2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Subaru Forester

2020 Ford Escape

2021 Subaru Forester

Select style

S AWD

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Escape S AWD	26	31	$25,594	$26,385
Escape S FWD	27	33	$24,138	$24,885
Escape SE AWD	26	31	$27,461	$28,605
Escape SE FWD	27	33	$26,021	$27,105
Escape SE Plug-In Hybrid FWD	N/A	N/A	$31,719	$33,040
Escape SE Sport Hybrid AWD	43	37	$28,574	$29,765
Escape SE Sport Hybrid FWD	44	37	$27,134	$28,265
Escape SEL AWD	26	31	$29,534	$30,765
Escape SEL FWD	27	33	$28,094	$29,265
Escape SEL Plug-In Hybrid FWD	N/A	N/A	$34,195	$35,620
Escape Titanium AWD	23	31	$35,362	$36,835
Escape Titanium Hybrid AWD	43	37	$33,648	$35,050
Escape Titanium Hybrid FWD	44	37	$32,208	$33,550
Escape Titanium Plug-In Hybrid FWD	N/A	N/A	$37,282	$38,835

Select style

CVT

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Forester CVT	26	33	$23,375	$24,795
Forester Limited CVT	26	33	$29,337	$31,395
Forester Premium CVT	26	33	$26,120	$27,795
Forester Sport CVT	26	33	$27,591	$29,395
Forester Touring CVT	26	33	$32,541	$34,895

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$25,594

$23,375

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$26,385

$24,795

Monthly Payment Estimate

$440 / month

$413 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

7.0

Read Our Full Review

6.8

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The 2020 Ford Escape takes a more refined tack, and brings its hybrid edition back into vogue.

A recent Best Car To Buy winner, the 2021 Subaru Forester notches big wins in utility and safety as one of our most recommended crossover SUVs.

TCC Likes

Three powertrain choices
Shapely exterior
Good standard safety gear

Remarkable value
Remarkable efficiency
Remarkable space

TCC Dislikes

Smaller than big rivals
Interior trim needs an upgrade
Top model? Top dollar

Not especially powerful
Looks haven’t changed much
It’s not free...

Fuel Economy

City

26 mpg

Highway

31 mpg

33 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Small SUV 4WD

Interior Dimensions

Passenger Volume (ft³)

104

111.9

Second Shoulder Room (in)

57.2

Front Leg Room (in)

42.4

43.3

Front Hip Room (in)

55.2

54.1

Passenger Capacity

Second Leg Room (in)

40.7

39.4

Front Head Room (in)

41.2

Second Hip Room (in)

53.3

53.6

Front Shoulder Room (in)

57.6

58.2

Second Head Room (in)

39.3

39.6

Exterior Dimensions

Height, Overall (in)

66.1

67.5

Track Width, Rear (in)

61.8

Wheelbase (in)

106.7

105.1

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

74.1

71.5

Track Width, Front (in)

62.4

61.6

Min Ground Clearance (in)

7.3

8.7

Length, Overall (in)

181.3

182.1

Liftover Height (in)

28.4

Cargo Area Dimensions

Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (ft³)

37.5

31.1

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 2 (in)

37.8

35.7

Cargo Box Width @ Wheelhousings (in)

41.4

43.3

Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (ft³)

65.4

74.3

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 1 (in)

68.5

70.3

Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (ft³)

37.5

31.1

Cargo Area Width @ Beltline (in)

57.3

51.2

Cargo Box (Area) Height (in)

34.8

Brakes

Brake Type

4-Wheel Disc

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.2

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.6

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

14.8

16.6

Steering

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

38.4

35.4

Steering Type

Rack-Pinion

Tires

Rear Tire Size

P225/65HR17

P225/60HR17

Rear Tire Order Code

Front Tire Size

P225/65HR17

P225/60HR17

Spare Tire Size

Compact

Front Tire Order Code

Spare Tire Order Code

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

2000

1500

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

2000

1500

Maximum Trailering Capacity (lbs)

2000

1500

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

200

150

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

200

150

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

3474

3449

Wheels

Front Wheel Material

Steel

Spare Wheel Material

Aluminum

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

17 X 7

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

Rear Wheel Material

Steel

Rear Wheel Size (in)

17 X 7

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

190 @ 3000

176 @ 4400

Engine Order Code

996

Displacement

1.5 L/91

2.5 L/152

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

181 @ 6000

182 @ 5800

Engine Type

Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-3

Regular Unleaded H-4

Fuel System

Port/Direct Injection

Gasoline Direct Injection

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Transmission

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

3.81

3.70

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

3.01

Trans Type

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

0.75

0.56

Drivetrain

All Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.45

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

2.96

3.69

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

3.31

Trans Order Code

448

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.92

Trans Description Cont.

Automatic w/OD

CVT w/OD

Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.62

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.00

First Gear Ratio (:1)

4.69

3.60 - 0.75

Summary

Vehicle Name

Ford Escape

Subaru Forester

Body Style

Sport Utility

Suspension

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Short And Long Arm

Double Wishbone

Suspension Type - Front

Strut

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Strut

Suspension Type - Rear

Short And Long Arm

Double Wishbone

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

6.4

6.1

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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