2023 Ford Escape vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2023 Ford Escape showcased a modern crossover design that leaned towards a more European aesthetic, moving away from the rugged, boxy look of its predecessors. The refresh in 2023 introduced a more traditional front end with a centered Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar, replacing the previous grille design. The ST-Line Elite trim, which was tested, featured 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps, giving it an upscale appearance akin to a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the Escape boasted diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it 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 Toyota Grand Highlander, built on the TNGA-K platform, was a true crossover with a spacious interior, thanks to its 201.4-inch length and 116.1-inch wheelbase. Its design was more conservative and blockier, drawing inspiration from rugged vehicles like the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with the latter offering real leather upholstery. The interior featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat and standard heated front seats, with additional ventilation and a heated steering wheel in higher trims. The Grand Highlander excelled as a road-trip vehicle, with a well-built interior and ample space for passengers and cargo.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine was available with both FWD and 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 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. While the Escape's suspension was soft and compliant, making it comfortable for daily 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 seen in some competitors.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options: a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid with 245 combined net horsepower, and the Hybrid Max powertrain with 362 combined net horsepower and 400 combined net lb-ft of torque. The Hybrid Max, available only with AWD, delivered impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander’s size made it less maneuverable than its smaller sibling, the Highlander, but it offered solid brakes and adequate acceleration. Toyota provided three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—along with additional off-road modes for AWD models.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided a comfortable driving experience with supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. However, it fell short in cargo space, offering 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the second row folded, which was less than some competitors. Rear-seat legroom was also slightly less than rivals, though headroom was impressive, and the front-seat backs were designed to maximize space for rear passengers.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than most of its rivals, with a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet. It offered 57.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 20.6 cubic feet with all three rows up. The spacious interior provided ample head, leg, and shoulder room in every row, making it comfortable for adults, even in the third row. The Grand Highlander’s design ensured good outward visibility and a comfortable ride for all passengers.

The 2023 Ford Escape featured the Sync 4 infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims. The system was well-organized, with easy navigation between applications like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. However, the system was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient. Despite these minor issues, the tech features were impressive and user-friendly.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a significant improvement over previous Toyota interfaces. An intelligent assistant and cloud-based navigation were available through a connected-services subscription. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo, providing a balanced audio experience. Toyota’s tech offerings had improved significantly, though buyers were encouraged to review subscription options carefully.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side-crash tests. However, the IIHS did not award it a Top Safety Pick designation 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, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. However, it came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, and adaptive cruise control. The updated lane-departure alert could identify three-dimensional objects, reducing false warnings. The adaptive cruise control offered four following-distance settings, enhancing safety and convenience.