Compare 2021 Ford Escape vs 2021 Toyota RAV4

2021 Ford Escape
#6 in Crossover SUVs
2021 Toyota RAV4
#4 in Hybrid SUVs
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S AWD
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Escape S AWD 26 31 $26,243 $27,055
Escape S FWD 28 34 $24,788 $25,555
Escape SE AWD 26 31 $27,394 $28,535
Escape SE FWD 28 34 $25,954 $27,035
Escape SE Hybrid AWD 43 37 $28,349 $29,530
Escape SE Hybrid FWD 44 37 $26,909 $28,030
Escape SE Plug-In Hybrid FWD N/A N/A $31,752 $33,075
Escape SEL AWD 23 31 $31,877 $33,205
Escape SEL FWD 28 34 $28,325 $29,505
Escape SEL Hybrid AWD 43 37 $30,720 $32,000
Escape SEL Hybrid FWD 44 37 $29,281 $30,500
Escape SEL Plug-In Hybrid FWD N/A N/A $34,382 $35,815
Escape Titanium AWD 23 31 $34,997 $36,455
Escape Titanium Hybrid AWD 43 37 $33,697 $35,100
Escape Titanium Hybrid FWD 44 37 $32,256 $33,600
Escape Titanium Plug-In Hybrid FWD N/A N/A $37,330 $38,885
Select style
Adventure AWD
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
RAV4 Adventure AWD 25 33 $31,187 $33,355
RAV4 Hybrid LE AWD 41 38 $26,791 $28,500
RAV4 Hybrid Limited AWD 41 38 $35,091 $37,330
RAV4 Hybrid XLE AWD 41 38 $28,008 $29,795
RAV4 Hybrid XLE Premium AWD 41 38 $30,833 $32,800
RAV4 Hybrid XSE AWD 41 38 $32,667 $34,750
RAV4 LE AWD 27 34 $25,853 $27,650
RAV4 LE FWD 27 35 $24,544 $26,250
RAV4 Limited AWD 25 33 $33,829 $36,180
RAV4 Limited FWD 27 35 $32,520 $34,780
RAV4 TRD Off Road AWD 25 32 $33,643 $35,980
RAV4 XLE AWD 27 33 $27,063 $28,945
RAV4 XLE FWD 28 35 $25,754 $27,545
RAV4 XLE Premium AWD 27 33 $29,593 $31,650
RAV4 XLE Premium FWD 28 35 $28,284 $30,250
RAV4 Prime SE N/A N/A $35,956 $38,250
RAV4 Prime XSE N/A N/A $39,082 $41,575

2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid vs. 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime: Compare Crossover SUVs

Bengt Halvorson Bengt Halvorson Senior Editor

Many plug-in hybrids don’t offer enough driving range for the typical American commute. Two exceptions to that rule are the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime and 2021 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid. 

Neither of these models stray far from a formula that has made the compact crossover the most popular vehicle segment in the U.S. Both have silhouettes that snap to SUV norms, with requisite faux-rugged lower-body cladding framing softly contoured, even graceful sheet metal. If you read between the lines, the Escape is the one that looks the most like a passenger car—with some great curb appeal in the city—while the RAV4 has the look of a rakish 4Runner apprentice this time around. 

