2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2021 Ford Escape presented a blend of SUV and hatchback aesthetics, with a curved front and sleek roofline that gave it a less truck-like appearance compared to rivals like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. It offered new appearance packages across its trims, enhancing its visual appeal with features like 19-inch alloy wheels and leather-wrapped steering wheels. However, the interior design was less cohesive, with some low-quality materials and odd design choices, such as an angular instrument cluster that didn't match the exterior's theme.

In contrast, the 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar exuded luxury and elegance, with a design that echoed the larger Range Rover's iconic profile in a sportier package. Its exterior featured a long wheelbase, short overhangs, and signature Land Rover elements like the grille and square lights. The Velar's interior matched its exterior's sophistication, with high-quality materials and a polished black center stack. Despite being a base trim, the Velar S offered exemplary fit and finish, with three sharp screens providing a modern and sophisticated interface.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered a variety of powertrains, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Buyers could opt for a more powerful 2.0-liter turbo-four engine with 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, delivering a total of 200 hp. The Escape's towing capacity reached 3,500 pounds with the 2.0-liter engine, but the hybrid models lacked specific towing figures. Despite adequate power, the Escape's chassis tuning left much to be desired, with sloppy suspension and steering.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar shared its chassis with the Jaguar F-Pace, offering a lower center of gravity and lighter weight for improved handling. The base engine was a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 247 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. The Velar's optional air suspension provided a plush ride and could raise the body for additional clearance. The optional 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, available in two states of tune, offered up to 395 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque, delivering high performance with a mild-hybrid system. However, the Velar's off-road capabilities were limited compared to larger Range Rover models.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered competitive interior space for a compact SUV, with near-top segment headroom and legroom. Its sliding rear seat allowed for flexible legroom or cargo space, with up to 40.7 inches of rear legroom in non-hybrid models. Cargo space varied, with gasoline models offering up to 65.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, while hybrid models had slightly less due to battery placement. Despite its car-like styling, the Escape compared well against traditional compact SUVs in terms of interior space.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar, while stylish, sacrificed interior space for its design. It offered limited headroom and visibility, with only 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 49 cubic feet with seats folded. The Velar's design choices, such as the lack of a discrete parking brake control, were criticized for being impractical. However, the new Pivi Pro infotainment system improved the interface, making it faster and easier to use.

The 2021 Ford Escape featured the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with base models having a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Upgrading to higher trims provided an 8-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. While Sync 3 was user-friendly, the Escape lacked some standard tech features found in competitors and missed out on wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar's Pivi Pro infotainment system was surprisingly reliable, with a simplified layout and customizable features. It included voice activation, a PM2.5 air filter, and advanced navigation capabilities. The Velar also offered a 360-degree camera system and a 12-speaker Meridian stereo as standard, enhancing its technological appeal.

The 2021 Ford Escape received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests and high marks for front-crash prevention. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist, with additional options available in the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar lacked U.S. crash-test ratings but scored well in the European NCAP. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features like 360-degree cameras and adaptive cruise control with steering assist were available, though the Velar's safety ratings were not directly comparable to U.S. standards.