Ford Escape vs Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar embodied a “reductive” design philosophy, streamlining its exterior and interior aesthetics to create a stylish and modern SUV. Introduced with this ethos in 2018, the Velar's 2024 tweaks further enhanced this minimalist appeal. The exterior boasted a new grille, revised head and taillights, fresh wheel choices, and updated details, including a new rear bumper that emphasized the SUV’s width and hinted at a broader, grounded stance.

Inside, a significant change was the introduction of a larger 11.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system that floated impressively in front of the dashboard. The removal of traditional climate control dials and the stereo volume knob in favor of touchscreen controls signified a leap toward minimalist design, though not without criticism. This modern approach appealed visually but omitted the intuitive nature of physical controls, which many found cumbersome, especially given the reliance on an active connected services subscription or an Amazon account to utilize the natural voice recognition system.

The 2024 Velar offered an option for Kvadrat wool blend animal-free seat upholstery and included the Cabin Air Purification Plus system with carbon dioxide monitoring for enhanced cabin comfort. However, our test model, a Dynamic SE trim, omitted these features, highlighting a focus on luxury with leather-wrapped 14-way power-adjustable seats, heated front and rear seats, and a Cold Climate Pack.

The MSRP for this variant reached $80,533, inclusive of a $1,275 destination charge. Despite a few signs of substandard quality within the cabin, particularly the problematic driver’s floor mat, the Velar’s interior mostly exuded high-class sophistication.

In contrast, Ford significantly refreshed the 2024 Escape’s look, especially the front end, with updates carried over from 2023, making it more appealing by adopting a more aggressive appearance. Available in trims ranging from Active to Plug-in Hybrid, prices spanned from $29,345 to $40,500, excluding a $1,495 destination charge.

Our test vehicle, the ST-Line Elite trim, decked out in extra-cost Rapid Red paint and black 19-inch wheels, rang up at $43,650, destination included. The interior of this high-end Escape appeared upscale at first glance, featuring diamond-stitched, perforated leather and a Premium Technology Package. However, the excessively glossy surfaces and uncomfortably stiff upholstery quickly dimmed its appeal, raising questions about the vehicle’s pricing strategy.

Overall, the Velar spotlighted luxury and a modern minimalist approach, while the Escape prioritized a sporty look paired with mixed interior comfort and material quality.

The 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar demonstrated robust performance credentials. Our test model’s turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, featuring a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, produced an impressive 394 horsepower between 5,500 rpm and 6,500 rpm, and 406 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 rpm and 5,000 rpm, earning it the P400 designation. This engine upgrade delivered an exhilarating experience, propelling the Velar to 60 mph nearly two seconds faster than the base model.

With an EPA fuel economy rating of 21 mpg combined and averaging 19.5 mpg during our testing, the slight efficiency dip compared to the 23 mpg rating of the less powerful 247-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder P250 seemed justifiable for the exceptional performance boost. The eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel-drive system ensured smooth power distribution across all wheels, enhancing both on-road dynamics and off-road capability.

Ground clearance was a notable aspect, with 8.4 inches standard and up to 9.9 inches with optional air suspension, assisting with a water fording capability that maxed out at 22.8 inches. Additionally, the Velar’s Terrain Response system offered a variety of driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, and Dynamic for pavement, and Grass-Gravel-Snow, Mud-Ruts, and Sand for off-road scenarios. On mountain roads, the Velar’s Dynamic mode shined, providing a nimble and athletic drive, a stark contrast to its cushy highway Comfort mode setting.

The 2024 Ford Escape ST-Line Elite offered a different but compelling performance profile. Buyers had the choice between a 192-horsepower hybrid powertrain with a commendable 39 mpg in combined driving or the more potent 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine delivering 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Our test model featured the turbo engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, providing quick acceleration.

The Escape’s AWD system included a driveline disconnect feature, promoting fuel efficiency and selectable driving modes (Eco, Normal, Sport, Slippery). However, it lacked an Off-Road mode, limiting its rugged terrain performance. The 2.0-liter turbo ensured the Escape could tow up to 3,500 pounds, though the sporty ST-Line badge was more an aesthetic addition than a true performance enhancer.

While the Escape showcased nimble handling in typical driving scenarios, the soft suspension allowed for unwanted body motion, and the steering felt slow and disconnected. The turbo engine felt underutilized in this setup, prompting consideration of alternative trims or powertrains for a more balanced performance.

