Ford Escape vs Jeep Renegade

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015 and refreshed in 2019, continued to carry over its rugged design inspired by the iconic Wrangler SUV. It featured a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. Inside, the Renegade boasted a modern, functional cabin with an upright center stack, offering trims like Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk. Each trim provided a unique set of features, from push-button start and dual-zone climate control in the Sport to leather upholstery and heated front seats in the Limited.

The 2021 Ford Escape, a fourth-generation model, straddled the line between SUV and hatchback with its curved snout and sleek roofline. It offered a less truck-like look compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. For 2021, the Escape introduced new appearance packages for its SE, SEL, and Titanium trims, adding features like 19-inch alloy wheels and leather-wrapped steering wheels. However, the interior design choices were less cohesive, with some materials feeling low-rent, even in the top Titanium trim.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came with two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder producing 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder with 177 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). While neither engine was particularly spirited, the turbocharged option provided better torque and refinement. The Renegade offered a solid ride quality, good maneuverability, and impressive off-road capabilities, especially in the Trailhawk trim with its 8.7 inches of ground clearance and terrain management system.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered a variety of powertrains, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 2.0-liter turbo-four with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and AWD optional. The Escape also offered hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, both using a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, producing a total of 200 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid could drive significant distances on electric power alone. However, the Escape's chassis tuning left much to be desired, with sloppy suspension and steering making it less enjoyable to drive.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade provided 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the seats in use. Its tall, boxy design offered plenty of headroom in both rows, with great legroom in the front seats and adequate space for adults in the rear. The Renegade featured helpful storage solutions, including small cubbies and trays, and the front passenger seat could fold completely forward for added space.

The 2021 Ford Escape, despite its car-like styling, offered competitive interior space. It featured a standard sliding rear seat that could be moved to expand legroom or cargo space. With the rear seat in its default position, the gasoline Escape provided 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 37.5 cubic feet by sliding the seat forward. Folding the rear seat yielded 65.4 cubic feet of cargo space. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had slightly less space due to the battery pack. While the Escape's cargo space was less than some competitors, it offered ample headroom and legroom in both rows.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on higher trims. Both screens included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Kenwood premium audio system was also available.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with a base 4.2-inch touchscreen on the Escape S. Upgrading to the SE trim added an 8-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Titanium trim featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. While Sync 3 was user-friendly, the Escape lacked some standard tech features and missed out on the wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available with Sync 4.

For 2021, the Jeep Renegade made previously optional safety features standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and parking sensors were optional. Despite these features, the Renegade received a four-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2021 Ford Escape earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and Evasive Steering Assist.