Compare the2026 Ford EscapeVS 2026 Honda HR-V

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
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 HR-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 HR-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.

The Escape has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the HR-V Sport/EX-L offers a blind spot warning system.

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 HR-V Sport/EX-L offers Cross Traffic Monitor and the HR-V’s Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the Escape and the HR-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 HR-V:

	Escape	HR-V
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22.5%	30.8%
Leg Forces (l/r)	188/315 lbs.	279/312 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	102	278
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	36.3%	41.3%

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

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 HR-V:

	Escape	HR-V
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	240 lbs.	418 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	97	173
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	61 G’s
Hip Force	816 lbs.	910 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	12 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	42 G’s
Hip Force	462 lbs.	564 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 HR-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 HR-V isn’t in the top three in its category.

Engine

The Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (180 vs. 158) and 61 lbs.-ft. more torque (199 vs. 138) than the HR-V’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 92 more horsepower (250 vs. 158) and 142 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 138) than the HR-V’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Ford Escape is faster than the Honda HR-V:

	Escape turbo 3 cyl.	Escape turbo 4 cyl.	HR-V
Zero to 30 MPH	3.3 sec	1.9 sec	4.7 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.9 sec	5.8 sec	11.1 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.2 sec	3.3 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16.9 sec	14.4 sec	18.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85 MPH	97 MPH	81 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Escape gets better mileage than the HR-V:

			MPG
Escape
	FWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	27 city/34 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/32 hwy
HR-V
	FWD	2.0 4-cyl.	26 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.0 4-cyl.	25 city/30 hwy

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 HR-V doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Escape’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The HR-V doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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

Brakes and Stopping

The Escape stops much shorter than the HR-V:

	Escape	HR-V
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Escape has larger tires than the HR-V (225/65R17 vs. 215/60R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escape Elite/Platinum has standard 19-inch wheels. The HR-V’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

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 HR-V doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escape’s wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer than on the HR-V (106.7 inches vs. 104.5 inches).

The Escape AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the HR-V EX-L AWD pulls only .80 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 1.2 seconds quicker than the HR-V EX-L AWD (27.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Escape has a greater minimum ground clearance than the HR-V LX/EX-L (7.3 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Escape to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Escape uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The HR-V doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Escape has 5.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the HR-V (104 vs. 98.7).

The Escape has .6 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom, 5.9 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the HR-V.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Escape’s rear seats recline. The HR-V’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the HR-V with its rear seat up (37.5 vs. 24.4 cubic feet). The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the HR-V with its rear seat folded (65.4 vs. 55.1 cubic feet).

The Escape’s cargo area is larger than the HR-V’s in every dimension:

	Escape	HR-V
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.8”/68.5”	34.8”/68.3”
Max Width	57.3”	55.4”
Min Width	41.4”	39.8”
Height	34.8”	32.1”

An optional locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Escape. The HR-V doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Escape offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The HR-V doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Escape has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The HR-V has no 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 HR-V doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Escape, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The HR-V doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Escape’s optional Easy Entry and Exit glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The HR-V doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 HR-V doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the Escape and the HR-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 HR-V prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Escape Select/Elite/Platinum’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The HR-V Sport/EX-L’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 HR-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. Push Button Start standard on the HR-V only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle. Push Button Start is not available on the HR-V Sport/EX-L.

The Escape’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The HR-V’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Escape Elite/Platinum’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

On extremely cold winter days, the Escape’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The HR-V doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Escape has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The HR-V doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

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 HR-V EX-L.

Both the Escape and the HR-V offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Escape offers optional rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The HR-V doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Compared to the Honda HR-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 HR-V EX-L.

Recommendations

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

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