Although both the 2025 Ford Escape and Honda CR-V can tackle Michigan’s snowy winters and busy city streets, only one of these small crossover SUVs fits in your garage. To help you make the right choice, our comparison guide is here to tell you which model delivers the best blend of power, efficiency, and cruising comfort!
Key Takeaways
- These small SUVs are so competitively priced that you almost won’t notice a difference!
- With its roomy interior and intuitive control layout, the CR-V cabin offers hours of on-road comfort.
- Thanks to its sharper graphics and more available upgrades, the Escape’s tech lineup scores a big win.
- Whether you’re shopping for more power or better fuel economy, the Escape is the best option!
Best MSRP: It’s (More or Less) a Tie!
Whether you’re feeling a little stretched or simply shopping for the best deal, the 2025 Ford Escape (from $29,150*) and Honda CR-V (from $30,100*) both go easy on your budget. Better still, both models help you save money in the long run, thanks to their impressive EPA ratings and affordable maintenance costs!
*Price as of 4/26/25.
Road-Trip Readiness: 2025 Honda CR-V
The compact CR-V gives you both plenty of passenger space and wide-open vibes, thanks to its big windows. This extra glass comes in handy on the highway, helping you stay a little safer by expansing overall visibility! And with their supportive contours and substantial padding, the CR-V’s seats keep you comfortable on trips to Detroit or Lansing. Move up the trim models to build an especially luxurious cabin for your family road trips! Available features include dual-zone automatic climate control leather upholstery.
Although the CR-V has the edge in this category, the 2025 Ford Escape earns a very close second place! Ford’s small SUV delivers major comfort with its roomy, supportive seats. This cabin feels like your home away from home, thanks to available features like a heated steering wheel and heated front seats! And even if the Escape’s windows aren’t quite as big as that of the competition, they still offer an impressive view of the road. Not to mention every Escape includes features like blind-spot warning and lane-keeping assistance to help you stay on the right track. (More on this below!)
Cutting-Edge Tech Features: 2025 Ford Escape
Shopping for the biggest touchscreen? The Escape comes standard with the best tech lineup. Where the base CR-V has a 7-inch touchscreen and four-speaker sound system, the Escape gives you an 8-inch display and six speakers. The Escape is also the only one of these SUVs to deliver satellite radio! For drivers who spend a lot of time off the cell-tower grid, standard satellite radio offers endless entertainment.
Shopping for the best tech options? The Escape remains the best choice! It’s available with features you won’t find on the CR-V, including a digital gauge cluster and a 360-degree surround-view camera. The Escape even offers exclusive safety tech with its evasive steering assist system! Of course, the CR-V is also big on high-tech safety. Both SUVs offer items like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assistance.
Overall Athleticism: 2025 Ford Escape
Owosso drivers want a compact SUV that can handle sketchy winter drives and long summer road trips. And that compact SUV is the Escape! With four available engine options, you can equip your model to deliver maximum power or the most efficient ride — whichever you prefer. A smooth, comfortable performance bolsters your road trips. And with available all-wheel drive, the Escape delivers sporty performance and winter safety in one stylish package!
2025 Ford Escape Powertrain Options
- Active, ST-Line: turbocharged 1.5L three-cylinder engine (180 hp, 199 lb-ft)
- ST-Line Select and up: turbo 2.0L four-cylinder engine (250 hp, 280 lb-ft)
- Optional for the ST-Line and up: 2.5L hybrid powertrain (192 hp, 155 lb-ft)
- PHEV: 2.5L plug-in hybrid powertrain (210 hp, 155 lb-ft)
- Eight-speed automatic transmission
- Continuously variable transmission (with hybrid or plug-in hybrid)
- Front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive
When it comes to performance, the 2025 Honda CR-V is a reliable option! While powerful, its available hybrid engine upgrade isn’t as strong as the Escape’s swiftest option. And although this same hybrid powertrain helps the CR-V earn 40 mpg combined, this figure pales in comparison with the Escape PHEV’s 101 MPGe!
2025 Honda CR-V
- LX, EX, EX-L trims: turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder engine (190 hp, 179 lb-ft of torque)
- Sport, Sport-L, Sport Touring: 2.0L hybrid four-cylinder engine (204 hp, 247 lb-ft)
- Continuously variable transmission
- Front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive
The Best Little SUV in the Midwest
Which compact SUV is better: 2025 Ford Escape or Honda CR-V? There’s a lot to like about the CR-V, but the Escape is the best overall option for Michigan drivers. Whether you’re shopping for incredible fuel economy, punchy power, or all-weather precision, Ford’s small SUV has more of what you want! Come test-drive the Escape — visit us at Lunghamer Ford in Owosso, MI.