Which should you drive home, the 2022 Ford Escape or Toyota RAV4? Both of these compact crossovers are popular choices, known for their commute-friendly combos of cushy seating and thrifty performance. Our comparison guide is here to help you figure out which model has the overall edge.
Passenger Space: 2022 Ford Escape
Both compact crossovers offer plenty of cargo space (37.5 cubic feet in the Escape and 37.6 cubes in the RAV4) for your sports gear and shopping bags. However, the Escape has a few extra inches of passenger space in both rows, making it the better option for families who spend a lot of time on the road.
The Escape and the RAV4 both offer a variety of trim models. That means you can choose a more basic model, with cloth upholstery and power accessories, for a lower price. Or you can spend more on luxury, with available features like leather upholstery, heated seats, or dual-zone automatic climate control.
Safety: 2022 Ford Escape
These small crossovers both come standard with drive safety aids that are designed to help you avoid danger. For example, forward collision mitigation technology can help you come to an emergency stop. Lane-keeping assist helps make sure you don’t accidentally drift from your lane.
The Ford Escape comes standard with blind-spot monitoring, which is optional for the RAV4. And the Toyota RAV4 comes standard with adaptive cruise control, which is optional for the Escape. The features that aren’t standard are available as options for each crossover.
However, the Escape came away from government crash tests with slightly better scores. (https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2022/FORD/ESCAPE/SUV/FWD) In addition to its five-star overall rating, the Escape also earned a perfect five stars in frontal crash tests. The RAV4 pulled off five stars for overall safety, but only landed four stars for frontal crash testing. (https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2022/TOYOTA/RAV4/SUV/FWD)
Powertrain Options: 2022 Ford Escape
With three sporty engine options available, the Escape steals this category. Its base engine — a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine (181 horsepower, 190 lb-ft of torque) — offers a blend of speed and thriftiness (earning up to 30 mpg combined). (Fuel Economy of 2022 Ford Escape) The available hybrid powertrain offers even more speed (200 total hp) and greater fuel economy, achieving up to 41 mpg combined. Then there’s the swiftest option, the turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (250 hp, 280 lb-ft) that’s available on the sporty SEL and luxurious Titanium models.
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 has one engine for every trim model: a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine (203 hp, 184 lb-ft). It’s a little more powerful than the Escape’s base engine, but it simply can’t compete with the Escape’s 250-horsepower upgrade. The RAV4 base engine also helps you earn 30 mpg combined. (Fuel Economy of 2022 Toyota RAV4)
Infotainment Setup: 2022 Ford Escape
The Escape’s SYNC 3 infotainment system shines, with a responsive 8-inch touchscreen and dual USB ports in the front and rear seats. And you can make it really easy to access smartphone apps by switching over to the Apple CarPlay or Android Auto interfaces.
Toyota’s infotainment system also includes wide-ranging smartphone connectivity, via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, its 7-inch touchscreen isn’t quite as accommodating, and it can be slow to respond.
Choose Your Compact Crossover
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 may give you some of what you want in a small crossover, but the 2022 Ford Escape delivers a lot more. Choose the Escape for the roomiest cabin, smartest tech setup, and widest-ranging powertrain options.