There’s a lot to love about both the 2020 Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4. With their cushy seats and smooth ride, these small crossovers are popular with a wide range of drivers. And they’re also sporty, with powerful engines that deliver both speed and efficiency. With so much to like, how do you choose between them? At Jones Ford, we’ve got the details you need to select the crossover best suited to you and your family.
Modern Comfort: 2020 Ford Escape
With its expanded dimensions, the newly redesigned 2020 Ford Escape is big on passenger space. You’ll also love its seats. Up front, you get generous hip and shoulder room to accommodate a wide range of body types. The rear seats slide and recline, boosting passenger comfort on a long drive.
The RAV4 is also roomy and comfortable. We’re especially fond of its smooth performance. Cabin ergonomics, however, might not be for everybody. The RAV4 driver’s seat sits a little too high, putting tall drivers in an awkward position. And the infotainment controls are just a tad too far from the driver’s seat, making them a far reach for some drivers.
Tech-Savvy Driving: 2020 Toyota RAV4
With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity on every single trim model, the RAV4 earns our respect. We also like Toyota’s suite of driver safety aids. It includes features like automatic emergency braking and drowsy driver detection. Best of all, these features also come at no extra cost.
The entry-level Escape S is the only 2020 Ford Escape that doesn’t come standard with Sync 3 infotainment. On all other models, Ford’s infotainment system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, displaying smartphone apps on its 8-inch touchscreen. We just wish this easy-to-use system were standard equipment.
Like the RAV4, the Escape also comes standard with safety aids designed to help you avoid danger. The Co-Pilot360 suite of safety aids includes lane keeping assist, pre-collision detection with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more.
Thrifty Commuting: 2020 Ford Escape
Two 2020 Escape trim models — the SE Sport and Titanium — come standard with a sporty, powerful engine that also happens to be a hybrid. Choose one of these models for commute-friendly mileage, with EPA ratings of up to 41 mpg combined (44 city/37 highway mpg). The Escape’s thriftiest gas-powered powertrain is also pretty impressive, earning 30 mpg combined (27/33 mpg).
There’s a hybrid version of the RAV4 available, though it’s technically a separate model (the RAV4 Hybrid). In any case, it trails just behind the Escape’s hybrid performance, with EPA ratings of 40 mpg combined (41/38 mpg). The gas-powered RAV4 earns up to 30 mpg combined (28/35 mpg).
On-Road Athleticism: 2020 Ford Escape
Usually, when one crossover is thriftier, the other is more powerful. Not so with the redesigned Escape. With its optional turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine (250 horsepower, 280 pound-feet of torque), the Escape easily leaves the RAV4 in its dust.
Unlike the Escape, which offers three options, every RAV4 features the same engine. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (203 horses, 184 pound-feet) gets you up to speed in reasonable time, if not as quick as the Escape’s top-of-the-line engine.
While the RAV4 has some cool features, it’s the newly redesigned Escape that comes out on top. If you’re shopping for a small crossover that combines speed with efficiency and treats your family to rich, modern comfort, it’s the Escape you want. Drop by Jones Ford, your North Charleston Ford dealership, to take the Escape for a spin.