Ford Escape vs. Subaru Forester

The type of driving you do each day differs from other people. So, having the chance to customize the performance to your liking is a big plus in any modern SUV. This is something the 2023 Ford Escape does much better than the Subaru Forester.

There are four engine options for the Escape, with the standard 1.5L EcoBoost® engine producing 190 lb-ft of torque. You can step up to a larger 2.0L 4-cylinder engine for an added boost. The 2.0L EcoBoost® engine delivers 280 lb-ft of torque. In addition, you’ll have the choice of a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid motor, both of which heavily favor efficiency.

On the other hand, the Subaru Forester only has one engine available across all trims: a 2.5L engine. While its horsepower is on par with that of the standard engine of the Escape, the Forester can produce just 176 lb-ft of torque.

Of course, a vehicle’s strong performance involves more than just horsepower; it’s also how you’re able to harness and use that power to accomplish the tasks at hand. When driving an SUV like the Escape or the Forester, you may want to have the capability to haul a trailer or a recreational toy for your family adventures.

With its standard engine, the Ford Escape has a 3,500-pound towing capacity, compared to the Subaru Forester’s capacity of 1,500 pounds—the same amount as the Escape’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid trims. Even upgrading to the Forester Wilderness trim allows you to tow only up to 3,000 pounds, which is still 500 pounds less than the base trim of the Escape.

When comparing the efficiency of their standard engines, the numbers are close but not identical. The peak fuel economy you can expect from the Subaru SUV is an EPA-estimated 26 city/33 highway MPG. While impressive, the Ford Escape surpasses it with an EPA-estimated 27 city/34 highway MPG.

Considering the Ford Escape also comes with hybrid and plug-in hybrid motors, it's not surprising to see that the Escape easily exceeds the Subaru Forester in terms of efficiency. The hybrid engine for the Ford is able to reach an EPA-estimated 42 city/36 highway MPG. Unfortunately, the Subaru Forester doesn’t have any hybrid offerings.

Aside from its hybrid offerings, the Ford Escape equips certain features that help its standard gas-powered engines conserve fuel too. One of these is the standard Selectable Drive Modes, including an Eco mode, that fine-tunes the vehicle’s performance to current conditions and helps you make the most of each mile. Although the Forester’s X-MODE® is available with an upgrade and assists with traction, it’s not available on the base trim and it doesn’t help with fuel economy.

Another standard feature on the Ford Escape that helps sip fuel is its Auto Start-Stop Technology. When you come to a standstill, such as at a traffic light or a stop sign, the Escape will automatically turn off its engine to conserve fuel. Once you move your foot from the brake to the accelerator, the engine resumes. The Forester goes without a similar feature.

Both the 2023 Ford Escape and the 2023 Subaru Forester use clever interior spacing to make each row of seats roomy and comfortable. With over 100 cubic feet of passenger room in both models, the numbers are fairly close in many areas. Still, the Escape does give you an edge. Rear legroom is just 39.4 inches for the Forester, compared to the 40.7 inches of rear legroom in the Ford SUV.

When you have those second-row seats in use, the Escape also provides a larger trunk to work with. Cargo volume behind the second row of the Escape measures 37.5 cubic feet. When the second row is upright in the Forester, cargo volume in the trunk is a mere 28.9 cubic feet.