Pardon the hyperbole. Diving into the hybridized Escape and RAV4 may be as exciting as shopping for appliances, but they're hugely popular with shoppers and highly profitable to their makers. Likewise, they're currently the only hybrid options in their class—apart from the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV—so we pitted them against each other to see which is better at sipping fuel and shipping families.
The Matchup
Ford laid the groundwork for the hybrid compact SUV with the original Escape, but it hasn't offered the technology in this space since the second generation went away in 2012. That changed with the introduction of the all-new 2020 Escape, which boasts more carlike qualities. It also marks the return of a hybrid and introduces a plug-in hybrid. Our initial impressions of the plug-less Escape hybrid revealed it as arguably the best Escape to wear the badge. For this comparison, we tested a SE Sport hybrid wearing Velocity Blue Metallic paint. The front-drive version starts at $29,450 and includes many desirable standard features, but our tester totaled $34,345, including the $1500 all-wheel-drive option and the $3395 Premium package, which adds larger 19-inch wheels (17s are standard), adaptive cruise control, a panoramic sunroof, a power-operated liftgate, and more.
Toyota not only created the compact crossover with the first-gen RAV4, it also brought hybrid propulsion into the mainstream with its innovative Prius. While the company only started combining these two pioneers a few years ago, the new 2019 RAV4 hybrid is conceivably better than the conventional version. Our Ruby Flare Pearl tester is a top-of-the-line Limited model with more than $4000 in options. The most notable upgrades include an 11-speaker JBL audio system, adaptive headlights, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, wireless charging, and a surround-view camera system. Although this content makes it the most luxurious RAV4 hybrid, its $41,088 as-tested price means it costs about $11K more than the cheapest one.
On the Road
At the heart of every great hybrid is a smooth and refined gasoline-electric powertrain. The Escape is powered by a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-four and two motor/generators that combine for 200 horsepower. This setup pairs with a planetary gearset that mimics a traditional transmission, but it's actually an electronic continuously variable automatic (CVT). The RAV4 uses a 2.5-liter inline-four paired with Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive. However, an additional electric motor is mounted on the rear axle, which creates all-wheel drive and a combined output of 219 horses; the Ford's all-wheel-drive system is of the conventional mechanical variety. While both hybrids seamlessly transition between internal-combustion and electric power, the Toyota's engine is noisier than the Ford's, and slight throttle inputs rouse it to action with greater regularity. The torquier RAV4 is more responsive at city speeds and scooted from zero to 60 mph in a respectable 7.3 seconds—0.4 second quicker than its rival. Still, the Escape provides better passing power, accelerating more quickly from both 30 to 50 and 50 to 70 mph. As an aside, Ford has yet to release full details for its upcoming Escape plug-in hybrid, but the new 2021 RAV4 PHEV should pack a sizeable wallop with its combined 302-hp rating.
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