Starting at
Starting at
| 42/36 | MPG city/hwy | 26/28 |
| 250 | Horsepower | 175 |
| 3,500 lbs | Towing | 1,500 lbs |
The compact SUV segment is one of the most competitive in the market, and manufacturers have to put their best foot forward to attract shoppers. While the 2025 Chevy Equinox has been fully redesigned for the latest model year with a stylish new exterior and plenty of fresh features, digging deeper into what it offers reveals that many of the underlying details still fall short of what you can find in the dependable 2025 Ford Escape. Ford has done its best to offer drivers what they are looking for in a compact SUV, including a wide array of efficient and powerful engine options, advanced technology features, and plenty of small details designed to enhance comfort and convenience.
When it comes to comparing the 2025 Ford Escape vs 2025 Chevy Equinox, you will discover that the Blue Oval has done it again by producing a vehicle that has many advantages over the competition. Whether you are looking for a fuel-sipping hybrid option to save money on your daily commute or a turbocharged SUV that offers best-in-class towing, the Ford Escape offers options that the Chevy Equinox cannot match. Even if you are simply looking for an affordable and well-rounded vehicle with plenty of passenger room and cargo space, you will find that the Escape pulls ahead of the Equinox by offering a more spacious and well-appointed cabin at a lower starting price.
Compact SUVs are one of the most versatile types of vehicle on the road, which is why they have become so popular with drivers. They offer a great balance of passenger comfort, cargo space, ground clearance, and more. However, the 2025 Ford Escape simply offers more compared to the 2025 Chevy Equinox. Right off the bat, the Equinox is on the smaller side for a compact SUV, which means it suffers when it comes to important details like cabin room. Second-row passengers have almost an inch less legroom in the Equinox, while its rear cargo volume comes in at just 29.8 cu.ft. against 37.5 cu.ft. for the Escape. If you're planning on using your vehicle for more than solo commutes, the extra interior room that Ford offers is sure to come in handy.
A large cabin alone doesn't make for a great vehicle; it also needs the right features to enhance comfort and convenience, and this is another place where the 2025 Ford Escape shines. Even getting into the vehicle is easier with its SecuriCode feature. While both models have standard keyless entry and push button start, SecuriCode lets you unlock the doors of the Escape even if you don't have your keyfob on you. Simply punch in your code using the number pad on the driver door––it's perfect for when you forgot something in your car and don't want to look for your keys!
Once you are inside the Escape, more convenient features await. For instance, Ford offers one-touch up/down power windows in all four doors, making it easy to roll the windows all the way up or down with a single touch of a button. Chevy only offers this feature for the driver's window. It's a small difference, but an example of how Ford carefully considered every aspect of the Escape. Ford also provides an available 10-way power-adjustable driver seat for the Escape with a three-position memory system, while the Equinox can only be had with an eight-way seat and two-position memory. That extra adjustability and the ability to have presets for a third family member is another example of the added convenience of the Ford Escape.
When it comes to technology, both the 2025 Ford Escape and the 2025 Chevy Equinox are filled with modern features. However, Ford takes the edge in a handful of key areas. The most obvious of these is the infotainment screen size. While the 2025 Equinox now comes with a sizable 11.3-inch touchscreen display, which is a huge upgrade over the standard seven-inch display it offered last year, it still can't compete with the 13.2-inch touchscreen that the 2025 Escape offers. In fact, Ford offers drivers the second-largest touchscreen in the entire compact SUV segment, making it easy to access your favorite apps, customize vehicle features, and view camera angles when maneuvering in tight spaces.
In addition to this visual upgrade, Ford also offers a vastly superior audio experience. Just about everyone loves listening to music, audiobooks, or podcasts while they drive, but a low-quality speaker system can ruin the experience. Unfortunately, Chevy only offers a six-speaker audio system across the entire 2025 Equinox lineup. It's not bad, but it's not great either. In contrast, Ford outfits the 2025 Escape with an available 10-speaker premium sound system from Bang and Olufsen, which includes a subwoofer for powerful bass notes. Just connect your phone using standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, or tune in to your favorite channel with SiriusXM with 360L and enjoy the ride.
