2021 Ford Escape vs 2022 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Ford Escape sported a design that walked the fine line between SUV and hatchback. Its curved front and sleek roofline lent it an appearance akin to an overgrown Ford Focus. Despite this, the Escape maintained the elevated ride height characteristic of an SUV, giving it a less truck-like presence compared to the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, or Toyota RAV4. Still, this design felt somewhat generic when placed alongside modern rivals like the Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage.

The 2021 model year brought new appearance packages for three of the four Escape trim levels. The SE Sport Appearance Package, SEL Stealth AWD Package, and Titanium Elite Package introduced upgrades like 19-inch alloy wheels for the SE Sport and SEL Stealth, ActiveX upholstery with Miko Suede for the SEL Stealth, and leather-wrapped interiors for the Titanium Elite.

Inside, the Escape didn't echo the external design’s sleekness. The interior felt disjointed, with angular instrument clusters that contrasted sharply with the exterior's flowing lines, and materials that seemed subpar. Even the highest Titanium trim lacked standard leather upholstery, which wasn’t expected until the SEL trim introduced dual-zone automatic climate control.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Explorer exhibited a more ruggedly stylish design, featuring elements unique to the King Ranch trim, such as distinctive emblems, shiny 20-inch wheels, and quad exhausts. Positioned on a rear-drive platform, the Explorer showed off a long, tall hood, short front overhang, rakish roofline, and a greenhouse that tapered for an athletic look. Its blacked-out roof pillars also added to the “floating roof” style carried over from the predecessor.

Inside, the Explorer King Ranch boasted exclusive Del Rio leather seating with lasso-perforated inserts, and chocolate brown over caramel color scheme among other luxurious additions. Yet, this blend of opulent and questionable materials across its diverse models slightly undermined the premium feel.

The 2021 Ford Escape was offered with two gasoline powertrains, plus hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. The base engine was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder that produced 181 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in both FWD and AWD. Additionally, it had an upgraded 2.0-liter turbo-four, delivering 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, exclusively with AWD and the same transmission. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid both utilized a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine boosted by electric assistance for a combined 200 hp. However, battery placement reduced legroom in these variants.

Despite the small engine size, the Escape's three-cylinder was satisfactory in our experience. The smooth transition from electric to gas power stood out, particularly in hybrid models. However, all models shared lackluster handling due to poor suspension and steering dynamics.

In 2022, the Ford Explorer offered three powertrains. The base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited, and Timberline trims came with a 2.3-liter turbo-four, generating 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, RWD as standard, and optional 4WD. This configuration had a towing capacity of 5,300 lbs and achieved a combined 24 mpg.

The hybrid variant utilized a 3.3-liter V6, combining for 318 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque, available with RWD or 4WD, and also featuring a 10-speed automatic. Maximum towing for this model stood at 5,000 lbs with 27 mpg combined.

The more performance-oriented option was a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6, generating 400 hp and 415 lb-ft, standard in ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trims. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic and either RWD or 4WD, had a towing capacity of 5,600 lbs, albeit with a lower fuel economy of 21 mpg combined.

Testing the King Ranch 4WD, the twin-turbo V6 provided impressive power and acceleration. The Explorer handled like a traditional SUV, robust but nimble, and performed competently off-road. The Timberline trim was particularly well-suited for rugged terrains with nearly 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

The 2021 Ford Escape's cabin offered commendable space, bolstered by a standard sliding rear seat to balance between legroom and cargo space. With the bench seat fully retracted, legroom hit 40.7 inches, although hybrid models sacrificed this due to battery placement. Cargo capacity varied with rear seats up at 33.5 cubic feet for gasoline, and 30.7 cubic feet for hybrids. Sliding the seats forward expanded space to 37.5 and 34.4 cubic feet, respectively, and folding down the rear seats resulted in 65.4 cubic feet for gasoline and 60.8 cubic feet for hybrids. Despite this, competitors like the Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester surpassed these figures.

The 2022 Ford Explorer suited families well, accommodating four to five with a second-row bench seat. Our King Ranch was laden with features: triple-zone climate control, heated and ventilated seats, and massaging front seats with extensive power adjustments. The second-row was roomy, but the third-row was cramped for adults, better suited for children.

Storage solutions inside the Explorer felt lacking against its competitors, with constrained center console storage and missed opportunities for additional compartments. Cargo capacity stood at 18.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 47.9 cubic feet with third row flattened, and maxed out at 87.8 cubic feet with all rear seats down.

The 2021 Escape relied on Ford’s older Sync 3 system with base models getting a modest 4.2-inch screen. Upgrades to the SE brought an 8-inch touchscreen with SiriusXM satellite radio, while Titanium models featured a 12.3-inch digital cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. Although Sync 3 was user-friendly, it lacked the advanced features and wireless capabilities of Sync 4 found in newer models.

In 2022, the Explorer also utilized Sync 3 but with a choice of an 8-inch horizontal or a 10.1-inch vertical touchscreen. The larger screen, though functional, looked aftermarket. The King Ranch came fully equipped with Sync 3 functionalities including FordPass Connect with remote start, WiFi hotspot, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, navigation, and a 14-speaker B&O system. Despite the rich tech, Sync 3 lagged behind Sync 4, especially in voice recognition and intuitive control.

The 2021 Ford Escape earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS with high scores across all crash tests and commendable LATCH ease of use. NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating. Standard safety features included Ford Co-Pilot360 suite: automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. Co-Pilot360 Assist+ added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and evasive steering assist.

The 2022 Ford Explorer received a consistent Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS across all trims. While full 2022 NHTSA ratings were pending, past models secured five-star ratings in most tests. Standard safety in the Explorer matched the Co-Pilot360 suite, with additional features like post-collision braking and MyKey. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package expanded this with adaptive cruise control, lane-centering, and evasive steering assist.