2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load and unload children, even in tight parking spaces. The Odyssey also offered a comfortable third-row seat, ample cargo space, and a stylish exterior, especially in the Elite trim with its dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels. The interior was spacious and well-designed, with quality materials and a user-friendly layout, although the switchgear placement initially seemed haphazard.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape embraced a more European design language, moving away from the rugged, boxy aesthetic of its predecessors. The refreshed front end featured a traditional grille with the Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. The ST-Line Elite trim we tested sported 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Escape offered diamond-stitched leather upholstery, although it felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat made long drives pleasant. However, the interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt cheap and poorly reinforced.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It was a front-wheel-drive minivan with an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. While it lacked the hybrid options of its competitors, the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, offering quick acceleration, responsive handling, and remarkable composure on various road types. However, its brakes tended to overheat and produce pedal vibration during extended downhill driving.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options. The base engine was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Higher trims, like the ST-Line Elite, featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively paired with all-wheel drive. While the Escape’s suspension was soft and compliant, making it comfortable on rough roads, it lacked the performance tuning of a genuine performance crossover. The brakes were predictable and linear, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness common in some competitors.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey excelled in interior space and functionality. Its low step-in height and wide-opening doors made entry and exit easy. The Elite trim featured quality leather seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, along with a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible seating arrangements, and the third-row seat was 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 2023 Ford Escape offered comfortable and supportive seats with excellent ergonomics. The front-door armrests were well-positioned, and the head-up display was easy to adjust. However, the Escape fell short in cargo space, with 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. While it was adequate for daily use, it might feel cramped during larger moves. Rear-seat legroom was slightly less than some competitors, but headroom was good, and the front-seat backs were padded to maximize space for tall passengers.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was packed with technology, but its infotainment system was starting to show its age. The EX trim and above featured an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring and Elite trims added navigation, WiFi hotspot access, CabinWatch, and CabinTalk. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch display with media inputs and a “How Much Farther?” app. However, the system felt outdated, and the 8-inch touchscreen was small by modern standards.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 technology. Lower trims had an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims, like the ST-Line Elite, featured a 13.2-inch screen. Sync 4 was well-organized, with easy navigation between applications and a static “Home” button for quick access. The native navigation system was visually appealing and user-friendly. However, the system could be slow to respond, and the volume knob placement was inconvenient. Despite these minor issues, Sync 4’s feature set and layout were impressive.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, the safety systems could be overly sensitive and abrupt. The Odyssey earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Ford Escape also came with a comprehensive suite of ADAS, branded Co-Pilot360. This included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and lane-centering technology. The Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but did not earn a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS due to a Marginal score in the side-impact test.