As SUVs have gotten smaller, more efficient, and more truly family-friendly this past decade, the benchmark that Ford used when it created its original 2001 Escape changed dramatically—and thankfully last year with the introduction of this new model the Escape is the more carlike, stylish model that today's crossover shoppers want.
The chief rivals for the Escape remain familiar.
The latest Honda CR-V, a makeover of the prior model with slightly better space and efficiency than before, has improved styling and infotainment features, and a unique fold-away second-row seat that's best in the class.
The Toyota RAV4 is the other big seller, and it's new this year; it's only offered with a four-cylinder engine, and it's not powerful, though it handles and looks better than in the recent past.
The newest Hyundai Santa Fe does double duty: the smaller Sport model pairs five seats with four-cylinder engines, while a stretched model adds two more seats and gets exclusive V-6 power.
The Nissan Rogue has athletic looks and a roomy cabin, but its CVT and four-cylinder drivetrain are sluggish.
The Escape also competes with the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, smaller crossovers with very good gas mileage and in the Kia's case, fun turbo power.
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 2014 Ford EscapeBrowse Used Listings |  2014 Honda CR-VBrowse Used Listings |  2014 Hyundai Santa FeBrowse Used Listings |  2014 Kia SportageBrowse Used Listings |  2014 Nissan RogueBrowse Used Listings |  2014 Toyota RAV4Browse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | |||||
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With authentically athletic looks and performance balancing out good passenger space, cargo versatility, and loads of high-tech features, the 2014 Ford Escape is attractive to a wide range of buyers. |
The 2014 Honda CR-V isn't exactly sprightly, but it nails efficiency on a few levels and finally brings more features to the family-wagon fight. |
The 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe is a little schizophrenic, but we dig both of its personalities. Those with larger families will want to look at the V-6 Santa Fe, while smaller families will enjoy the turbo-powered Santa Fe Sport. |
With up to 260 horsepower on tap and styling that's suitably athletic, the 2014 Kia Sportage shows that practical compact crossover wagons don't need to be so stodgy. |
The 2014 Nissan Rogue gets mainstreamed in all the right ways, though engine noise and the teensy third-row seat are minor letdowns. |
The 2014 Toyota RAV4 is sensible and spacious; but if driving fun is a priority, you can do better. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| $23,100 | $23,120 | $24,950 | $21,600 | $20,150 | $23,550 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 22 MPG City / 32 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 18 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy | 19 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 33 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||||
| Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| Small Sport Utility Vehicles 2WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicles 2WD | Small SUV 2WD | Small SUV 2WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicles 2WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicles 2WD |
| Style Name | |||||
| FWD 4-Door S | 2WD 5-Door LX | FWD 4-Door 2.4 | 2WD 4-Door LX | FWD 4-Door S | FWD 4-Door LE (GS) |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front 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 | |||||
| Sport Utility | Sport Utility | Sport Utility | Sport Utility | Sport Utility | Sport Utility |
| Transmission | |||||
| Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | CVT w/OD | Automatic w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2014 Ford Escape vs. 2014 Honda CR-V | 2014 Ford Escape vs. 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe | 2014 Ford Escape vs. 2014 Kia Sportage | 2014 Ford Escape vs. 2014 Nissan Rogue | 2014 Ford Escape vs. 2014 Toyota RAV4 | |
