Chevrolet Equinox vs. Ford Escape: Which Small SUV Is Best?

The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox comes equipped with a single engine choice, a 1.5-liter four-cylinder that develops 175 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive are standard on all trims; all-wheel drive is optional on all Equinox grades. We've criticized Chevy's four-cylinder unit for its laggy responsiveness and inadequate output. The gearbox is slow-shifting, further holding back the drivetrain's refinement and performance. In our test of a 2022 Equinox RS, 0-60 mph arrived in a sluggish 8.9 seconds.

Ford equips the 2023 Escape with a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine developing 181 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive are standard, with all-wheel drive available across the range. A pre-2023 FWD Escape managed the 0-60 mph run in 8.4 seconds when equipped with this engine, beating out the sportiest version of the Equinox. Although the engine is peppy for its size, it's not very refined.

A much more appealing powertrain is the Escape's top-shelf 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit, producing 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to an all-wheel-drive setup. This arrangement propels the Escape from 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds. The more powerful unit doesn't just improve acceleration—it's smoother, too. Overall, Ford offers more compelling drivetrains for the Escape than Chevy does for the Equinox.

The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox's fuel economy is held back by its six-speed automatic transmission. FWD models are rated 26/31 mpg city/highway and AWD variants are rated 24/30 mpg. When equipped with the entry-level engine, the 2023 Ford Escape is certified at 27/34 mpg with FWD and 26/32 mpg with AWD. Ford still matches the less powerful AWD Chevy Equinox when the Escape is powered by the larger engine. The EPA rates the more powerful, AWD-only version of the Escape at 23/31 mpg.

Those in search of even more efficiency should spring for the Ford Escape Hybrid, which is powered by a 2.5-liter I-4 and an electric motor that produce a combined 200 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. Whether equipped with FWD or AWD, the electrified Ford is rated at 42/36 mpg. There's also a Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid that offers 37 miles of all-electric range.

The interior of the Ford Escape is larger than the Chevrolet Equinox in every dimension. The Blue Oval's compact SUV simply offers more passenger space and cargo volume than its rival.

Most versions of the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox come with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An 8.0-inch display is available on the LT and RS models and standard on the top-level Premier trim. A six-speaker audio system is standard and a seven-speaker audio setup is available. Chevrolet's infotainment system is intuitive, but the omission of a digital instrument cluster in today's market is shocking.

Ford's latest update for the Escape overhauled its suite of standard and available tech. An 8.0-inch touchscreen serves as the base display and a 13.2-inch unit is available. All Escape models come with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in addition to over-the-air update capability, voice command controls, and navigation. Every Escape receives a 13.2-inch digital instrument cluster as well. A six-speaker audio setup is standard but an audiophile-friendly 10-speaker premium B&O system is also available. The Escape uses Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment software, which is well-integrated into the SUV's digital ecosystem and easy to use. The Escape's impressive tech earns it a win over the Equinox in this category.

The Ford Escape narrowly edges out the Chevrolet Equinox in crash testing. Per the IIHS, both models receive the highest score of Good in most categories, but a second-lowest Marginal rating in the updated side crash test. The Equinox was rated Poor in the updated moderate overlap front crash test while the Escape received a Good score in this category. Both models garnered five-star overall ratings from the NHTSA, with five stars in the front crash test, five stars in the side crash test, and four stars in the rollover test.

The 2024 Equinox receives the Chevy Safety Assist suite of active safety features, which includes automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and automatic high-beams. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera are available.

Ford's better-outfitted Co-Pilot360 is standard on every Escape and includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist, intersection collision avoidance, and automatic high-beams. For better safety ratings and features, choose the Ford Escape.

Although the Chevrolet Equinox isn't as competitive as the Ford Escape in most categories, it does carry a lower starting price. Pricing for the 2024 Equinox hasn't been released yet, but the 2023 model starts at $29,095 as of this writing. The 2023 Ford Escape starts at $30,140, about $1,000 more. If initial cost-savings are of the utmost importance, Chevrolet has you covered. We expect this pricing difference to remain approximately the same when 2024 model year prices for both vehicles are announced.

Even though the 2023 Ford Escape is more expensive at the point of sale, our partners at IntelliChoice estimate that its long-term value will be better than that of the Chevy Equinox. Our five-year ownership cost estimate for the Ford ranges from Average to Good depending on trim, with the majority of trims scoring Average. Equinox trims received scores of Mediocre or Average, with most receiving Mediocre scores. Chevrolet does offer a 12-month maintenance warranty, which Ford does not, but this doesn't do enough to sway this category in the Bow Tie's favor.

Ford wins the all-American compact SUV shootout by a landslide. The 2023 Escape outclasses the 2024 Equinox in every major category we evaluate. We prefer Ford's powertrain options for their performance and efficiency. The Escape has a more spacious cabin and is outfitted with more impressive technology than the Equinox as well. Ford's SUV receives better safety ratings and more active driver assistance technology. Although Chevrolet asks a lower starting price for the Equinox than Ford does for the Escape, we say the Ford's higher price is justifiable. Shoppers in the market for a new compact SUV should pick the Escape over the Equinox, although there are stronger options in the segment than either of these SUVs.