 
Pricing
Invoice Price
$26,243
$31,187
Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$27,055
$33,355
Monthly Payment Estimate
$451 / month
$556 / month
The Car Connection's Take
TCC Rating
7.0
6.5
TCC’s Bottom Line
The 2021 Ford Escape is the softer side of the Blue Oval’s small crossover 1-2 combo. The 2021 Toyota RAV4 is the meat-and-potatoes crossover for many buyers; the RAV4 Prime supplies the all-electric range.
TCC Likes
TCC Dislikes
Fuel Economy
City
26 mpg 25 mpg
Highway
31 mpg 33 mpg
Vehicle
EPA Classification
Small SUV 4WD Small SUV 4WD
Interior Dimensions
Passenger Volume (ft³)
104 98.9
Second Shoulder Room (in)
56 56.4
Front Leg Room (in)
42.4 41
Front Hip Room (in)
55.2 54.3
Passenger Capacity
5 5
Second Leg Room (in)
40.7 37.8
Front Head Room (in)
40 39.5
Second Hip Room (in)
53.3 47.7
Front Shoulder Room (in)
57.6 57.8
Second Head Room (in)
39.3 39.5
Exterior Dimensions
Height, Overall (in)
66.1 68.6
Track Width, Rear (in)
61.8 63.3
Wheelbase (in)
106.7 105.9
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
74.1 73.4
Track Width, Front (in)
62.4 62.6
Min Ground Clearance (in)
7.3 8.6
Length, Overall (in)
181.3 181.5
Cargo Area Dimensions
Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (ft³)
37.5 37.6
Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 2 (in)
37.8 -
Cargo Box Width @ Wheelhousings (in)
41.4 -
Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (ft³)
65.4 69.8
Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 1 (in)
68.5 -
Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (ft³)
37.5 37.6
Cargo Area Width @ Beltline (in)
57.3 -
Cargo Box (Area) Height (in)
34.8 -
Brakes
Brake Type
4-Wheel Disc 4-Wheel Disc
Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA
Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
- 11.1
Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
- NA
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
- 12
Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
14.8 14.5
Steering
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
38.4 37.4
Steering Type
Rack-Pinion Rack-Pinion
Tires
Rear Tire Size
P225/65HR17 P235/55HR19
Rear Tire Order Code
NA NA
Front Tire Size
P225/65HR17 P235/55HR19
Spare Tire Size
NA Compact
Front Tire Order Code
NA NA
Spare Tire Order Code
NA NA
Trailering
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
2000 3500
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
2000 3500
Maximum Trailering Capacity (lbs)
2000 3500
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
200 350
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
200 350
Weight Information
Base Curb Weight (lbs)
3474 3655
Wheels
Front Wheel Material
Steel Aluminum
Spare Wheel Material
NA Steel
Front Wheel Size (in)
17 X 7 19 X 7.5
Spare Wheel Size (in)
NA Compact
Rear Wheel Material
Steel Aluminum
Rear Wheel Size (in)
17 X 7 19 X 7.5
Engine
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
190 @ 3000 184 @ 5000
Engine Order Code
996 NA
Displacement
1.5 L/91 2.5 L/152
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
181 @ 6000 203 @ 6600
Engine Type
Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-3 Regular Unleaded I-4
Fuel System
Port/Direct Injection Port/Direct Injection
Mileage
Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
28 28
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
31 33
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
26 25
Transmission
Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
3.81 3.18
Third Gear Ratio (:1)
3.01 1.95
Trans Type
8 8
Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)
0.75 0.81
Drivetrain
All Wheel Drive All Wheel Drive
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.45 1.22
Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA
Reverse Ratio (:1)
2.96 4.01
Second Gear Ratio (:1)
3.31 3.03
Trans Order Code
448 NA
Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.92 1.46
Trans Description Cont.
Automatic w/OD Automatic w/OD
Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.62 0.67
Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.00 1.00
First Gear Ratio (:1)
4.69 5.25
Summary
Vehicle Name
Ford Escape Toyota RAV4
Body Style
Sport Utility Sport Utility
Suspension
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
Short And Long Arm Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Front
Strut Strut
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Strut Strut
Suspension Type - Rear
Short And Long Arm Multi-Link
Emissions
Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
6.3 6.3
Electrical
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
- 550
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
Next Steps: Get Free Price Quotes!
2021 Ford Escape
  • 2021 Escape arriving; 2020s still on hand
  • Lease: From $259 for 36 months
  • Rebates: Up to $4,750 off 2020s; $1,500 off 2021s
  • Finance: From 0% APR for 72 months + up to $3,000 bonus
Get Your Price
2021 Toyota RAV4
  • 2021 RAV4 is here
  • Lease: From $309/mo.
  • Finance: From 2.9% APR
  • Rebate: Up to $750 cash
Get Your Price

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