Compared: 2024 Chevrolet Equinox vs. 2024 Ford Escape
One comes in a hybrid and plug-in hybrid, but the other has a lower starting price.
Chevrolet | Ford
If you're in the market for a compact crossover, it may be helpful to know that the Chevrolet Equinox and the Ford Escape have long been popular choices. For 2024, the Chevy offers plenty of value with an attractive starting price and lots of interior volume.
The Ford has many features, however, in addition to more power. It also offers a choice of two hybrid powertrains. Here's a look at how these two competitors stack up in terms of price, features, and fuel economy.
Chevrolet
The Equinox Has Fewer Options
At $28,000 for the front-wheel-drive (FWD) LS model, the Equinox is the cheaper option of these two compact crossovers. There are four trims of the 2024 Equinox, with the $33,000 RS model offering a power liftgate and dual-zone climate control. The top-trim Premier model is just $850 more than the RS and includes a heated steering wheel and memory seats. Adding all-wheel drive (AWD) to the Equinox will cost about $1,600.
Ford
There are six trims of the Ford Escape to choose from, including the relatively pricey but fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid model, which costs about $42,000 to start. That's significantly more than the entry-level FWD Escape Active, which starts around $31,000. The $36,000 ST-Line Select model includes heated front seats, AWD, and a larger engine.
The $39,000 Platinum model boasts a bigger infotainment screen and remote start. Some models offer an alternative engine choice, letting buyers choose between a more powerful gas or more efficient hybrid setup.
Chevrolet
The Ford Appeals With a Long Feature List
Both the Escape and Equinox come standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The Equinox includes goodies such as active noise cancellation and a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Higher-level trims come with dual-zone climate control, an 8.0-inch infotainment screen, and 18-inch wheels.
The Escape comes with a power liftgate, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and dual-zone climate control. Higher-trim models offer a head-up display, a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster.
Ford
At various trim levels, both vehicles offer a form of parking assist, heated seats, memory seats, remote start, and plenty of driver-assistance and safety tech.
The Ford Escape offers more cargo space behind the rear seats, with 37.5 cubic-feet for gas-powered models and 34.4 cu-ft in the hybrid models, compared with 29.9 cu-ft in the Equinox. Fold the rear seats down, and the 63.9 cu-ft of total cargo space in the Chevrolet outsizes the 60.8 cubes in hybrid-powered Escapes — but not the 65.4 cu-ft of the gas-powered versions.
Passenger volume is similar between these crossovers, with 103.5 cu-ft in the Equinox compared with 104 cu-ft in the gas-powered Escape and 102.2 in the hybrid models.
Ford
The Ford Escape Wins in Fuel Economy
The Equinox is motivated by a 175-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel-drive models are good for 26/31/28 mpg city/highway/combined, while the AWD versions are slightly less efficient with 24/30/26 mpg.
There are a few different powertrains available for the Ford Escape, with the entry-level models featuring a 180-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic. In FWD guise, the engine is rated to return 27/34/30 mpg, while the AWD should deliver 26/32/28.
Chevrolet
Higher trim Escapes come with a 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic. This combination is good for 23/31/26 mpg. For more efficiency, check out the hybrid, which features 192 horsepower and gets 42/36/39 mpg. The plug-in hybrid is capable of 37 miles of purely electric travel and its gas engine is EPA-rated at 40 mpg in combined city and highway driving.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Sami Haj-AssaadSami Haj-Assaad is an award-winning automotive journalist who has contributed to several automotive, electric vehicle, luxury lifestyle, and technology publications. His work isn't just limited to the written word, as he's also hosted YouTube videos and podcasts. Having grown up in the '90s, he has a strong sense of attachment to that era's style, though he also loves to geek out about the modern, futuristic tech and powertrains rolling out today.
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