The popularity of compact Sport Utility Vehicles among families, adventure seekers, or drivers who just want a little more room than sedans offer has led just about every automaker on the planet to produce one. However, for drivers that prefer to buy American, the choice likely comes down to the Ford Escape and the Chevrolet Equinox. Learn which one could be right for you with this quick comparison.
Key Takeaways
- The Equinox was refreshed for the 2022 model year, while the Escape is slightly newer, getting a significant makeover for the 2023 model.
- Ford’s Escape has two gasoline engine options, a hybrid, and plug-in electric hybrid choices.
- Equinox only has a single power plant at any trim level or price and no hybrid.
- Although the Chevy Equinox can't compete with the Ford Escape in most areas, it does have a lower starting price of $27,995 compared to $30,990 for the Escape.
Ford has the gasoline engine advantage.
When it comes time to look under the hood, buyers are sure to be more impressed with the Escape’s lineup of engines. That’s because the 2024 Chevy Equinox only comes with a single power plant: a 1.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 175 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. Shifting duties fall to a six-speed automatic with standard front-wheel drive (all-wheel drive is optional).
Nowadays, many automakers are touting eight- or even 10-speed transmissions, so the Equinox’s antiquated gearbox definitely puts it at a disadvantage. To wit, MotorTrend measured 0-60 acceleration at a rather lethargic 8.9 seconds.
Turning to the 2024 Escape, we find a standard 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder making 181 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque. That’s backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission and like the Equinox, front-wheel drive is included with optional all-wheel drive.
However, Escape drivers who yearn for more power can opt for an optional 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. With this optional power plant, the Escape scoots from 0-60 mph in a mere 6.9 seconds, handily beating the Equinox and improving the responsiveness and feel of your everyday drives, too.
What about fuel economy?
The reason that a lot of folks shop for compact SUVs rather than their larger mid-size and full-size counterparts boils down to fuel economy. The 2024 Ford Escape doesn’t disappoint there, either. It’s certified at 27/34 miles per gallon city/highway with front-wheel drive and 26/32 mpg with all-wheel drive. Even stepping up to the larger 2.0-liter engine and mandatory all-wheel drive doesn’t ding fuel economy too much, delivering 23/31 mpg.
As mentioned earlier, the Equinox is hampered by its older six-speed transmission and that shows in its fuel economy. It’s rated 26/31 miles per gallon city/highway and or 24/30 mpg with all-wheel drive.
If you’re interested in a hybrid or plug-in electric hybrid vehicle, then the 2024 is your only choice among the Escape. The Escape Hybrid and its electric motor assist delivers an amazing 42/36 mpg city/highway. Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid Escape can charge overnight from a standard household outlet and travel 37 miles using its battery alone, then a gasoline engine kicks in.
Interior space.
There’s no way around it: the 2024 Ford Escape is larger inside than Chevy’s Equinox in every way possible. Front seat legroom is 42.4 inches for the Ford and 40.9 inches for the Chevy. Likewise, the rear seat legroom is 40.7 inches in the Escape and 39.9 inches inside the Equinox.
Finally, the Escape’s cargo area offers 37.5 cubic feet with the rear seat upright or 65.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. Compare that to 29.9 cubic feet and 63.9 cubic feet for the Equinox, respectively.
The 2024 Ford Escape wins in a landslide.
The Escape easily prevails in this all-American small SUV competition. The performance, variety, and efficiency of Ford's powertrain options trumps Chevy. And that’s not to mention that the cabin is more spacious, too. While the Escape is pricier than the Equinox, we think it’s worth every cent. Here at Banner Ford in Mandeville, LA, we always keep a great selection of this popular SUV in stock, so drop in anytime for a test drive and be convinced as to why the Escape dominates its competitors.