2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was characterized by its modernist and reductive design, which translated to a clean and simple aesthetic. This approach might not have appealed to those seeking a flashy luxury SUV, as Land Rover offered limited options for making the Range Rover Sport stand out, such as a Firenze Red paint color and diamond-turned 23-inch wheels. The test vehicle, finished in Eiger Gray with silver wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, exuded understated luxury. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme with aluminum and shiny black trim added to the sophisticated ambiance. The Range Rover Sport was available in SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e specifications, with the SE Dynamic P400 test vehicle priced at $98,420, including destination charges. Notable design features included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology in the taillights, contributing to its aerodynamic efficiency with a drag coefficient of 0.29. The interior boasted a high-tech appearance with sustainable Ultrafabrics and Windsor leather upholstery, offering a luxurious and fragrant cabin experience.

The 2023 Ford Escape embraced a more European design language, moving away from the rugged, boxy aesthetic of its predecessors. The refreshed model featured a traditional front end with a Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. Available in various trims, including Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite, the Escape offered a sleek design with 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps. The ST-Line Elite test vehicle's interior showcased diamond-stitched leather upholstery, which, while visually appealing, felt hard and plasticky. Despite this, the seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat allowed for easy customization. The Escape's interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced. However, the center console had a nice textured appearance, and the overall design was more upscale than many competitors, akin to a Mazda CX-5.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement and comfort with driver-focused engagement. It featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque in the SE Dynamic model. The SE P360 offered 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography P440e, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft with an estimated 51 miles of electric range. Early-build models included a 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine, but it was temporarily unavailable. The Range Rover Sport's 395-hp inline-six provided ample power, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds, with a towing capacity of 7,716 pounds. It offered a combined fuel economy of 21 mpg, with real-world figures reaching 22.3 mpg. The SUV's architecture increased torsional stiffness by 35%, and its adaptive damping air suspension enhanced ride comfort and handling. However, it struggled to match sport-tuned SUVs from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz on twisty roads. Off-road, the Range Rover Sport excelled with features like Terrain Response, All Terrain Progress Control, and impressive ground clearance.

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 was available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). Higher trims, such as the ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite, featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. While the four-cylinder provided better acceleration and passing power, the Escape was not a performance crossover. Its suspension remained soft and compliant, and the transmission lacked performance tuning. The brakes offered predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding twitchy inputs common in the segment. The Escape's soft suspension was beneficial on rough roads, providing a comfortable ride.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport retained its Command Driving Position, offering a tall and airy feel with a low dashboard and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, and the front seats were comfortable with 20-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The rear seat, while improved, remained tight for taller passengers, with hard front seatback panels and narrow door openings. The back seat provided good support but had a reclined angle. The cargo area offered 31.9 cubic feet of space, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Storage options included a deep bin under the center armrest and a handy contraption to secure smaller items in the cargo hold.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided comfortable seating with excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel felt great to hold, and the armrests were well-positioned. The test vehicle featured a head-up display, easily adjustable for different drivers. The Escape's cargo space, at 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, was competitive but fell short of segment leaders like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Rear-seat legroom was slightly less than some competitors, but headroom was impressive, and the front-seat backs were padded to maximize space for rear passengers.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment system was often confusing and frustrating to use. The native digital assistant struggled with basic commands, and the system's functionality was inconsistent. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems and a next-generation Active Noise Cancellation system. A wireless smartphone charging pad was included but challenging to access.

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 was well-organized, with easy navigation between applications. Sync 4 was intuitive, with a static "Home" button for quick access. While the system was occasionally slow to respond, its overall feature set and layout were impressive. The volume knob's placement was a minor inconvenience, but the system's ease of use outweighed this issue.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came equipped with advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, and a surround-view camera system. Remote Park Assist was available, allowing the SUV to park itself via a smartphone app. The adaptive cruise control and steering assist were less refined, with slow responses and challenges on freeway curves.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with high scores in frontal and side-crash tests. However, it received a Marginal score in the IIHS side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and lane-centering technology, along with a surround-view camera.