2023 Ford Escape vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Ford Escape showcased a departure from its earlier rugged, boxy design, embracing a more European aesthetic. This model received a refresh that replaced its previous grille with a more traditional front end, featuring the Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. The ST-Line Elite trim, which we tested, boasted 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps, giving it an upscale appearance akin to a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the Escape's diamond-stitched leather upholstery looked appealing but felt somewhat hard and plasticky. Despite this, the seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power adjustable driver's seat allowed for easy customization. However, the interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced.

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its familiar design, with the Wilderness trim receiving a new front fascia and LED fog lights. Our Touring XT tester sported an attractive Autumn Green Metallic color, complemented by tasteful chrome accents. The Outback's interior impressed with its Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, offering a level of luxury unexpected from Subaru. The various trims featured different seating materials, with the Limited offering standard leather and the Onyx Edition and Wilderness using StarTex synthetic leather. The Outback's interior was both handsome and functional, providing a comfortable and capable driving experience.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque. This engine could be paired with either FWD or AWD. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, exclusively with AWD. While the Escape's suspension was soft and compliant, making it comfortable for everyday driving, it lacked the performance tuning of a genuine performance crossover. The brakes provided predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness found in some competitors.

The 2024 Subaru Outback was powered by a "Boxer" engine, with the base model featuring a 2.5-liter flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, were equipped with a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer engine, generating 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This engine increased the towing capacity to 3,500 lbs. The Outback's CVT mimicked the feel of an eight-speed transmission, and the steering was adequate for a comfortable ride. The Outback's suspension and ground clearance made it suitable for off-road adventures, especially in the Wilderness trim with its all-terrain tires and advanced X-Mode.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided a comfortable interior with supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The head-up display was easy to adjust, and the armrests were well-positioned. 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. Passenger space was also slightly less than some competitors, though the back seat's headroom was impressive.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered generous interior space, with more headroom and legroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The cargo area measured 32.6 cubic feet with all seats in place and 75.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Outback featured a range of standard and optional features, including dual-zone climate control, heated seats, and a hands-free power liftgate. The heated steering wheel and power moonroof added to the Outback's appeal, making it a practical choice for those in colder climates.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 technology, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look and offered easy navigation between applications like Apple CarPlay and Sirius XM. While Sync 4 was intuitive, it was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient.

The 2024 Subaru Outback featured an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen on higher trims, with the base trim retaining dual 7-inch screens. The Subaru Starlink platform, though dated in appearance, offered standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with hard buttons for essential functions. Most trims included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, providing a rich sound experience.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but did not earn a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS due to a Marginal score in the side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including features like forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The Outback's EyeSight suite included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. Blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking were standard on higher trims. The Touring trim added a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor for enhanced safety.