Approaching the Velar, flush-mounted door handles extended automatically, adding to the SUV’s streamlined look. However, this design had a downside; the upper corners could pose a risk if you leaned in while opening the door. Entry for taller individuals was challenging due to the angled windshield pillars and narrow opening, but once inside, the comfort of the new-for-2024 seat cushions and luxury 14-way power-adjustable front seats compensated well.

The Velar’s interior, particularly in our Cloud over Ebony theme, generally radiated quality, marred only by cheap-looking plastic on lower door panels and a problematic driver’s floor mat. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed ample comfort with excellent lumbar support, impressive legroom, and an expansive panoramic glass sunroof extending overhead, though the absence of side window sunshades was a puzzling omission.

Cargo capacity in the Velar was practical, offering 30.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and expanding to 62.7 cubic feet with the 40/20/40-split folding rear seat down. Storage in the cabin was decent, though some compartments, like the door panel bins, had design flaws that could make retrieving items difficult.

In comparison, the Escape ST-Line’s interior was limited to a black color scheme with red stitching accentuating its sporty intent. The mix of cloth inserts with simulated leather bolsters fell short of comfort expectations, particularly in the optional diamond-stitched leather seats, which felt stiff and dry.

Our test model included a host of amenities like ambient lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, and power-adjustable heated front seats, though the lack of ventilated seats became apparent during hotter conditions. The generous front seating comfort extended to the rear, where sliding seats added to passenger convenience, though rear storage was less accommodating.

The Escape offered more cargo space than the Velar, with 37.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats (34.4 for the hybrid) and 65.4 cubic feet with the seats folded (60.8 for the hybrid). Side cargo storage areas and practical hooks for grocery bags added to its utility.

For 2024, the Velar featured the upgraded Pivi Pro infotainment system, centered around an 11.4-inch touchscreen display. This system integrated over-the-air updates, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and a refined user interface. However, the added complexity of consolidating climate, volume, and window defrost/defog controls into the touchscreen made it less intuitive than before. Despite Land Rover’s claim that 80 percent of tasks could be accomplished within two taps, the small shortcut icons and lack of physical controls posed significant driver distraction risks.

Amazon Alexa availability and a cloud-based assistant required either an active connected services subscription or personal Amazon account, adding a layer of inconvenience. Nevertheless, the system ran wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto efficiently, providing alternative user-friendly interfaces. Additional tech included a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, optional Meridian high-fidelity sound system, and HUD, though the lack of a surround-view camera was notable.

In contrast, Ford’s 13.2-inch Sync 4 infotainment system in the Escape ST-Line Elite offered a preferable landscape format and intuitive organization. Despite some washed-out color themes and thin fonts making quick reference difficult, the integrated climate control strip at the bottom of the display was less disruptive than anticipated. The system’s solid voice recognition and ease of switching between Apple CarPlay and the native environment were definite highlights, though lag between inputs and responses and an overheating wireless charger were concerns.

Lower trims featured a smaller 8-inch display with similar Sync 4 capabilities, whereas the larger screen came with additional functions like Amazon Alexa and a three-year navigation subscription. However, issues like damaged speakers in our test model’s Bang & Olufsen system limited evaluation of its sound quality. Ford’s placement of the start/stop button and volume control knob also puzzled, with the HUD’s practicality being questionably additive despite its inclusion in the Premium Technology Package.

The 2024 Velar came equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), which typically performed well, especially with the optional HUD highlighting activity status. Adaptive cruise control included a speed-limited function, clearly indicated by the LIM lettering glow on the steering wheel, a thoughtful touch ensuring clarity for drivers.

However, the Velar’s Adaptive Cruise Control with Steer Assist suffered from inconsistent behavior, especially in bends, turn lanes, and freeway ramps, detracting from the overall driving experience. Instances like sudden steering adjustments under freeway overpasses or attempts to follow turn lanes instead of continuing straight underscored its shortcomings, causing more stress rather than relief for drivers.

The Ford Escape also featured a robust Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety technologies, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and more. In our test, while predictive speed assist and lane-keeping systems displayed inconsistent behavior on curvy roads, they performed better on freeways, providing smoother adaptive cruise control and lane-centering operations.

In terms of crash-test ratings, the NHTSA awarded the 2024 Escape five-star ratings across most categories, albeit with a four-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had yet to rate the 2024 Escape at the time of writing, though it had generally earned favorable ratings in prior years.