Compare the2026 Toyota Rav4VS 2026 Ford Escape FHEV

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Rav4 AWD’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the Rav4 and the Escape FHEV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Escape FHEV.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 46 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 13th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Ford is ranked 13th.

The Rav4’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 34 more horsepower (226 vs. 192) than the Escape FHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Rav4’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 44 more horsepower (236 vs. 192) than the Escape FHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Rav4’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 132 more horsepower (324 vs. 192) than the Escape FHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Escape FHEV:

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE/XSE can travel with zero emissions for 52 miles. The Escape FHEV can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Escape FHEV are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Rav4 has larger tires than the Escape FHEV (235/65R17 vs. 225/55R19).

The Rav4 XSE’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escape FHEV’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Rav4 XSE has standard 20-inch wheels. The Escape FHEV’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Rav4 has .1 inches more front hip room, .2 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Escape FHEV.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4’s rear seats recline. The Escape FHEV’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Escape FHEV with its rear seat up (37.8 vs. 34.4 cubic feet). The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Escape FHEV with its rear seat folded (70.4 vs. 60.8 cubic feet).

The Rav4’s cargo area is larger than the Escape FHEV’s in almost every dimension:

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Rav4 XSE/Limited’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Rav4’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Escape FHEV’s (1750 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Ford Escape FHEV is only 1500 pounds. The Rav4 offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The Rav4’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 Escape FHEV’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Rav4 the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Escape FHEV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Both the Rav4 and the Escape FHEV offer available heated front seats. The Rav4 Limited also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Escape FHEV.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Rav4 XSE/Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Toyota Rav4 stands out above the Ford Escape FHEV by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and one of them provide more flexibility.

The Rav4 Woodland has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Rav4 (except LE/SE/XLE)’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Rav4 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Ford Escape by over three to one during 2024.