Compare the2026 Ford EscapeVS 2026 Honda CR-V

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Escape has standard Post-Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CR-V doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Escape Select/Elite/Platinum offers an optional 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The CR-V only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Escape has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the CR-V EX/Hybrid offers Cross Traffic Monitor and the CR-V’s Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the Escape and the CR-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Escape is safer than the Honda CR-V:

	Escape	CR-V
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	143	211
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	48 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	188/315 lbs.	217/317 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	102	357
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	36.3%	54%
Neck Stress	181 lbs.	211 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	220/169 lbs.	408/341 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Escape is much safer than the CR-V:

	Escape	CR-V
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg Forces L/R	382/292 pounds	450/562 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	POOR

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Escape is safer than the Honda CR-V:

	Escape	CR-V
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	240 lbs.	347 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	51 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	12 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	462 lbs.	753 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

There are almost 3 times as many Ford dealers as there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape’s warranty.

Reliability

The Escape has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The CR-V doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escape first among compact suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The CR-V isn’t in the top three in its category.

Engine

The Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 20 lbs.-ft. more torque (199 vs. 179) than the CR-V’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 46 more horsepower (250 vs. 204) and 33 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 247) than the CR-V Hybrid’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Ford Escape is faster than the Honda CR-V:

	Escape turbo 3 cyl.	Escape turbo 4 cyl.	CR-V turbo 4 cyl.	CR-V Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	5.8 sec	8.1 sec	7.9 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.3 sec	6.8 sec	9 sec	8 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	4.1 sec	3.3 sec	4.4 sec	3.6 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	5.4 sec	4 sec	5.8 sec	5.2 sec
Quarter Mile	15.9 sec	14.4 sec	16.3 sec	16.3 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Escape 1.5 Turbo’s fuel efficiency. The CR-V doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the Escape and the CR-V have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Escapes have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The Escape AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the CR-V (15.7 vs. 14 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

The Escape stops much shorter than the CR-V:

	Escape	CR-V
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	171 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	147 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Escape has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CR-V’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Escape has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The CR-V doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Escape AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the CR-V EX-L AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Escape ST-Line Elite AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid (27.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

Chassis

The Escape is 4.7 inches shorter than the CR-V, making the Escape easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Escape has 1.1 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, .7 inches more rear hip room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the CR-V.

Towing

The Escape’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CR-V’s (2000 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Honda CR-V is only 1500 pounds. The Escape offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Escape uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The CR-V doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Escape Elite/Platinum offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The CR-V doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the Escape and the CR-V have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Escape is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CR-V prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Escape’s available exterior PIN entry system. The CR-V doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Escape’s standard Intelligent Access allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Pushbutton Start standard on the CR-V only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle. Pushbutton Start is not available on the CR-V EX/EX-L/Sport/TrailSport/Sport-L/Sport Touring.

The Escape has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the CR-V EX/EX-L/Sport/TrailSport/Sport-L/Sport Touring.

Compared to the Honda CR-V, the Ford Escape Elite/Platinum eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its standard integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the driver’s visor.

Compared to traditional radio, the Ford Escape’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the CR-V EX-L/Sport-L/Sport Touring.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Ford Escape and the Honda CR-V, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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