2021 Land Rover Range Rover vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover had evolved significantly from its rugged origins, transforming into a symbol of luxury and sophistication. Initially designed as a utilitarian vehicle, it quickly moved upscale, especially with the introduction of a four-door version. By 2021, the Range Rover's starting price was $92,000, with the potential to exceed $250,000 with various upgrades and personalization options. Despite its age, the Range Rover maintained a timeless design, with hallmark features like blacked-out windshield pillars and clean styling. Inside, it exuded luxury with its high-contrast Ivory-color interior and mid-century modern ambiance, although its infotainment system was not as advanced as newer models.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Escape presented a more modern, car-like appearance, straddling the line between SUV and hatchback. Its sleek design was less truck-like than some competitors, offering a more generic look compared to others in its class. The Escape introduced new appearance packages for 2021, enhancing its visual appeal with options like 19-inch alloy wheels and leather-wrapped steering wheels. However, the interior design lacked cohesion, with some materials feeling low-rent. Despite this, the Escape offered a spacious cabin with a sliding rear seat for added flexibility, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover offered a variety of powertrain options, including turbodiesel V6, supercharged V8, mild-hybrid, and plug-in hybrid choices. The HSE Westminster special edition featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged inline-six engine, delivering 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. It came with a flawless eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive, ensuring its legendary off-road capabilities. The Range Rover provided a commanding driving experience with its adaptive air suspension and near-total cabin silence. However, its steering response was relatively slow, and its weight and tall center of gravity affected handling on winding roads. The EPA estimated its fuel economy at 20 mpg combined, but real-world testing showed an average of 18.5 mpg.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered two gasoline powertrains, along with hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. 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. An upgrade to the 2.0-liter turbo-four increased output to 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, providing a total of 200 hp. The Escape's driving experience was marred by sloppy suspension and steering, making it less enjoyable to drive. However, it offered a Class 2 Trailer Tow Package for increased towing capacity, with a maximum of 3,500 pounds for the 2.0-liter engine.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover featured an air suspension with a kneel mode for easier access, though shorter passengers still found entry challenging. The front seats were decadently comfortable, wrapped in quality leather, but the second row lacked thigh support and adjustability, resulting in an uncomfortable seating position. Storage space was limited, with dual glove compartments compensating for a small center-console bin. Luggage volume was also restricted, with a maximum of 59.8 cubic feet of cargo space. A button in the cargo area activated the suspension kneel function for easier loading.

The 2021 Ford Escape, despite its car-like styling, offered competitive interior space compared to traditional compact SUVs. It provided ample headroom and legroom, with a standard sliding rear seat for added flexibility. The gasoline Escape had 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up, expandable to 65.4 cubic feet with the seat folded. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had slightly less space due to battery placement. While the Escape's cargo capacity was less than some competitors, it remained a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover featured a fully digital instrumentation and infotainment system with three displays. The InControl Touch Pro Duo system, while not entirely intuitive, offered numerous features and functions. However, using the touchscreens while driving was distracting, and the head-up display was not visible with polarized sunglasses. The Range Rover included a waterproof Activity Key wristband and an iGuide smartphone app for added convenience.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with a 4.2-inch touchscreen on base models. Upgrading to higher trims provided an 8-inch touchscreen, SiriusXM satellite radio, 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 2021 Land Rover Range Rover came with standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance. Optional packages added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera. The HSE Westminster Edition included several safety packages, though the adaptive cruise control was slow to respond in certain situations.

The 2021 Ford Escape received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and forward collision warning. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and park assist.