Compare the2025 Ford Escape PHEVVS 2025 Honda CR-V

The Escape PHEV 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 PHEV 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 PHEV has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Rear cross-path warning is not offered on the CR-VLX and the CR-V’s Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the Escape PHEV 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 and driver alert monitors.

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 PHEV’s warranty.

The Escape PHEV 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’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is rated lower.

The Escape PHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 20 more horsepower (210 vs. 190) than the CR-V’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Escape PHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 6 more horsepower (210 vs. 204) than the CR-V Hybrid’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

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

	Escape PHEV	CR-V turbo 4 cyl.	CR-V Hybrid
Zero to 30 MPH	3.5 sec	3.7 sec	3.3 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.2 sec	8.8 sec	8.4 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.4 sec	5.5 sec	5.4 sec
Quarter Mile	16.4 sec	17 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	86 MPH	84 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Escape PHEV running on electricity gets better mileage than the CR-V:

			MPGe
Escape PHEV
	FWD	Electric Motor	111 city/91 hwy
CR-V
			MPG
	FWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/36 hwy
		1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/34 hwy
	AWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/34 hwy
		1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/31 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Escape PHEV running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the CR-V:

			MPG
Escape PHEV
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	42 city/37 hwy
CR-V
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/34 hwy
	AWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/34 hwy
		1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/31 hwy

The Escape PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 37 miles. The CR-V can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Escape PHEV uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CR-V with the 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Escape PHEV higher (7 out of 10) than the Honda CR-V (6 to 7). This means the Escape PHEV produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CR-V every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Escape PHEV’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CR-V:

	Escape PHEV	CR-V
Front Rotors	13 inches	12.3 inches

The Escape PHEV’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CR-V LX’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escape PHEV has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the CR-V LX.

The Escape PHEV 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 PHEV 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 PHEV executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid (28.9 seconds @ .57 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

The Escape PHEV is 3.6 inches shorter than the CR-V, making the Escape PHEV easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Escape PHEV 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.

The Escape PHEV’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CR-V’s (1500 vs. 1000 pounds).

The Escape PHEV can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Escape PHEV can be unhitched and driven around locally. The CR-V can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Escape PHEV 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.

The Escape PHEV 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 PHEV and the CR-V have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Escape PHEV 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.

The Escape PHEV’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 CR-V’s standard 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 PHEV’s available exterior PIN entry system. The CR-V doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Escape PHEV’s standard Intelligent Access allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, 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/Sport.

The Escape PHEV’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the CR-V EX/Sport.

The Escape PHEV has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the CR-V Sport Touring.

The Escape PHEV 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/Sport.

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

The Escape PHEV’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The CR-V doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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