2020 Ford Escape vs 2020 Toyota RAV4

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 had a bold and angular appearance, a significant departure from its traditionally cute and utilitarian design. The TRD Off-Road trim, introduced in 2020, featured smaller and lighter matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, and a special TRD suspension setup, enhancing its off-road capabilities. The interior of the TRD Off-Road was equipped with TRD logos, rubber floor mats, and a rubber cargo mat, contrasting with the soft-touch materials and quality construction found throughout the cabin. The RAV4's trim levels ranged from the base LE to the top-tier Limited, with the TRD Off-Road near the top of the lineup.

The 2020 Ford Escape had a sleek and modern design, with a large grille and headlights inspired by the Ford GT supercar. The interior was forward-looking yet practical, featuring a fully digital instrument panel and a floating infotainment screen in higher trims. The Escape was available in several trims, including the base S, SE, SE Sport, SEL, and Titanium. Each trim level added more features, with the Titanium offering premium touches like a dual-panel moonroof, wood paneling, and a B&O audio system. The SE trim was recommended for its balance of features and value.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 came with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The RAV4 Hybrid variant offered 219 horsepower and up to 40 mpg in combined driving but was not available in the TRD Off-Road trim. The 8-speed automatic transmission generally performed well, though it occasionally struggled with gear selection. The TRD Off-Road model featured a torque-vectoring AWD system, multi-terrain select settings, and 8.6 inches of ground clearance, making it capable on various surfaces. Despite its off-road focus, the TRD Off-Road handled urban environments well, though its all-terrain tires were not ideal for fast driving on mountain roads. The test vehicle averaged 23.4 mpg, below the EPA estimate of 27 mpg.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered four engine options, including a 3-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, and two hybrid setups. The hybrid drivetrain produced 198 horsepower, while the plug-in hybrid variant was available on higher trims. The conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrids employed a CVT. The Escape's steering was direct and taut, providing an athletic feel. The most efficient version was the non-Sport hybrid, with fuel economy ratings of 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined. The 2.0-liter turbo engine returned 23/31/26 mpg with AWD.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 offered easy ingress and egress, with a low and sporty driving position in the 8-way adjustable driver's seat. The front passenger seat lacked height adjustment but provided good thigh support. The TRD Off-Road trim featured SofTex upholstery, which could trap sweat on hot days, but the Weather Package added heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat provided generous legroom, and the cargo space measured 37.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, expanding to 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The test vehicle also had a robust roof rack and an optional hands-free power liftgate.

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 cargo space was 65.4 cubic feet 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. 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 2020 Toyota RAV4's technology was user-friendly and practical. Depending on the trim, the infotainment system featured a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen display, with the latter standard in the TRD Off-Road. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and multiple connected services packages. A 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was free for three months or 2GB of data usage. The TRD Off-Road's infotainment system impressed with its voice-recognition technology and optional Technology Package, which added wireless smartphone charging, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a digital rear-view mirror.

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 latest version of Sync allowed for multitasking, enhancing the user experience. 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 balance of features, including the 8-inch Sync screen, automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a power driver's seat.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included advanced driving assist features like Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, radar adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, front and rear parking assist with automated braking, and blind spot assist with rear cross-traffic alert. Toyota also offered a free 1-year subscription to Safety Connect services. The RAV4 received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, but only for models with full LED, curve adaptive headlights.

The 2020 Ford Escape included 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 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, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor.