2021 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2021 Subaru Outback retained its familiar and comfortable design, reminiscent of previous models yet refreshed for modern tastes. Redesigned in 2020, its interior echoed the Subaru hallmark with analog gauges, familiar typefaces, and steering wheel designs with an added array of buttons. Its newer look was evident with the base trim’s twin 7-inch touchscreens, giving way to an 11.6-inch portrait display from the Premium trim onward. This display, set against polished black plastic with surrounding chrome trim and physical buttons, added a contemporary touch. Higher trims featured contrasting leatherette wraps and additional detailing, evoking a sense of luxury not seen in earlier Outback models. The window switches, dashboard padding, and surface materials reflected notable quality, especially in the Limited and Touring trims with two-tone leather upholstery creating a premium environment.

The exterior design was practical and understated, with high gray cladding on wheel arches, sills, and bumpers to protect against scratches, and a smooth, balanced silhouette. Chrome flourishes adorned the window trims and LED running lights, maintaining its appeal as a lifted wagon—a fact Subaru fans no longer openly admit. The minor changes for 2021 included a new Brilliant Bronze Metallic paint and standardization of adaptive LED headlights.

The 2021 Ford Escape straddled the line between an SUV and hatchback, resembling a larger Ford Focus with its curved snout and sleek roofline. Its tall ride height confirmed its SUV status while giving it a less truck-like appearance compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4. The Escape's more generic design contrasted with Hyundai Tucson’s and Kia Sportage’s bold styles.

For 2021, Ford introduced new appearance packages across three of its four trim levels: the SE Sport Appearance Package, SEL Stealth AWD Package, and Titanium Elite Package. These packages featured upgrades like 19-inch alloy wheels and a mix of ActiveX and leather materials.

Inside, the Escape’s design was less cohesive, with unusual choices like an angular instrument cluster that clashed with the exterior’s curviness. The materials used often felt subpar, with even the top-tier Titanium model missing standard leather upholstery. Available upgrades included ambient lighting and a suite of convenience features more commonly reserved for higher trims.

The Subaru Outback’s performance was a mixed bag. Powered by a 2.5-liter flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, the base model struggled with its hefty curb weight of 3,635 pounds, making highway merges and uphill battles noisy and sluggish. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) couldn’t mitigate the engine’s lack of punch, resulting in a frustratingly slow experience.

The real performance gem was the 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four available in the XT trims, churning out a robust 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque at a low 2,000 rpm. This option transformed the driving experience, making the Outback more competitive with its peers. Fuel economy for the turbo XT was 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, slightly lower than the base engine’s 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway but potentially more efficient under load.

Handling in the Outback leaned towards comfort with its long-travel springs and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, which excelled on rough terrain and offered a tranquil ride. Subaru’s all-wheel-drive system was proactive, ensuring better traction and control, and the X-Mode added specialized drive settings for challenging conditions, making the Outback a champion in off-road scenarios.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered a variety of powertrains. The base engine was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder producing 181 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in FWD and AWD. For more power, the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder delivered 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, exclusively with AWD and the eight-speed automatic.

In addition to gasoline engines, the Escape provided hybrid and plug-in hybrid options with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and electric assist for a combined 200 hp. The plug-in hybrid variant, featuring a larger battery, offered significant electric-only range.

Despite its lightweight three-cylinder motor, performance in the base powertrain felt adequate, and the hybrid transitions between electric and gas propulsion were smooth. However, the Escape suffered from lackluster suspension and steering, making it less engaging to drive.

Towing capacity peaked at 3,500 pounds with the 2.0-liter engine, and hybrid models could be combined with an optional Trailer Tow Package, though Ford did not specify their towing figures.

The Subaru Outback boasted impressive ground clearance, surpassing even that of larger vehicles like the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford F-150, enabling it to navigate off-road terrains competently without the bulk of a full-size SUV. The interior provided 76 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 33 cubic feet with them raised, offering a spacious and flat load area for versatile packing.

Passenger space was plentiful with generous headroom and legroom for all outboard seating positions. Visibility was excellent, due to thin pillars and abundant glass, ensuring a clear view in all directions. Storage options included large door pockets, handy center console pockets, and a small dash shelf, catering to everyday convenience.

However, some features like push-button start and rear climate vents were standard only on higher trims or optional on mid-level trims like the Premium. An innovative feature was the integrated roof rails with crossbars, which could be deployed easily, offering a smart and cost-effective solution for roof cargo.

The Ford Escape excelled in providing flexible interior space despite its compact, car-like appearance. Both front and rear rows offered ample headroom and legroom, with the standout feature being the sliding rear seat, which could be adjusted to maximize either passenger legroom or cargo space.

With the rear seat in default position, the Escape offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space in gasoline models and slightly less in hybrid versions due to the battery placement. Maximum cargo capacity reached 65.4 cubic feet when the rear seats were folded in gasoline models, and 60.8 cubic feet in hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, which was less than what competitors like the Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester offered.

Subaru’s infotainment system lagged behind in visual appeal, resembling older technology with outdated graphics and typefaces, though it included modern features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Stepping up from the base model to higher trims brought a more cohesive and useful single large 11.6-inch screen, which improved functionality despite some user interface quirks.

The EyeSight suite of driver assistance technologies included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking, providing competent semi-automated driving but dependent solely on camera sensors. Limitations became evident in conditions where the cameras’ views were obstructed.

The 2021 Escape utilized the slightly outdated Sync 3 system, with the base model featuring a modest 4.2-inch touchscreen. However, the technology package improved significantly in higher trims, with the SE offering an 8-inch touchscreen and the Titanium trim boasting a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a premium 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Standard features across trims included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, though Ford did not match competitor offerings by including wireless connectivity options or the latest Sync 4 system.

The 2021 Subaru Outback rode on a stronger, stiffer chassis with comprehensive standard safety features including a driver’s knee airbag and passenger seat-cushion airbag. Advanced driver aids like blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and rear emergency braking were available on higher trims.

The Outback earned high praise from the IIHS as a 2020 "Top Safety Pick+," excelling in all crash tests and winning top marks for its effective forward emergency braking system and acceptable headlight performance. It also received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, despite four-star ratings for the front passenger and rollover tests.

The Ford Escape was recognized with a "Top Safety Pick" rating by the IIHS, scoring well in crash tests and for child-seat anchor ease of use. The model also consistently performed in frontal and side crash tests with the NHTSA, achieving an overall five-star rating but earned a four-star rating for rollover testing.

Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite came standard and included essential safety features like automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added further conveniences such as adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and Evasive Steering Assist.