2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2021 Ford Escape, a fourth-generation model, balanced the line between SUV and hatchback. Its curved snout and sleek roofline gave it a less truck-like appearance compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. The Escape's design was more generic than the Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage, but it still maintained the tall ride height of a proper SUV. For 2021, the Escape introduced new appearance packages for three of its four trim levels, including the SE Sport Appearance Package, SEL Stealth AWD Package, and Titanium Elite Package, which featured upgrades like 19-inch alloy wheels and leather-wrapped steering wheels.

Inside, the Escape's design choices were less cohesive, with an angular instrument cluster that didn't quite match the exterior's theme. Interior materials felt low-rent, and even the top Titanium model lacked standard leather upholstery. Dual-zone automatic climate control was only available starting from the SEL trim level. Despite these drawbacks, the Escape offered a decent amount of interior space and functionality.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey, while adhering to the classic minivan design, managed to incorporate a sense of style. The kinked sliding doors and dramatic hockey-stick character lines added flair to its otherwise clean flanks. The Elite trim level, which we tested, featured dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels. The Odyssey's interior was designed with family comfort in mind, offering quality leather, supportive front seats, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The Magic Slide second-row seats and a comfortable third-row seat made it a practical choice for families.

The Odyssey's interior was spacious and functional, with numerous storage spaces and a well-designed center console. The third-row seat provided ample leg support and foot room, making it comfortable for adults. Cargo space was impressive, with 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed. The Odyssey's design and functionality made it a strong contender in the minivan segment.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered a variety of powertrains, including two gasoline engines, a hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid. The base engine was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder producing 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Buyers could opt for front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The more powerful 2.0-liter turbo-four engine delivered 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, available only with AWD.

The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, producing a combined 200 hp. The plug-in hybrid's larger battery allowed for significant electric-only driving. The hybrid was available with FWD or AWD, while the plug-in hybrid was FWD only. The Escape's performance was adequate, but its chassis tuning left much to be desired, with sloppy suspension and steering making it less enjoyable to drive. The 2.0-liter engine models could tow up to 3,500 pounds, but towing figures for the hybrid and plug-in hybrid were not provided.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey did not offer AWD or an electrified powertrain. Its EPA fuel economy estimate was 22 mpg in combined driving. While not as fuel-efficient as hybrid competitors, the Odyssey was more enjoyable to drive, with responsive handling and quick acceleration.

During a test drive in Southern California, the Odyssey averaged 22.6 mpg. However, repeated use of the brakes on downhill grades caused pedal vibration and an audible grumble, indicating a need for more robust braking performance. Despite this, the Odyssey remained a delightful vehicle to drive, with quick merging, responsive handling, and remarkable composure on mountain roads.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered competitive interior space for a compact SUV. First-row and second-row headroom and legroom were near the top of the segment. The standard sliding rear seat allowed for adjustable legroom or cargo space. Non-hybrid models provided 40.7 inches of rear legroom, second only to the Hyundai Tucson. However, the battery placement in hybrid and plug-in hybrid models reduced legroom.

Cargo space in the gasoline Escape was 33.5 cubic feet with the rear seat up, expandable to 37.5 cubic feet by sliding the rear seat forward. Folding the rear seat provided 65.4 cubic feet of cargo space. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo space, with 30.7 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 60.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. While the Escape offered decent cargo space, competitors like the Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester provided over 70 cubic feet with their rear seats folded.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey excelled in interior space and functionality. The minivan's low ride height and wide-opening doors made entry and exit easy. The Elite trim featured quality leather, supportive front seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The Odyssey's interior was designed with family needs in mind, offering numerous storage spaces and a well-designed center console.

Second-row seat comfort was commendable, with plenty of legroom and a fold-down center section with cupholders. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible seating arrangements, making it easier to tend to children or create a pass-through to the third row. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, with good leg support and foot room. Cargo space was impressive, with 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with the base Escape S model featuring a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Upgrading to the Escape SE added an 8-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Titanium trim level included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

While Sync 3 was user-friendly, the Escape lacked some standard tech features offered by competitors. It also missed out on the wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available with the newer Sync 4 system.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was packed with technology, but its infotainment features were increasingly outclassed by rivals. Starting with the EX trim, the Odyssey included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim added navigation and HondaLink connected services, including WiFi hotspot access.

The Touring and Elite trims featured CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, allowing the driver to monitor and communicate with rear-seat passengers. The rear-seat entertainment system, standard on Touring and Elite trims, included a 10.2-inch display, HDMI inputs, and a USB port. However, the system was behind the times compared to competitors.

The Elite trim added an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad. While the Odyssey's infotainment system was easy to use, it lacked a larger screen and a tuning knob for the stereo. The embedded navigation system required specific voice commands and was less user-friendly than smartphone-based navigation.

The 2021 Ford Escape received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with top "Good" scores in all crash tests and for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The Escape also earned high marks for front-crash prevention tech but received "Acceptable" and "Marginal" ratings for headlights, depending on the trim level. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Escape a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash tests.

Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and Evasive Steering Assist.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was well-equipped with safety features, including the Honda Sensing suite, which encompassed adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. All Odysseys also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available starting with the EX trim.

While Honda Sensing provided a comprehensive set of safety features, it lacked refinement and could respond too sharply or abruptly to changing driving situations. The blind-spot monitoring system's warning light was located on the windshield pillar, making it less intuitive to use. Despite these issues, the Odyssey earned an overall five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.