2025 Honda CR-V vs 2025 Ford Escape Hybrid
How to Compare the Ford Escape and Honda CR-V
To understand how these two are different, you should know how size and drivability are two major factors. With or without the hybrids, efficiency is a third major factor that matters in a segment where families need the best ride for their budget.
Here’s how to decide between the 2025 Honda CR-V and 2025 Ford Escape in Phoenix.
Size and Spaciousness
When it comes to spaciousness, it’s important to understand what the numbers actually mean.
The 2025 Ford Escape in Phoenix has up to 40.7 inches of rear legroom with the gas engine or up to 39.5 inches with the hybrid powertrain. However, these maximum numbers require the seats to be in their rearmost position, losing some of the cargo hold space.
Meanwhile, the 2025 Honda CR-V always has 41 inches of rear legroom without losing any of its 39.5 cubic feet of cargo space. The Escape is rated at 34.5 cubic feet with the seats in the rearmost position or 37.5 cubic feet with the seats moved forward.
Furthermore, the Honda’s larger size makes a difference when the seats are folded. This creates 76 cubic feet in the CR-V while creating only 65.4 cubic feet in the Ford Escape.
So the CR-V is the clear winner in this category. It’s best whether you need maximum people space, maximum cargo space, or a combination of the two.
Standard Performance
When it comes to performance, many traditionalists expect Ford to take the lead. However CR-Vs have the most horsepower while Escapes claim the most torque with the gas engines. At this point, it is hard to declare a winner.
However, if you look deeper, it’s obvious. First of all, fuel efficiency favors the Honda CR-V FWD, which can earn 30 mpg* combined while the Ford Escape FWD earns 28 mpg combined. The difference is similar when you compare all-wheel drive models.
Furthermore, drive quality favors the CR-V. Again and again, critics talk about its overall refinement. That smooth, quieter driving experience is important to the passengers.
So if you want performance, efficiency, and good ride quality, the Honda edges ahead. You can get more details in this 2025 review.
[*] 28 city/34 highway/30 combined mpg rating for Honda CR-V 2WD trims. 26 city/31 highway/28 combined mpg rating for AWD trims.Hybrid Performance
When it comes to electric power, the Honda CR-V Hybrid has two electric motors to assist its 4-cylinder engine; even better, these motors are placed side-by-side in a unique arrangement that boosts output. While the one-motor Escape Hybrid generates 192 horsepower, the two-motor Honda CR-V hybrid driver commands 204 horsepower. That’s an extra 12 horses under the hood for the lucky Honda owner.
Even more impressive, the Honda hybrid torque rate is 247 lb-ft compared to just 155 lb-ft for the 2025 Ford Escape in Phoenix. That’s an extra 92 lb-ft of torque to make accelerating from zero, passing on the highway, and climbing mountain grades easier.
Despite this huge difference in power output, the Honda still manages to claim an estimated 40 mpg* in combined driving, compared to the Escape with 39 mpg combined. In other words, you get more power without any loss in fuel efficiency.
Lastly, the Honda hybrid powertrain doesn’t cause the loss of any interior space. The 2025 Ford Escape Hybrid has slightly less passenger space and slightly less cargo space than the regular Escape. And that ride quality issue? It favors the Honda CR-V Hybrid.
[*] 43 city/36 highway/40 combined mpg rating for Honda CR-V 2WD hybrid trim. 40 city/34 highway/37 combined mpg rating for AWD hybrid trim. Based on 2025 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery-pack age/condition (hybrid trims) and other factors.
Safety and Driver Assistance
The two models both promise good safety records. So again, we need to dig a little deeper.
Families will be interested in the fact that the Honda has more airbags and as much or more driver assistance as a similar Ford Escape in Phoenix. Honda Sensing gets better every year, always supplying state-of-the-art tech tools.
This includes commuter favorites that are not standard on the Ford Escape in Phoenix. Every CR-V owner enjoys adaptive cruise control, low speed following and traffic jam assist.
Comfort, Quality, and Luxury
For years, the new Honda CR-V has been a critic’s choice and a top seller in its class. This year it continues this winning streak with high quality materials in its cabin. A high tech driver’s cockpit adds to its ability to go head to head with the Ford Escape or any other compact SUV.
When it comes to quality, critics will tell you that the Honda CR-V represents better quality from the entry level trim to the incredible Sport Touring model. Ford Escapes are criticized for inferior materials at the entry level that aren’t entirely overcome by the pricey Escape Platinum upgrades.
When it comes to the top trims, the Escape Platinum has ActiveX leatherette upholstery while the CR-V Sport Touring and CR-V EX-L have real leather.
If you are comparing performance, the Escape Platinum powertrain will cost much more to operate. This is not only because the Sport Touring is an all-wheel hybrid that earns 37 mpg combined*, but it’s also because Ford recommends premium fuel for the Escape Platinum edition.
[*] 40 city/34 highway/37 combined mpg rating for AWD hybrid trim. Based on 2025 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery-pack age/condition (hybrid trims) and other factors.
Why Choose Earnhardt Honda?
With the numbers to back up its spaciousness and drivability, the 2025 Honda CR-V is the natural winner in this contest. The Honda commitment to reliability, safety, and top technologies helps seal the deal.
Ultimately, you need to get behind the wheel to understand just how the CR-V provides comfort, convenience and style. Visit Earnhardt Honda in Avondale before you test drive the Ford Escape in Phoenix.
Our customer-centric approach includes fair and transparent No Bull pricing, competitive financing options, and an enjoyable shopping experience.
Schedule a test drive at your convenience.
Most new vehicles include “No Bull Protection Package” inclusive of highly demanded, popular items designed to protect your investment such as window tint, [for most trucks] spray-in bed-liner. Costs of No Bull Protection Package will vary from $588 (Cars, Vans, CUVs and SUVs) to $1,137 (Trucks). Actual vehicle sale price and payments may vary for various reasons - including but not limited to - applicable manufacturer incentives, special limited time offers, dealer incentives, taxes, fees, and buyer's credit qualifications, dealer installed accessories, market product (or vehicle) availability and $599.00 dealer doc fee. Financing on approved credit. Must qualify for some offers. Some offers may not be available with special financing, lease and some other offers.
Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on our website, absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Dealer cannot be held liable for data that may be listed incorrectly. While we make every effort to ensure the data listed here is correct, there may be instances where some of the factory incentives, rates, incentives, options or vehicle features may be listed incorrectly as we receive data from multiple data sources. All vehicles are subject to prior sale. Not responsible for typographical errors. Equipment added by the dealer or the purchaser will increase the overall transaction amount.
Any MPG listed is based on model year EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary, depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery pack age/condition (hybrid only) and other factors. For additional information about EPA ratings, visit https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/label/learn-more-phev-label.shtml
Refer to our Privacy and User Consentfor details about information we collect and various communication methods we will use to assist customers. By providing your contact information to ANY form contained in – or connected to – this website, you are hereby agreeing to receive text messages from this dealership and our affiliates or partners at the number(s) and/or information which you have provided. You are also expressly consenting to recurring contact from the aforementioned company or its business partners at the number you provided regarding products or services via live, automated or prerecorded telephone call, text message or email. You understand that your telephone provider may impose charges on you for these contacts, and you are not required to enter into this agreement/consent as a condition of purchasing property, goods, or services. You also understand that you may revoke this consent at any time by notifying the dealership in writing.