If you’re in the market for a new SUV, you likely have a list of features and specific qualities in mind that will help you make your decision on which make and model to purchase. Purchasing a vehicle is an important decision which will impact your life for years to come. You want to find the right SUV that meets all the requirements on your list and delivers long-lasting performance value. Like most auto buyers, you probably have several SUVs in mind and are doing your research to figure out which one best suits your driving and lifestyle needs. Having a better understanding of the specific characteristics and styles of these SUVs can help you narrow down your choice. You may have narrowed down your choice to the debate between the 2019 Ford Escape vs 2019 Chevy Equinox. Both of these SUVs have great qualities and are manufactured by companies with a great brand reputation in the marketplace.
There are some specific differences between these SUVs. This article focuses on a comprehensive analysis between the 2019 Ford Escape vs 2019 Chevy Equinox. Check through these differences to see if that can help you make your decision about which SUV is better for you. Doing your research before going to a dealership to take a test drive can save you time and maybe even some money.
MSRP
The vehicle price can be a huge factor in whether or not you decide to purchase it. Both the Ford Escape and Chevy Equinox have a similar MSRP. The 2019 Ford Escape has an MSRP of $24,105. The 2019 Chevy Equinox has an MSRP of $23,800.
Performance Value
The way a vehicle performs is generally as important a factor to consider during your buying process as the MSRP. Regarding the 2019 Ford Escape vs 2019 Chevy Equinox debate, we have found that the Escape has a clear advantage. Check out some of these specs:
Engine Torque
Escape 1.5 turbo 4-cyl engine – 177 lbs.-ft
Escape Titanium 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. – 275 lbs.-ft
Equinox 1.5 turbo 4-cyl. – 203 lbs.-ft
Equinox 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. – 260 lbs.-ft
Acceleration
According to testing completed by Motor Trend, the Ford Escape 4-cylinder engine delivers faster acceleration than the Chevy Equinox 1.5 turbo 4 cylinder. See the specs for acceleration from zero to 60 MPH:
Escape – 9.1 seconds
Equinox – 9.2 seconds
Braking and Stopping Capacity
The Ford Escape stops shorter than the Chevy Equinox. Check out the following specs at various stopping speeds:
Car and Driver testing – 70 to 0 MPH
- Escape – 173 feet
- Equinox – 182 feet
Motor Trend testing – 60 to 0 MPH
- Escape – 112 feet
- Equinox – 127 feet
Consumer Reports testing – 60 to 0 MPH (wet)
- Escape – 139 feet
- Equinox – 145 feet
As you can see, the 2019 Ford Escape has a more powerful engine available than the 2019 Chevy Equinox and delivers better stopping power. Both of these factors provide you with better performance value and a safer driving experience.
Safety Features
Safety is an important factor when considering which vehicle to purchase. You want to ensure that you and your passengers have the best type of driving and riding experience in the vehicle as possible. In this analysis of the 2019 Ford Escape vs 2019 Chevy Equinox, it is clear to see that both SUVs offer great safety features.
Both the Escape and Equinox come with the following standard features:
- Driver and Passenger Front Airbags
- Front Side Impact Airbags
- Side Impact Air Bags
- Front Wheel Drive
- Plastic Fuel Tanks
- Four Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes
- Front Seatbelt Pretensioners
- Traction Control
- Rearview Cameras
- Electronic Stability Systems (prevent skidding)
The following features are also available as options on both SUVs:
- Collision Warning Systems
- Daytime Running Lights
- Lane Departure Warning Systems
- Blind Spot Warning Systems
- Front and Rear Parking Sensors
- Rear Cross-Path Warning
There are some safety features that are not available in the Chevy Equinox but are available in the Ford Escape for enhanced protection for you and your passengers. Height adjustable seatbelts are available in the Escape to provide enhanced safety and comfort for the driver and front passenger. In the Escape SEL, Titanium, and SE trim levels, there is an optional driver alert monitor which gives inattentive drivers can get a warning, and a message about taking a break if the vehicle recognizes that the driver is starting to doze off.
Interior Space and Cargo Capacity
Another factor to consider is how much room will you and your passengers have inside the vehicle and whether or not you’ll have ample cargo space. Both vehicles have a comfortable amount of space for passengers and cargo capacity. However, you and your passenger in the front seat of the 2019 Ford Escape will benefit from 2.2 inches of more legroom and 0.3 inches more front hip room than in the Equinox. The Escape has more room for passengers with 0.7 inches of more rear hip room and 0.5 inches of more rear headroom than the Equinox.
Having the capacity to store things in the rear of the vehicle can be an invaluable benefit for many people. The cargo area in the 2019 Ford Escape with the rear seat up is much bigger than in the Equinox. The difference is clear at 34 cubic feet versus 29.9 cubic feet. When the rear seat is folded down in the Ford Escape, you will have 68 cubic feet as opposed to only 63.5 cubic feet when the seat is folded down in the Equinox.
The cargo hatch lift-over height in the 2019 Ford Escape is 27.3 inches and the lift-over in the Chevy Equinox is 28.6 inches. Having a lower lift-over cargo hatch design like the one in the Ford Escape, makes it so much easier for you to load and unload items in the rear of the vehicle.
Beneficial Ergonomic Features
Many newer model vehicle designs are now including ergonomic features to help the driver and passengers. Speed sensitive wipers come standard in the Ford Escape and these wipers are beneficial to the driver because they do not need to be continually adjusted like the variable intermittent wipers in the Chevy Equinox that require manual adjustment.
In the Titanium trim level of the Ford Escape, you have the option to get the Active Park Assist feature to make parallel parking or backing into a parking spot by itself easier. The driver only needs to control the acceleration with the brake pedal. No trim levels in the Equinox offer this automated parking system.
Our Debate Winner
The debate between the 2019 Ford Escape vs 2019 Chevy Equinox may not necessarily lead you to a clear-cut winner. Both of these SUVs offer various positive features and qualities that drivers love. Both Ford and Chevy are leading auto manufacturers and they have been designing and manufacturing reliable vehicles for decades. Honestly, you cannot go wrong with either of these vehicles. However, you likely are only going to make one vehicle purchase.
In our opinion, the choice is the 2019 Ford Escape. You’ll benefit from a dependable vehicle that delivers long-lasting performance value. In 2017, 6 percent more customers purchased the Ford Escape than the Chevy Equinox. We recommend that you go check out both SUVs for yourself and take them for a test drive. However, according to the tangible factors we evaluated in this article, they show that the 2019 Ford Escape is the better option.
