2015 Toyota RAV4 vs 2015 Ford Escape

Small crossovers and compact SUVs are all the rage these days, offering dynamic driving experiences, spacious interiors and frugal fuel efficiency numbers, they are a do-it-all type of vehicle. With room for five and innovative interiors to match, small crossovers are ideal for families in the Enfield, CT area. As such a popular segment, there are countless quality options for you to choose from, ultimately making your car-buying decision a difficult one. To help you make an informed decision, we have compared two premier options in the class with our 2015 Toyota RAV4 vs 2015 Ford Escape debate.

Armed with Toyota-brand reliability and a storied history as the compact SUV pioneer, the 2015 Toyota RAV4 is an extremely popular option in the class and it squares off against Ford’s entry in the class, the 2015 Ford Escape. In our Toyota vs Ford crossover comparison, you will see the difference between the performance-driven Ford Escape and the family-friendly Toyota RAV4. To keep our comparison objective, we have examined similarly equipped base trims of each model, outfitted with standard four-cylinder engines and skipping all of the extra features that muddy the waters when it comes to comparisons.

Schedule a Test Drive in the 2015 Toyota RAV4 at Gale Toyota!

At first glance, these two leading crossovers are eerily similar, providing Enfield-area drivers with sleek designs that possess energetic 2.5-liter four-cylinder power platforms. Side by side, the Toyota RAV4’s power core has the upper hand when it comes to power, yielding 176 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque versus the Ford Escape’s 168 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. Both crossover models employ a six-speed automatic transmission and are available with all-wheel drive. In this category, Toyota’s Dynamic Torque Control All-Wheel Drive system is one of the most innovative on the market, improving performance in nearly any driving situation and giving the RAV4 an advantage when the weather gets severe.

When you delve deeper into our 2015 Toyota RAV4 vs 2015 Ford Escape comparison, fuel economy is another focus of the segment. If you are sticking with base engines, the Toyota RAV4 provides exceptional efficiency numbers, achieving an EPA-estimated 24 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway compared to the Ford Escape’s meager 22 mpg in the city. If you are planning on running around town, dropping kids off at soccer practice and helping out with the weekly carpool, the Toyota RAV4 will give you more bang for your buck. For increased efficiency, the Ford Escape offers additional EcoBoost engine options for a significantly higher cost, which Toyota engineers have countered with the recent unveiling of the 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

Another family-friendly element that the compact SUV segment offers is exceptional cargo capacity. Behind the second-row seats, the Toyota RAV4 possesses 38.4 cubic-feet of space that is more than enough for carpools and everyday errands, providing a significant upgrade over the 34.3 cubic-feet of the Ford Escape. If you are looking for an award-winning, family-friendly crossover with an energetic power platform, competitive fuel economy ratings and cavernous cargo spaces, the 2015 Toyota RAV4 at Gale Toyota checks all of the boxes.