommodate adults, but only if the second-row passengers compromised on comfort. The Highlander offered 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded down. With both the second and third rows folded, it provided 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space, sufficient for most needs.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim featured a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, which stood out as an eyesore in the new floating screen design. The SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync 3 screen, offering 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 Toyota Highlander offered an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen available on the Limited trim and standard on the Platinum trim. Both systems were user-friendly, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard across the lineup. The 12.3-inch screen in the test car was bright, crisp, and fast, though it only displayed certain apps on the full width. The JBL audio system sounded good but was not overly impressive.

The 2020 Ford Escape came with a comprehensive array of safety features, including 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 featured 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 Toyota Highlander upgraded its safety features to Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support. This technology could engage the automatic emergency braking system when an oncoming vehicle at an intersection was about to make a left-hand turn. The Highlander also featured road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Highlander five out of five stars, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named it a Top Safety Pick+.