Compare the2025 Toyota Rav4 Plug-In HybridVS 2025 Ford Escape PHEV

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid achieved an “Acceptable” rating for its forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the Ford Escape PHEV which scored only a “Marginal” in these critical safety features.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid and the Escape PHEV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Ford Escape PHEV:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Escape PHEV:

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is 4.1% less likely to roll over than the Escape PHEV.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Escape PHEV.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s reliability 42 points higher than the Escape PHEV.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 92 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 23rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Ford is ranked 13th.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 92 more horsepower (302 vs. 210) than the Escape PHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is faster than the Ford Escape PHEV:

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 42 miles. The Escape PHEV has to start its internal combustion engine after only 37 miles.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Escape PHEV (14.5 vs. 11.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port and which locks and unlocks with the power locks, respectively. The Escape PHEV doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Escape PHEV are solid, not vented.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid stops shorter than the Escape PHEV:

For better traction, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Escape PHEV (235/55R19 vs. 225/60R18).

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escape PHEV’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE has standard 19-inch wheels. The Escape PHEV’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is .6 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Escape PHEV.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56% to 44%) than the Escape PHEV’s (58% to 42%). This gives the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid more stable handling and braking.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE handles at .83 G’s, while the Escape PHEV pulls only .73 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Escape PHEV (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.9 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Escape PHEV’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.2 feet).

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has .2 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Escape PHEV.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s rear seats recline. The Escape PHEV’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Escape PHEV with its rear seat folded (63.2 vs. 60.8 cubic feet).

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the Escape PHEV’s in almost every dimension:

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Escape PHEV’s (2500 vs. 1500 pounds).

If the windows are left open on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Escape PHEV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Escape PHEV’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid and the Escape PHEV have standard heated front seats. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Escape PHEV.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Ford Escape by over three to one during 2024.