With their friendly starting prices and sporty, comfortable rides, the 2023 Ford Escape and Honda CR-V are two very popular options. Which of these small crossovers is the better choice? Our comparison guide is here to help you get to know each model a little better.
Key Takeaways
- Looking for the best deal? The Escape comes with the lowest starting price.
- Both small crossovers are equipped with an impressive list of standard features, including smartphone-friendly infotainment and informative driver safety aids.
- The Escape offers six trim models to the CR-V’s four, thereby offering more options for a wider range of drivers.
- Ford’s small crossover also offers more engine options, leaving you to better configure the perfect performance.
Price: 2023 Ford Escape
The 2023 Ford Escape provides the friendliest starting price, with an MSRP of $28,000. The entry-level 2023 Honda CR-V is significantly more expensive, although it doesn’t offer much more by way of standard features, starting at $31,610.
Standard Features: It’s (Practically) a Tie!
Both the 2023 Ford Escape and Honda CR-V will impress you with their standard equipment. These small crossovers include smartphone-compatible infotainment gear — including central touchscreen interfaces and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity — at no extra cost.
Each is also equipped with friendly driver safety aids: blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision mitigation, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high beams. The CR-V also throws in adaptive cruise control for good measure (the Escape offers this technology on higher trim models: the PHEV, ST-Line Elite, and Platinum).
Trim Options: 2023 Ford Escape
With seven trim models available (the Base, Active, PHEV, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, and Platinum), the Ford Escape appeals to a wider range of drivers. Each model has its own perks, and each generally adds to the last with more luxury features. For example, each ST-Line model has sporty style, but moving up the list will get you a longer list of upscale features, like adaptive cruise control and an upgraded infotainment touchscreen. The PHEV is the only Escape to feature the plug-in hybrid engine, which delivers the equivalent of 44 highway/41 city mpg. And the Platinum delivers the most fully loaded experience.
Meanwhile, the Honda CR-V comes in four trim levels (EX, Sport, EX-L, and Sport Touring). Similarly, each model adds to the last with a longer list of features. The Sport has its own style, with special exterior trim. And the Sport Touring is the most luxurious option. Much like the Escape Platinum, it’s equipped with navigation and a heated steering wheel, among other luxuries.
Punchy Performance: 2023 Ford Escape
When you shop the Escape, you also get to choose between four powertrains. There are two very thrifty options, the hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines. But the Escape also provides the speediest ride, via a turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder that generates 250 horsepower! All but the plug-in hybrid powertrain are available with sporty all-wheel drive, perfect for drivers who spend a lot of time on the trail or slick, wintery roads.
The 2023 Escape offers these engine options:
- Turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine (180 horsepower, 199 lb-ft of torque)
- Turbo 2.0L four-cylinder engine (250 hp, 280 lb-ft)
- 2.5L hybrid four-cylinder engine (200 total hp, 155 lb-ft)
- 2.5L four-cylinder PHEV (210 total hp, 155 lb-ft)
The Honda CR-V is also rare in the small crossover segment in that it offers more than one engine option. Instead of the standard engine, you can also choose the hybrid engine, which delivers both more power and greater efficiency. However, the CR-V’s strongest engine can’t match its Escape counterpart.
With the 2023 CR-V, you can choose from these engine options:
- Turbo 1.5L four-cylinder engine (190 hp, 179 lb-ft)
- Hybrid 2.0L four-cylinder engine (204 hp, 247 lb-ft)
Your Small Crossover
As you can see, the 2023 Ford Escape represents the best overall choice! When you drive home in Ford’s small crossover, you’ll enjoy the kind of performance you crave and the trim model that suits you best. Depending on which Escape you choose, you can even enjoy the lowest starting price!