2024 Subaru Ascent vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Ford Escape marked a significant departure from its predecessors' blocky exterior, adopting a more European and sleek design language. The latest refresh introduced a traditional front end, enhanced by the Ford blue oval logo centered beneath a stylish LED light bar. Despite its modern makeover, the Escape didn't entirely abandon its rugged roots, offering various trim levels including Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite. Our evaluated top-tier ST-Line Elite trim boasted 19-inch wheels, body-color mirror caps, and wheel-arch cladding, which contributed to an upscale appearance reminiscent of a Mazda CX-5.

Inside, the ST-Line Elite featured diamond-stitched leather upholstery, which although visually appealing, felt somewhat hard and plasticky. The seats were, however, very comfortable, with adjustable features making long drives manageable. The interior was dominated by plastic, especially in the center console, which, while textured nicely, still felt cost-cutting. Yet, the Escape’s layout ensured it remained functional and ready to endure heavy usage.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent, however, struggled with styling consistency. Its latest refresh introduced gaudy elements like tusks and a speared grille design. Despite these changes, the Ascent lineup remained unchanged with trims ranging from Base to Touring. Our tested Touring trim came equipped with features like a panoramic sunroof, premium Nappa leather upholstery, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

The Ascent's interior, although comfortable and functional, lacked the sophistication of modern design, giving off a modular feeling as if assembled with Lego-like pieces. Practicality was a standout feature, with thoughtful touches like a dashboard shelf, large cupholders, and backpack pegs on the back of the seats. Touring’s premium Nappa leather, despite its appeal, was overshadowed by a lack of height adjustment for the passenger seat. The rear doors’ design eased child loading and cargo management, though rear legroom felt tight compared to rivals. The third-row, while functional for kids, offered limited comfort for adults.

The 2023 Ford Escape aimed to distinguish itself with varied powertrain options, excluding hybrid models from this comparison. Entry-level trims featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, delivering 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque via an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine supported both FWD and AWD, presenting competitive specifications within the segment.

Higher trims like the ST-Line Select and Elite boasted a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that offered a robust 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired exclusively with AWD. This setup managed high-speed acceleration and overtaking competently, though it was never perceived as a performance crossover. Its soft suspension favored comfort over sportiness, and the absence of manual shift controls limited driver engagement. Nevertheless, the Escape impressed with its linear braking and well-weighted steering, essential for maneuvering through urban traffic and New England’s uneven streets.

Conversely, the 2024 Subaru Ascent featured a standard turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine across all trims, generating 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 pound-feet of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. This engine, coupled with a CVT, powered Subaru’s renowned AWD system with active torque vectoring. Subaru claimed towing capacities of up to 5,000 pounds for most trims, dipping to 2,000 pounds for the Base trim.

The Ascent excelled in diverse driving environments, conquering urban speed bumps, rutted terrains, and gravel roads effortlessly. It performed admirably in off-road conditions, though it was less agile through twisty mountain roads due to its substantial curb weight and soft suspension. While the CVT mimicked conventional automatic transmission effectively, fuel efficiency suffered with 20-inch wheels, resulting in lower than expected mileage during testing.

The 2023 Ford Escape garnered praise for its ergonomic interior layout and comfortable seating. Its steering wheel, although plain, felt good to hold, and armrests were ideally positioned for comfort. The head-up display and well-placed cupholders added to the vehicle’s convenience. However, cargo and passenger spaces were areas of concern. Offering up to 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with seats folded, it lagged behind competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Rear legroom was also slightly cramped, but headroom was commendable, with front-seat backs designed to maximize rear space for taller passengers.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent emphasized functional utility with features like easily accessible dashboard shelves, large cupholders, and practical backpack pegs. Touring trim enhanced the comfort with premium Nappa leather seats, despite a lack of height adjustment for the front passenger seat. Wide-opening rear doors facilitated child loading and cargo management, but rear legroom was relatively tight. The third-row seats provided acceptable comfort for short trips, with additional storage options in the cargo area. The Ascent's cargo capacity outperformed the Escape, offering up to 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, maximizing to 75.6 cubic feet with both rows down.

The 2023 Ford Escape excelled with its Sync 4 infotainment system. Lower trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims included a 13.2-inch screen that significantly uplifted the interior's aesthetic. Sync 4’s user interface was logical, with sections for navigation, music, and connectivity options. It facilitated easy transitions between Android Auto and the native navigation system, resembling Google Maps. Although a tad slow and the volume knob's placement inconvenient, Sync 4 provided an overall pleasant technological experience.

Subaru’s 2024 Ascent integrated the latest Starlink infotainment system featuring an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented screen. Standard features included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM radio. Higher trims benefited from additional connected services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and a premium Harman Kardon sound system. Despite these features, screen readability in sunlight posed a problem, and the native voice-recognition system was subpar. Nonetheless, Subaru included physical controls for essential functions and advanced options like Cabin Connect for clearer driver-passenger communication.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four stars in the rollover test. However, it missed the mark with the IIHS, lacking a Top Safety Pick designation due to a Marginal score in the side-impact test. Standard across all models was the Co-Pilot360 suite that included forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Advanced features like adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera were available with the Co-Pilot360 2.0 upgrade.

Subaru's 2024 Ascent earned high safety marks with the NHTSA and secured a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. Standard safety equipment included the EyeSight package, covering forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and more. Advanced options on higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, and driver monitoring systems. Though EyeSight's lane-centering assist showed inconsistencies, Subaru’s commitment to safety remained evident.