Toyota Highlander vs Ford Escape

The 2022 Toyota Highlander boasted a modern and somewhat aggressive front-end design, with flared fender arches and a distinctive third-row window that gave it a compact appearance despite its spacious interior. Inside, the Highlander offered ample cabin space and clever storage solutions, making it a practical choice for families. The XSE trim, in particular, stood out with its bold red leather interior, unique exterior styling, ambient lighting, and sport-tuned suspension, providing a blend of luxury and sportiness. The Highlander was available in several trims, each offering a range of features from basic to upscale, including options like a panoramic sunroof, adaptive headlights, and a premium JBL audio system.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape adopted a more European design language, moving away from the blocky exterior of its predecessors. The refreshed model featured a traditional front end with a stylish LED light bar and the Ford logo prominently displayed. The Escape's top-trim ST-Line Elite showcased 19-inch wheels and a sleek design, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Escape offered diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt somewhat hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat made long drives enjoyable. However, the interior was dominated by plastic materials, which detracted from the overall premium feel.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. This power was delivered through an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the option of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The Highlander offered a smooth driving experience, with a sport-tuned suspension in the XSE trim that reduced body roll while maintaining comfort. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds, making it a versatile choice for families needing to haul trailers or boats.

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, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The latter was available exclusively with all-wheel drive and provided better acceleration and passing power. Despite its impressive output, the Escape's suspension remained soft, prioritizing comfort over performance. The brakes were predictable and linear, and the steering was well-weighted, offering a pleasant driving experience.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander provided up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded, 48.4 cubic feet with the second row in use, and 16 cubic feet behind the third row. The interior was designed with practicality in mind, featuring deep cargo pockets, multiple storage compartments, and cupholders throughout. The XSE trim included second-row captain's chairs, offering additional space and comfort for passengers. While the third row was suitable for short trips, it was less comfortable for adults on longer journeys.

The 2023 Ford Escape, while comfortable with supportive seats and excellent ergonomics, fell short in cargo space compared to some competitors. It offered 37.5 cubic feet of storage behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. Passenger space was adequate, with good headroom and padded front-seat backs, but rear-seat legroom was slightly less than some rivals. The Escape's interior was functional, but it might feel cramped during larger moves or with more passengers.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with hard buttons complementing the touchscreen. Higher trims offered a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system, enhancing the audio experience.

The 2023 Ford Escape featured the Sync 4 system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims like the ST-Line Elite and Platinum. The larger screen improved the cabin's look and offered intuitive navigation with individual tiles for various functions. While Sync 4 was generally easy to use, it was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was less convenient.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander included the Toyota Safety Sense suite, offering features like forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and other advanced safety features. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist were notably active, sometimes feeling intrusive on certain roads.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it did not earn a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS due to a Marginal score in the side-impact test. Standard safety features included in the Co-Pilot360 suite were forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and a surround-view camera, enhancing the Escape's safety capabilities.