Don't get penned in by the Escape's conservative look; it competes head-on with a variety of compact crossovers, some of which are sleek and rakish.
One of those is the Nissan Rogue.
The Rogue doesn't even pretend to be tough or off-road-worthy; it's a tall wagon, with space for five, good ride quality, and a fuel-efficient four-cylinder powertrain.
The Hyundai Tucson looks a little more carlike than the Escape, but it's one of the least refined in the group; it's due for a complete redesign later this year.
The Honda CR-V is one of our all-time favorites, if you only look at the driving experience, but some people have a hard time getting past the SUV's styling and the lack of optional V-6 power.
Subaru's Forester became significantly larger for 2009, and it's now a roomier alternative to the Escape, with a nice, smooth ride and responsive handling.
Finally, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox has been redesigned and is now a much better vehicle than before, with a vastly improved interior, plus a smooth, economical four-cylinder base engine and six-speed automatic transmission.
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 2011 Ford EscapeBrowse Used Listings |  2011 Chevrolet EquinoxBrowse Used Listings |  2011 Honda CR-VBrowse Used Listings |  2011 Hyundai TucsonBrowse Used Listings |  2011 Nissan RogueBrowse Used Listings |  2011 Subaru ForesterBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | |||||
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The boxy, old-school appearance might turn you off, but the 2011 Ford Escape still delivers solid crossover and SUV bona fides. |
If you don’t need a third row, the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox is just right for small families; it’s refined, secure, and versatile, and gets very impressive fuel economy in four-cylinder form. |
The 2011 Honda CR-V is homely, as well as unexciting to drive; yet it's a great minivan alternative on many counts—appealing to practical shoppers with a roomy, versatile interior and top safety ratings. |
Much better than its predecessor, the 2011 Hyundai Tucson needs a touch more power and steering feel to top carlike utes like the Nissan Rogue. |
The 2011 Nissan Rogue has a good feature set and great packaging for small-family use, but its performance and details aren't always delightful. |
The roomy, versatile 2011 Subaru Forester handles better than just about any other small crossover, though the need for a more modern transmission and a little more cabin refinement keep it from greatness. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| $21,240 | $22,995 | $21,895 | $18,895 | $21,460 | $20,495 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 20 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 20 MPG City / 32 MPG Hwy | 21 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy | 20 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy | 19 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||||
| Gas I4 | Gas I4 ECOTEC | Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Gas Flat 4 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| 2WD Sport Utility Vehicles | 2WD Sport Utility Vehicle | 2WD Sport Utility | 2WD Sport Utility | FWD Sport Utility | 4WD Sport Utility |
| Style Name | |||||
| FWD 4-Door XLS | FWD 4-Door LS | 2WD 5-Door LX | FWD 4-Door Manual GL *Ltd Avail* | FWD 4-Door S | 4-Door Manual 2.5X w/Alloy Wheel Value Pkg |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | |||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||||
| 4 Door | 4 Door | Sport Utility Vehicle | 4 Door Sport Utility | Sport Utility | 4 Door Sport Utility |
| Transmission | |||||
| Manual | Automatic | Automatic | Manual | Continuously variable ratio | Manual w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2011 Ford Escape vs. 2011 Chevrolet Equinox | 2011 Ford Escape vs. 2011 Honda CR-V | 2011 Ford Escape vs. 2011 Hyundai Tucson | 2011 Ford Escape vs. 2011 Nissan Rogue | 2011 Ford Escape vs. 2011 Subaru Forester | |