Ford and Chevy have both been pushing the boundaries of automotive safety technology, and their compact SUVs are fully equipped with comprehensive suites of standard driver-assist technology. The 2025 Escape comes standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360, while the 2025 Equinox has Chevy Safety Assist. However, once you get beyond the basic features, Ford starts pulling ahead with additional tech features designed to improve confidence behind the wheel. For instance, the Escape offers an available Head-Up Display that lets you see vital information at a glance without taking your eyes off the road. Details like your speed will be projected onto your windshield, allowing you to keep watch for hazards on the road. No comparable feature is available on the Equinox.
One of the largest differences between the 2025 Ford Escape and the 2025 Chevy Equinox is that Ford has outfitted its compact SUV with a diverse array of powertrain options, while Chevy only lets you pick a single engine. Coming in at just 175 hp, the lone Chevy engine isn't even particularly impressive for the segment, trailing most of its competition in both power and efficiency. This is particularly true when compared to the four powertrain options available for the 2025 Ford Escape. With your choice of a well-rounded 1.5L EcoBoost engine, a potent 2.0L EcoBoost engine, an efficient traditional hybrid, and an advanced plug-in hybrid, you can tailor your Escape to give you the exact blend of performance that you are looking for.
The standard 1.5L EcoBoost in the 2025 Escape is designed to balance power and efficiency at an affordable price. With 180 hp on tap, it is already slightly more powerful than the 175 hp engine in the Chevy Equinox, and you don't have to sacrifice fuel economy for that performance edge. With an estimated fuel economy of 30 MPG combined, the Escape will burn significantly less gasoline than the Equinox, which is only rated for 28 MPG combined. Power and efficiency? What more could you ask for? Well, for Ford, this is just the starting point.
If you are willing to pay a bit more for some added performance or better fuel economy, you are out of luck with the 2025 Chevy Equinox. You only have the base engine; take it or leave it. With the 2025 Ford Escape, on the other hand, you have three additional options to choose from. All but the base trim of the Escape can be outfitted with an extremely efficient hybrid powertrain that gets an estimated 39 MPG combined, making it the perfect choice for anyone who racks up the miles and is looking to reduce their gas bill. Plus, this hybrid provides 192 hp, which means it is noticeably more powerful than the Chevy Equinox.
If you want a ton of power for a compact SUV, then you can opt for the 2.0L EcoBoost. This will drop the estimated fuel economy down to 26 MPG combined (although that is still just 1 MPG less than the much less capable Equinox), but will give you a potent 250 hp––one of the highest horsepower ratings in the segment. With this engine, the 2025 Escape can even tow up to 3,500 lbs, which is more than double the 1,500 lbs of the Equinox. Finally, there is the Escape Plug-In Hybrid. This variant is a touch more powerful than the traditional hybrid and has a large 14.4 kWh battery that provides an estimated 37 miles of all-electric range. Simply plug in to recharge overnight, and you can commute without burning a drop of gasoline. That's not something you can do with the Equinox.
If you are looking for a new compact SUV to upgrade your time on the road, it is time to take the 2025 Ford Escape for a test drive. Here at DePaula Ford, we have a large inventory of vehicles for you to choose from, including all flavors of the Ford Escape. This reliable model has a lot to offer drivers, and our friendly team of Ford experts can't wait to walk you through all of the available features in person. Once you have found the perfect vehicle, our finance professionals will help you secure a lease or loan so that you can enjoy your new SUV without stressing over your monthly. Plus, we have a certified Ford service department that you can always count on when it comes time to inspect or maintain your vehicle. As your local Ford dealer, we have all your automotive needs covered. Pay us a visit and let us show you how we alway put you first.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.
