2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2023 Ford Escape

Volkswagen made subtle styling changes to the 2023 ID.4, including gloss black trim on the front bumper and a more squared-off rear bumper design aimed at improving aerodynamics. New wheel designs and colors were introduced, and the rear VW logo now lights up. Despite these updates, the ID.4 didn't look particularly SUV-like, lacking the upright profile and added ground clearance typical of traditional SUVs. This could be a drawback for buyers attracted to those features, although it's a common issue among many current electric vehicles.

The ID.4 was built on VW’s MEB platform, designed specifically for EVs with modularity to support various models. The interior carried over the best qualities from recent VW gasoline-car interiors, featuring a minimalist design and an overall feeling of quality. Even the base ID.4 Standard model, aside from a manual driver’s seat, didn’t seem like much of a downgrade from the higher-level ID.4 Pro S. Leatherette upholstery with seat and door-panel inserts made partly from recycled fibers were standard for 2023.

Ford shifted the Escape's design away from the rugged, boxy aesthetic of its earlier generations to a more European design language starting with the third generation. The 2023 refresh replaced the cartoonish grille with a more traditional front end, featuring the Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. Shoppers could choose from various trim levels, including Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite. The top-trim ST-Line Elite we tested wore 19-inch wheels and sported body-color mirror caps and wheel-arch cladding, giving it a sleek, upscale look.

Inside, the ST-Line Elite flaunted diamond-stitched leather upholstery that looked good but felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable and softly padded, making the Escape a good car for long drives. The 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat was easy to adjust for a preferred position. However, the interior featured a lot of plastic, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced, giving an impression of cost-cutting.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered two battery pack options: a new 62-kWh pack for the base Standard and S models with RWD, and an 82-kWh pack for the Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus models available with RWD or AWD. Single-motor RWD models were rated at 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while dual-motor AWD models upped the output to 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 240 pounds, improving acceleration and handling.

The ID.4's AWD version had acceleration comparable to hot hatchbacks like VW’s Golf GTI and Golf R, but it lacked the handling precision. While comfortable and refined, the ID.4 allowed too much body roll to be truly entertaining on twisty roads. It was excellent for long drives, but not for taking advantage of the nicest driving roads. The regenerative braking system didn’t support one-pedal driving, which might disappoint some EV fans but provided a more familiar experience for first-time EV drivers.

The 2023 Ford Escape differentiated itself with multiple powertrain options. The base engine was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder delivering 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in FWD or AWD. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. This engine made the Escape more comfortable in high-speed passing and merging situations.

Despite the four-cylinder’s impressive output, the Escape didn’t feel like a performance crossover. The suspension remained soft and compliant, and the transmission lacked performance tuning. The Escape’s brakes offered predictable and linear stopping power, and the soft suspension was beneficial on rough roads. The steering inputs were well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness common in over-boosted electric steering systems in other compact crossovers.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more interior space than other affordable EVs, with more front-seat and rear-seat legroom than a Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf, and more headroom than the 2023 Kia Niro EV. It provided 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, surpassing most other entry-level EVs. However, it fell short compared to gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The ID.4 also had a towing capacity of 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD models.

VW made small interior changes for 2023, including a conventional lid for the center console, a better spot for a phone, and three-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats.

The 2023 Ford Escape was comfortable, with soft and supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel felt great to hold, and the front-door armrests were well-positioned. The front-seat cupholders were conveniently arranged, and the head-up display was easy to adjust. The Escape offered up to 37.5 cubic feet of storage behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the second row folded, close in size to the Chevrolet Equinox and Mazda CX-5 but falling short of the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Rogue, and Toyota RAV4.

Passenger space was slightly less than many competitors, but the back seat’s headroom was impressive, and the front-seat backs were softly padded and deeply scalloped, maximizing space for tall passengers in the back.

For 2023, the Volkswagen ID.4 came standard with a 12.0-inch touchscreen, replacing the 10.0-inch screen on lower trims. The infotainment system received software updates for improved responsiveness, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard. The ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster was also standard. Despite the updates, the user experience remained the same, with sharp graphics and natural-language voice recognition.

The downside was the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel, which lacked physical feedback and were distracting. However, the voice recognition system made it easier to use. The ID.Light feature, part ambient lighting system and part AI assistant, changed color depending on the drive mode and flashed to indicate navigation directions.

The 2023 Ford Escape featured Sync 4, with lower trims equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen and higher trims with a 13.2-inch screen. Sync 4 was well-organized, with individual tiles for navigation, music, and Bluetooth pairing. The larger screen upgraded the cabin’s look and was easy to navigate. However, Sync 4 was a bit slow to respond, and the volume knob was inconveniently placed.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. The 2022 model received the IIHS’ highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating, with top scores in all crash tests except for an “Average” score for the standard headlights. The ID.4 came with standard driver-assist features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear park distance control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and VW’s Travel Assist 2.0. For 2023, it added standard Park Assist Plus, an automated lane-change feature, and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in the rollover test. However, it did not receive a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS, scoring Marginal in the updated side-impact test. The Escape came with Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, lane-centering technology, and a surround-view camera view.