2024 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Ford Escape showcased a departure from its earlier, more rugged design, embracing a European aesthetic with a refreshed front end featuring a traditional grille and LED light bar. The ST-Line Elite trim we tested sported 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps, giving it an upscale look akin to a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the diamond-stitched leather upholstery looked premium but felt hard and plasticky, though the seats were comfortable for long drives. The interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt cheap and poorly reinforced.

In contrast, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek retained much of its predecessor's look but introduced new sheet metal, a new chassis, and fresh colors like Sun Blaze and Sapphire Blue. The Wilderness trim added unique features like a hexagonal front grille and increased ground clearance. Inside, the Crosstrek Wilderness featured StarTex synthetic leather, all-weather floor mats, and a ladder-style roof rack. The interior dimensions remained largely unchanged, offering good rear-seat legroom and headroom, though cargo space was slightly reduced.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine could be configured with either FWD or AWD. Higher trims like the ST-Line Elite featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively available with AWD. Despite its power, the Escape's suspension remained soft, and the transmission lacked performance tuning, making it less sporty than some competitors.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek came with two engine options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder engine delivering 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a CVT, with the Wilderness trim featuring a shorter final-drive ratio for better off-road performance and increased towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The Crosstrek's CVT was well-tuned, offering simulated shift points and minimal droning. The X-Mode traction management system and standard AWD enhanced its off-road capabilities.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided a comfortable driving experience with supportive seats and 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, offering 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, lagging behind competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Rear-seat legroom was also slightly less than many rivals, though headroom was ample.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, built on the Impreza platform, offered competitive cargo space for a subcompact SUV. It provided 19.9 cubic feet of trunk space and 54.7 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. The interior was designed with practicality in mind, featuring robust, easy-to-clean materials and ample cupholders, including ones that fit 32-ounce Nalgene bottles. The Wilderness trim added adventure-oriented features like Nalgene cupholders in the trunk and all-weather floor mats.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims like the ST-Line Elite. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look and offered intuitive navigation, music, and Bluetooth pairing. However, the system was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek featured an 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen, standard on all but the Base trim. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a wireless charging pad available on higher trims. While the display was bright and crisp, it suffered from glare in bright sunlight and required navigating through multiple menus for some features. In states with Right to Repair laws, Subaru removed certain features rather than modify the system.

The 2023 Ford Escape earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side-crash tests. However, it received a Marginal score in the IIHS' updated side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite of ADAS, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek was expected to maintain its Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. Subaru's EyeSight safety system, standard on all trims, included automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The 2024 model featured a wider-angle lens for better road visibility and automatic emergency steering on models with blind-spot monitoring.