Each vehicle seats five people and offers roughly the same amount of passenger volume. So, you’ll have more than enough space to comfortably stretch out in either SUV.

Of course, cargo space is something you’ll need to think about, too. The Ford Escape offers 34.4 cubic feet behind the rear row. If you put down the rear seats, you’ll have a maximum of 65.4 cubic feet.

Meanwhile, the Honda CR-V offers 39.3 cubic feet with the rear seats upright and 76.5 cubic feet when they’re folded down. If you want room for all your goods, the 2023 CR-V is the SUV for you.

Both SUVs offer features to ensure your comfort. They come standard with cloth seats and make leather seating available. Their available 10-way power driver’s seats will help you find your perfect position while behind the wheel.

The Honda CR-V's standard heated front seats will keep you warm on chilly mornings or cold nights. Heated front-row seats are available on higher trim levels of the Escape.

The Escape’s single-zone manual climate control can be upgraded to dual-zone automatic temperature control in higher trims. Meanwhile, the Honda CR-V comes standard with a dual-zone automatic climate control system, further extending the difference in their levels of comfort.

Both models have easy-to-use infotainment systems, including available voice recognition. You can pull up directions, send a quick text, and more—all without handling your phone while driving.

In both models, you’ll have standard Apple CarPlay^® and Android Auto™ integration. Thanks to this smartphone capability, you can display key phone features and apps right on the touchscreen in front of you.

Their standard stereo systems include six speakers. Upgrade either model for a truly immersive listening experience. The Ford Escape offers an available 10-speaker B&O^® sound system. However, the CR-V tops this with an available Bose Premium Sound System with 12 speakers, including a subwoofer.

When comparing the safety systems of the CR-V vs. Escape, both have plenty of driver-assist systems to help maintain safe habits.

For example, both models provide a Lane Keeping Assist System . Using the vehicle’s sensors and cameras, this system tracks the lines of the lane, alerting you visually and/or audibly if you start to stray. In some instances, the system may even apply corrective steering to keep your vehicle where it needs to be.

Although both vehicles will help keep you safe, there are some areas where Honda goes the extra mile, such as these standard features:

While the Ford Escape has a Rear View Camera, the Honda’s standard version offers multiple angles. When you’re backing up, you can look at a wide view or a top-down perspective, to make reversing safe. As with Adaptive Cruise Control, a similar setup is only available in the Escape with an upgrade. Meanwhile, no comparable Road Departure Mitigation System exists for the Ford.

The Honda CR-V comes standard with a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that delivers 190 horsepower. It’s paired with a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) that provides an endless range of gear ratios. As such, it’s more efficient than an automatic transmission.

The Ford Escape, on the other hand, comes standard with a 1.5L 3-cylinder engine that delivers 180 horsepower and is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. As a result, you may not have the power you need to handle various driving scenarios and will have a fixed (more limited) range of gears.

In addition, the CR-V can achieve up to an EPA-estimated 28 city/34 highway MPG across all 2-wheel drive trims.* With numbers like these, you can get to work, run errands, and hit up that new restaurant in town before needing to stop and refuel.

While the Escape has similar MPG ratings with its gas engine, the driving experience it offers will feel nothing like that of the CR-V. That’s because of the difference in their transmissions. In providing seamless shifting abilities for an overall smoother drive, the CR-V can offer a ride you’ll never forget.