As you may or may not know, the 2024 Toyota Rav4 Prime is a very popular vehicle. So much so that wait times range from 6 months to a couple of years (depending on region). So if you don’t have the patience to wait for one, is something like the 2024 Ford Escape PHEV a good alternative to the popular Rav4 Prime?
Performance
Engines – Both crossovers are powered by 2.5L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engines. Of the two, it’s the engine in the Toyota that is more powerful with 177 hp & 165 lb-ft (132 kW / 224 Nm). The one in the Escape PHEV produces 163 hp & 155 lb-ft of torque (121 kW / 210 Nm). With the addition of the electric motors, it’s the Toyota once again leading the top trump cards with a system total output of 302 hp (225 kW) while the Ford Escape PHEV produces just 210 hp (156 kW).
This difference in power is very evident from behind the steering wheel despite the 2024 Toyota Rav4 Prime being significantly heavier than the 2024 Ford Escape PHEV at 1,950 kg (4,299 lbs) vs 1,770 kg (3,904 lbs) respectively. For a time, the Rav4 Prime was the second most powerful Toyota that one can buy behind the Toyota Supra. That being said, the Escape PHEV doesn’t feel too slow, it’s just slower in comparison. It can accelerate from a stop without impeding drivers behind and it takes no effort to overtake slower moving traffic at speed.
Battery, Range, & Charging – Of these two crossover SUVs, the 2024 Toyota Rav4 Prime has a larger battery at 18.1 kWh. This enables it to drive for a claimed 68 (42 Miles) km on electricity alone. I managed to squeeze 72 km (44 Miles) out of the battery with climate control running at all times. The 2024 Ford Escape PHEV has a smaller 14.4 kWh battery pack which enables it to drive for a claimed 60 km (37 Miles) of electric-only range. In the Ford, I managed 55 km (34 Miles). It was a bit less than the claimed range but I did have to drive on a highway for a while which meant less opportunities to use regenerative braking.
Under electric-only driving, both vehicles have enough grunt to keep up with surrounding traffic, even on highways. Under full throttle applications in EV mode, the gasoline engines will not turn on. However, the Escape PHEV will give the driver an option to turn on the engine should more power be required. A message will appear on the instrument cluster with the driver only needing to press “Ok” on the steering wheel to turn the engine on. Once the batteries are depleted, both drive as though they’re normal self-charging hybrids. Both also have a few different battery modes depending on the situation.
Battery hold will keep the battery state of charge at whatever it’s at when you press the button or select it in the infotainment system. At that point, both cars will drive like self-charging hybrids. Both cars also have auto hybrid modes which will provide mostly electric driving unless the throttle pedal is pushed about 50% of the way down. After which, the engine will turn on to provide more power. One mode that the Rav4 Prime has and the Escape PHEV does not have is a battery recharge mode. This will turn on the engine and allow the battery to be recharged. However, not only does this mode use more fuel, it will also not engage if the battery is already fully charged or pretty close to being fully charged.
The most efficient way to recharge these plug-in hybrids is from a wall socket with the provided charging cables or at a level 2 charger. The Toyota Rav4 Prime will get fully recharged in about 12 hours from a wall socket and about 2 and a half hours from a level 2 charger. The Ford Escape PHEV actually takes longer to recharge from a level 2 charger, about 3 and a half hours, because it only has a 3.3 kW onboard charger. The Rav4 Prime has a 6.6 kW onboard charger. The level 1 charge time in the Escape PHEV is roughly the same as the Toyota.
Fuel Economy – When the cars are driving with a depleted battery or in their respective battery hold modes, they can still be very fuel efficient. The 2024 Toyota Rav4 Prime is rated for 5.7 L/100km (41.2 MPG) in a city and 6.4 L/100km (36.7 MPG) on a highway. The 2024 Ford Escape PHEV is rated for 5.6 L/100km (42 MPG) in a city and 6.3 L/100km (37.3 MPG) on a highway. During my time with the Rav4, I averaged 2.2 L/100km (107 MPG) and in the Escape, I averaged 1.7 L/100km (138 MPG). Of course these numbers will greatly fluctuate depending on how often you plug in each vehicle and how much you travel while using the gas engine.
Transmission – Both vehicles have eCVT automatic to control the power. Under normal driving conditions, they drive like traditional eCVTs, as in, holding the engine’s rpms at a certain point until the driver lets off the throttle. The Toyota has an “S” mode which will provide virtual gears while the Ford has an “L” mode that will keep the engine’s rpms at a higher level when it’s running.
Braking – Like many other plug-in hybrids, these two use regenerative braking to recoup some electric power. In the Escape PHEV, the “L” mode will provide a stronger regen force but it will not bring the car to a complete stop by simply taking your foot off the throttle pedal. The “S” mode in the Rav4 Prime also provides a bit more regen force than in the normal “D” mode but the Rav4 also does not have a one-pedal mode.
Otherwise, the braking performance is average for both crossovers. The brake pedals have a long travel but firm up under heavier braking applications. But between the two, the blended regen & physical brake is much more noticeable in the Escape PHEV than in the Rav4 Prime.
Handling – As is to be predicted, neither of these crossover SUVs are particularly enjoyable to drive if you find yourself on more entertaining roads. Neither have the precision of the Mazda CX-5 which is the best driving crossover in this class. These two are city crossovers and that’s where they feel most at home.
