Starting at
Starting at
3 | Available Engines | 2 |
Up to 245 HP | Horsepower | 184-190 |
170-275 lb-ft | Torque | 179-180 lb-ft |
3,500 LBS | Towing Capacity | 1,500 LBS |
If you’re in the market for a compact SUV, you’ll probably find yourself comparing well-known models like the 2019 Ford Escape vs 2019 Honda CR-V. Both vehicles are popular options among consumers searching for a compact SUV, however the 2019 Ford Escape is the much more versatile selection.
The 2019 Ford Escape is incredibly well-rounded, offering a high level of performance, advanced entertainment technology, and a safe, reliable design. The 2019 Ford Escape offers three engine options, and when equipped with its most powerful engine can produce up to 245 hp and 275 lb-ft torque. This power allows for plenty of capability, giving the Escape a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 LBS. With this capability, drivers can transport recreational equipment with ease, making it the perfect vehicle for weekend adventures with the family. On the inside, the Escape is modern, high-quality, and intuitive, offering advanced entertainment and convenience features. The Escape even earned a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA, making it one of the safest vehicles in the compact SUV class.
Meanwhile, the 2019 Honda CR-V offers very little in terms of performance, even when equipped with its more powerful engine. At most, the CR-V produces up to 190 hp and 180 lb-ft torque, making it too weak to offer any type of capability. The 2019 Honda CR-V is also disappointing in terms of standard entertainment technology, offering only a handful of the most basic entertainment features. In addition, the 2019 Honda CR-V is the more expensive vehicle compared to the 2019 Ford Escape, making it an even more unreasonable purchase. But, the CR-V is the more fuel-efficient vehicle and received high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS.
Overall, the 2019 Ford Escape is the more versatile vehicle compared to the 2019 Honda CR-V. It is powerful, capable, and advanced, and all at a more affordable price. Whether you’re considering purchasing the Escape or the CR-V, it’s important to take a closer look at each of these vehicles to determine if it is the right fit for you. So, let’s see how the 2019 Ford Escape vs 2019 Honda CR-V compare in the categories of performance, entertainment, and safety.
In the category of performance, the 2019 Honda CR-V is exceptionally underwhelming, especially when compared to the 2019 Ford Escape. While the Escape is powerful, capable, and versatile, the CR-V is simply efficient and not much else.
The 2019 Ford Escape was designed with performance in mind, offering three engine options for drivers to easily customize their new vehicle to match their needs. These include a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine, a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder engine, and a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine. The 1.5L 4-cylinder is the most efficient engine available for the Escape, while the turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder engine is the most powerful engine available. When equipped with its turbocharged engine, the 2019 Ford Escape produces an incredible 245 hp and 275 lb-ft torque, allowing for a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 LBS. These are high-performance specs for the compact SUV class and help make the 2019 Ford Escape one of the most versatile vehicles on the market. All three engines are paired with a 6-speed transmission and the Escape comes standard in front-wheel drive with all-wheel drive as an available configuration. If you’re looking for a compact SUV that can still handle the occasional adventure with ease, you’ll love the new Ford Escape.
The 2019 Honda CR-V is not the ideal vehicle for drivers looking for a high level of performance. The CR-V offers two engine options, including a 2.4L 4-cylinder engine and a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine, each paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The 1.5L 4-cylinder engine is the turbocharged option, but still offers only a maximum horsepower of 190 hp and up to 180 lb-ft torque. The standard 2.4L 4-cylinder engine offers only 184 hp and 179 lb-ft torque. These low numbers are below average for the compact SUV class and are not powerful enough to allow for any kind of capability in terms of towing capacity. Yet, the 2019 Honda CR-V is the more efficient vehicle between the two, producing up to 28 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway. While this is a higher fuel economy rating than what is offered on the Escape, it is to be expected given the CR-V’s lack of power.
Despite recent advancements in automotive entertainment technology, Honda has stuck to their reputation of offering basic entertainment features onboard the base models of their vehicles. The 2019 Honda CR-V is no exception and offers available entertainment features at a costly price.
The 2019 Ford Escape comes standard with SYNC infotainment system featuring enhanced voice recognition technology. This infotainment system is one of the top-rated systems in its class and pairs with a standard 4.2-inch display, 6-speaker sound system, and a USB port. Available entertainment features are affordable, yet advanced and include additional technology like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, a 10-speaker Sony sound system, and an additional USB port. With a low starting MSRP of just $24,105, it’s easy to upgrade to one of the available and intuitive packages on the 2019 Ford Escape. The Escape’s entertainment suite is further enhanced by a well-designed cabin appointed with high-quality materials and modern touches.
The 2019 Honda CR-V offers one of the worst standard entertainment suites in the compact class, offering only 5-inch non-touchscreen audio display, a 4-speaker sound system, and Bluetooth. Drivers can upgrade to a 7-inch touchscreen display, which is used to navigate the Honda infotainment system, unfortunately, this interface has received poor reviews from critics and drivers regarding its user-friendliness. Other available features include additional USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 6-speaker sound system. Overall, like in the category of performance, the 2019 Honda CR-V is simply underwhelming in terms of its entertainment technology, making for a seemingly outdated cabin. The 2019 Honda CR-V is also the more expensive vehicle between these two compact SUVs, making upgrading to more reasonable entertainment features even less affordable. If you’re planning to enjoy a full entertainment suite at a low price, you’ll want to opt for the 2019 Ford Escape over the 2019 Honda CR-V.
When it comes to safety, both the 2019 Ford Escape and 2019 Honda CR-V are excellent options in the compact SUV class. The difference is that the 2019 Ford Escape offers more standard safety features at a lower price and received excellent safety scores from the IIHS and NHTSA.
The 2019 Ford Escape received a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA based on its performance across multiple crash test categories. Drivers investing in the new Escape can enjoy standard safety features including a rearview camera and MyKey, which allows drivers to set volume and speed restrictions for secondary drivers or even teen drivers. Due to its effectiveness in promoting safe driving habits, MyKey has become a consumer favorite for parents of teenage drivers. Of course, the Escape also offers a variety of available driver assist features including automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, active park assist, rear cross traffic alert blind spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors. Overall, the 2019 Ford Escape is a safe, reliable, and affordable choice in the compact SUV class, with the power and capability to make an incredibly versatile vehicle.
The 2019 Honda CR-V is an incredibly safe vehicle and also received a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA. However, the CR-V offers only one standard safety feature, a rearview camera, and as the more expensive vehicle in this comparison, the Escape maintains the edge in this category. Like the 2019 Ford Escape, the 2019 Honda CR-V offers a long list of available driver assist features including automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and blind spot monitoring. If you’re looking for a safe vehicle on a budget, or are interested in technology like MyKey that will be helpful with teen drivers, the 2019 Ford Escape is the more appropriate option.