Chevy Equinox vs Ford Escape

Shop New Equinox Shop Used Equinox Schedule Test Drive

When it comes to choosing your next compact SUV, you have several choices. However, the 2021 Chevy Equinox and the 2021 Ford Escape rise above the rest with their impressive powertrains, spacious and comfortable interiors, and advanced technology features.

In this comparison, we at Feldman Chevrolet of Livonia will help Livonia, Redford, and Wayne, MI, drivers decide between the two by showing how they stack up against each other in the most important ways. Read ahead to see which one comes out on top!

People Also Read:

Chevy Equinox Trim Levels Chevy Equinox Trim Levels

Equinox vs Escape: Performance & Capability

As historically capable SUVs, the 2021 Chevy Equinox and the 2021 Ford Escape have quite a bit in common when it comes to engine performance and off-roading. Both models offer enough power with standard 1.5L engines.

With the 1.5L turbo engine of the Equinox, however, you can expect a bit more than the 1.5L EcoBoost® engine of the Escape. While the Escape puts out an impressive 190 lb-ft of torque, it and any other compact SUV have a hard time competing with the 203 lb-ft of torque from the Equinox.

Additionally, the Chevy Equinox and the Ford Escape offer available intelligent all-wheel drive systems that can be swapped for the standard front-wheel drivetrain. On their faces, these AWD systems seem almost identical with FWD and AWD modes. The way they function couldn’t be more different, though.

The Equinox model’s Switchable All-Wheel Drive system has two driver-selectable modes: fuel-efficient FWD mode for everyday driving; and AWD mode for when you find yourself on slippery roads or you want to take the fun off the pavement.

With the Equinox system, you’re in control of what mode you’re in. The same can’t be said for the Ford Escape. The Escape model’s available AWD Disconnect system changes between FWD mode and AWD mode automatically, which may seem convenient upfront.

But what if you just want to have some fun on the path less traveled? You won’t be able to manually engage the AWD mode unless the system deems it necessary on its own.

Equinox vs Escape: Interior Comfort & Space

Inside both the 2021 Chevy Equinox and the 2021 Ford Escape, you’ll have five spacious seats to take advantage of. Both models offer ample space for every passenger with plenty of legroom to let everyone stretch out on long roads.

Additionally, both models offer plenty of cargo space inside the cabin. After all, the Equinox and the Escape are SUVs—it’s in their blood to be able to haul large loads of cargo. With more than enough cargo space inside the cabin, both the Equinox and Escape can handle items big and small. Pack in full-size suitcases by only putting down one or two of the rear seats, or pack your SUV for a week of camping by folding all three rear seats down.

While the Equinox and the Escape are comparable regarding space and flexibility, they couldn’t be more different when it comes to materials and comfort options. The Equinox has available perforated leather seating as well as heated front and rear outboard seats and ventilated front seats. The best you’ll get with the Escape is heated front seats and available leather surfaces—nothing for the summer heat or the rear passengers.

Equinox vs Escape: Top-of-the-Line Technology

The 2021 Chevy Equinox and the 2021 Ford Escape both offer an intuitive infotainment system inside the cabin to help you stay in touch and on schedule while behind the wheel. These available infotainment systems include large touchscreen displays on which you can access a variety of helpful features starting with hands-free phone calling and wireless audio streaming via Bluetooth®.

Both models also offer smartphone integration, which is the connectivity option of the future. By plugging your compatible smartphone in, you’ll be able to integrate your favorite apps to the infotainment touchscreen via Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. The built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi® hotspots of these two models also provide ample on-the-go connectivity.

That’s not all, though. You’ll be able to follow turn-by-turn navigation in either model. Thanks to real-time traffic updates on your route, you’ll be able to stay on track and on time. Plus, you’ll have an available wireless device charging pad in both models to ensure that your smartphone is juiced up for when you arrive at your destination.

The Equinox doesn’t stop there. You can use the large touchscreen display of its Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System to take advantage of its available High-Definition Surround Vision. This feature gives you a 360-degree bird’s-eye view of your vehicle’s surroundings to help you park, back up, and avoid collisions.

Chevy Equinox vs Ford Escape: Interior Comfort Features

When it comes to comfort, the Chevy Equinox has you covered with plenty of features designed to make long drives so much more comfortable. Inside certain trim models of each SUV, you’ll find standard dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control. This feature will let your vehicle automatically regulate your cabin temperature in two parts of the vehicle.

To make sure your passengers are nice and occupied on long drives, the Chevy Equinox can be further upgraded with a rear-seat infotainment system with or without a DVD player. This feature makes it easy for you to entertain your rear passengers with movies when on road trips, so the miles can just fly by for them.

Chevy Equinox vs Ford Escape: Exterior Comfort Features

If you want to have a comfortable drive everywhere you go, the Chevy Equinox and Ford Escape are designed to make your life easier with their exterior comfort features. Both vehicles treat drivers to auto high-beam headlights. These lights will turn themselves off when your vehicle detects oncoming traffic to maintain good visibility for other drivers on the road.

To ensure your cabin doesn’t heat up too much when driving on a hot day, the Chevy Equinox can come standard or upgraded with solar-absorbing glass, depending on your trim level choice. This SUV will keep the heat of the sun from getting into your cabin, so you have a much easier time driving long-distance in the heat.

Equinox vs Escape: Advanced Active Safety Features

When it comes to active safety, Chevy and Ford are ahead of the game. Both models offer a wide variety of standard and available active safety systems to help you prevent collisions. The Equinox and the Escape have several of their features in common.

One feature these SUVs have in common is lane monitoring. The Escape model’s Lane-Keeping System monitors your position in reference to your lane lines. When you begin to drift, you’ll get an alert. The Equinox model’s standard Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning feature not only alerts you but provides gentle steering wheel turns to get you back on track.

In addition to all the features the Equinox and Escape have in common, the Equinox has several additional features starting with Front Pedestrian Braking. This standard system alerts you of any potential pedestrian collisions and can even activate hard emergency braking to help prevent an impact. The Escape doesn’t offer a system like this.

The Equinox can also be equipped with an available Safety Alert Seat. This inventive system provides you with seat-bottom vibration pulses rather than audible crash-avoidance alerts. Not only does it enhance your situational awareness, but it also works to keep your cabin nice and quiet.

Some other safety features offered by the Chevy Equinox include the Teen Driver mode. This built-in mode allows you to limit certain entertainment features of your vehicle, to help your driver-in-training focus on the road. This feature even gives them a driving report card to let them know how they did.

Finally, to make sure you always know when to check the back seats, you’ll have the help of the Rear Seat Reminder. This feature is designed to provide you with an alert if you leave your vehicle without checking the back seat. When you have a passenger in the back, you can avoid forgetting to bring them along with you.

2021 Chevy Equinox vs 2021 Ford Escape: Which One Is Right for You?

As you can see, the 2021 Chevy Equinox comes out on top in every way imaginable. Now that you’ve had a taste of what this SUV can do, it’s time to get behind the wheel. Shoppers near Livonia, Redford, and Wayne, Michigan, can schedule a test drive by giving us a call at Feldman Chevrolet of Livonia today!