One thing to note, the Toyota Rav4 Prime has a standard AWD system. Though it’s not a traditional system with a driveshaft connecting the back wheels with the engine, it is something that the Ford Escape PHEV does not have. It is only available with FWD. Additionally, the Rav4 Prime can tow up to 2,500 lbs while the Escape PHEV can tow up to 1,500 lbs.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – Both crossovers are geared towards providing a smooth ride. Both deliver a generally comfortable ride over most road surfaces with only very rough roads unsettling the ride quality.
The difference, for me, came down to the seats. Like in the Ford Escape Hybrid, this plug-in hybrid version had a firm seat bottom. I found the seats in the Rav4 Prime to be softer and more comfortable for my body type.
Interior Space – On paper, it’s the 2024 Ford Escape PHEV that has more interior volume for passengers. However, we live in a 3D world and I found the Rav4 Prime to have more passenger space, specifically leg space. In the front seats, it is the Escape that has more headroom than the Rav4 but the Toyota is not exactly lacking any headroom either.
The biggest difference between these two is in the back seats. Behind my 6’4” driving position, I found more leg space in the Toyota than in the Ford. The Escape does have indentations in the back of the front seats to allow for your knees but it still didn’t feel as spacious as it did in the back seats of the Toyota. One advantage that the Escape has is that the seats are split 60/40 and can slide. So rear occupants can trade legroom for more cargo space or vice versa. Another advantage for the Ford is that the Toyota’s rear doors don’t open as wide. Getting into the back or loading from the side won’t be as easy in the Rav4 than it is in the Escape.
But the Toyota Rav4 Prime claws back some points when you open the rear liftgate. It has 949 L (33.5 cu-ft) of space behind the rear seats which is a bit less than the Escape’s at 974 L (34.4 cu-ft). However, that changes once you fold down the rear seats with the Rav4 providing 1,976 L (69.8 cu-ft) vs the Escape’s 1,722 L (60.8 cu-ft). Under the trunk floor, both cars have spare tires.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – Like the Ford Escape Hybrid, the 2024 Ford Escape plug-in hybrid has a noisier cabin compared to the 2024 Toyota Rav4 Prime. More tire noise is evident while driving at higher speeds. On the flip side, the engine in the Escape is quieter under moderate throttle applications than the one in the Rav4 Prime.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – Of the two, it’s the Escape that is less expensive. The 2024 Ford Escape PHEV starts at $43,999 CAD ($40,500 USD) with a fully loaded version, like this demo car, comes in at $51,649 CAD ($46,625 USD). The 2024 Toyota Rav4 Prime starts at $51,150 CAD ($43,690 USD) and this top spec XSE trim will cost you $61,290 CAD ($50,610 USD). Both are eligible for government rebates here in British Columbia but it may be different for your region so check with your local dealer.
Gadgets – For that kind of money, both crossovers come equipped with broadly the same features but there are a few small differences. They are both equipped with leather upholstery (synthetic in the Rav4), heated front seats, heated steering wheels, panoramic sunroofs, power liftgates, power front seats, surround view cameras, and wireless phone charging pads. They both also have head-up displays but the one in the Toyota is projected onto the windshield while the one in the Ford is projected on a small piece of glass or plastic that rises from the dashboard. Additionally, the Rav4 Prime is available with a rear camera mirror, ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. The Escape PHEV does not have those last three features.
The Rav4 Prime has the latest Toyota infotainment system which has much nicer graphics and simpler menu layout than before. It supports wireless CarPlay & wireless Android Auto. The Escape PHEV has a large 13.2” touchscreen which displays SYNC 4 infotainment system. It too is quite simple to navigate around and the graphics arguably look even better. It too supports wireless CarPlay & wireless Android Auto but sadly, this screen now integrates the climate controls. I hate that. I prefer physical climate control buttons.
Interior Design – Ignoring the lack of physical controls in the Ford Escape, the interior has the minimalist design language that is very much in trend these days. The steering wheel retains the physical buttons as do the exterior light controls to the left of the steering wheel.
The Toyota Rav4 Prime looks utilitarian by comparison. Every function has a dedicated button or a large knob. I find the Rav4’s interior to be easier to use and while the materials may look like they’re cheap, they’re in fact soft to the touch.
Exterior Design – The updated styling of the Ford Escape gives it more sharp lines then the pre-facelift model year. The front fascia sees more changes than the rear including new headlights, grille and a light bar that stretches from headlight to headlight. The Toyota Rav4 Prime does not see any styling changes for the 2024 model year.
Safety – Both vehicles are well equipped with safety & driver aids as standard. Automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and keep, blind spot sensors, adaptive cruise control, and so on. The only additional add-ons for both are the surround view cameras and rear cross traffic braking.
Warranty – Both vehicles are covered by a 3 year / 60,000 km new vehicle and 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranty while the hybrid components are covered by an 8 year / 160,000 km warranty. One difference is that the Rav4’s battery is covered by a 10 year / 240,000 km warranty. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For information on USA warranty, click here. (Scroll to bottom of page) For more information on Ford’s Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty, click here.
Conclusion – Overall, the 2024 Toyota Rav4 Prime is still the better plug-in hybrid crossover SUV without going into luxury territory. But if you can’t wait that long to get your hands on one, the 2024 Ford Escape PHEV is a good alternative, however you are making a few sacrifices. Less power, less range, no AWD, less interior space, and less towing capacity. But you should be able to get it sooner and it’ll cost you less.
Thank you to Toyota Canada for providing the Rav4 Prime. www.Toyota.ca
Thank you to Ford Canada for providing the Escape PHEV. www.Ford.ca
2024 Toyota Rav4 Prime Gallery
2024 Ford Escape PHEV Gallery
