The 2026 Ford Escape gives shoppers four distinct powertrains. A 1.5-liter EcoBoost with 180 horsepower opens the lineup with front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive, a 2.0-liter EcoBoost delivers 250 horsepower with all-wheel drive only, the hybrid produces 192 total system horsepower, and the plug-in hybrid produces 210 total system horsepower. Gas models use an eight-speed automatic while the electrified versions use an eCVT. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost is the most powerful engine either of these SUVs offers.

Honda keeps the CR-V lineup simpler. A 1.5-liter turbocharged four rated at 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft powers LX, EX, and EX-L through a CVT, and the four hybrid trims share a 204-horsepower two-motor system paired to a Direct Drive Unit rather than a conventional automatic. Every hybrid makes identical output, so choosing a higher trim buys features rather than speed. Efficiency favors Honda at the top of the range, with the front-drive hybrid rated at an EPA-estimated 43 city/36 highway MPG against the Escape hybrid's 42 city/36 highway.

SYNC 4 runs the Escape's cabin through either an 8-inch or a 13.2-inch center display depending on trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, the FordPass app adds remote functions and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and a head-up display is available. The 13.2-inch option is the largest screen either vehicle offers by a wide margin.

Honda took the opposite path for 2026 and standardized a 9-inch color touchscreen on all seven CR-V trims, so no buyer is stuck with a small base unit. Cluster hardware splits by trim: LX, EX, and Sport Hybrid use a 7-inch display, while EX-L, TrailSport Hybrid, Sport-L Hybrid, and Sport Touring Hybrid get a 10.2-inch full digital instrument display. Audio ranges from a 160-watt four-speaker system on LX to a Bose system on Sport Touring Hybrid. Honda's floor is higher; Ford's ceiling is higher.

Ford Co-Pilot360 is standard on the 2026 Escape, bringing Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and BLIS with Cross-Traffic Alert on every trim in the lineup. Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go is available, as are Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and a 360-degree camera. Standard blind-spot monitoring across the board is a meaningful point in the Escape's favor here, since it removes the need to climb trims for it.

Honda Sensing is standard on all seven CR-V trims and includes the Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation System, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, and the Lane Keeping Assist System. Standard adaptive cruise on every trim is a real Honda advantage. The gap is blind-spot coverage: the Blind Spot Information System and Cross Traffic Monitor are standard on EX and above but not on the LX, making it the only CR-V without blind-spot monitoring.

The Escape seats five and uses a sliding second row. Gas models offer up to 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 65.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard, heated front seats arrive from ST-Line Select upward, and ActiveX-trimmed seating is available. Ford does not offer leather in the 2026 Escape, so ActiveX is the top material in the lineup.

Cargo is the CR-V's strongest argument. Gas trims hold 39.3 cubic feet behind the second row and 76.5 cubic feet maximum, both figures ahead of the Escape. Hybrid trims give some of that back at 36.3 and 71.8 cubic feet, and the Sport Touring Hybrid drops to 34.7 cubic feet behind the second row to make room for its subwoofer. Honda also offers leather-trimmed seating on EX-L, Sport-L Hybrid, and Sport Touring Hybrid. The Escape counters with its sliding second row and standard dual-zone climate control.

The Escape measures 180.1 inches long on a 106.7-inch wheelbase, and ST-Line trims add darkened sport styling for buyers who want a sharper look. The plug-in hybrid is the standout: its 14.4-kWh battery delivers an EPA-estimated 37 miles of electric-only range and a 101 MPGe combined rating, which covers most Peoria commutes without burning fuel at all. Towing reaches up to 3,500 pounds with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost and the Class II tow package, more than double what the CR-V is rated to pull.

The CR-V takes a more conventional approach outside, with the TrailSport Hybrid adding all-terrain tires and rugged styling cues. That treatment does not raise the CR-V's ground clearance. Towing splits by powertrain and is modest either way: gas trims are rated at 1,500 pounds and hybrids at 1,000 pounds, so the hybrid is the less capable tow vehicle. If you plan to pull a small camper or a utility trailer, that difference is the deciding factor. Visit us near Peoria, IL to drive both back to back.