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Ford Escape vs Toyota RAV4

2026 Ford Escape vs 2026 Toyota RAV4 — two small SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Ford Escape

2026 Ford Escape

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS1 – 5Toyota RAV4 wins 5 of 6 categories
Toyota RAV4

2026 Toyota RAV4

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

The Toyota RAV4 is more fuel-efficient: 43 vs 40 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $150 a year less in fuel for the Toyota RAV4 (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

Across all model years since 2005, the Toyota RAV4 has had fewer recall campaigns (50 vs 84).

The two cars

The 2026 Ford Escape is a small SUV offered with 3 engines (2.5L 4-cyl, 1.5L 3-cyl turbo and 2.0L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive, part-time 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 181 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 107-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,419 lb (4dr SUV 1.5l AWD).

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 is a small SUV offered with a 2.5L 4-cyl engine, including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 181 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,746 lb (Le 4dr SUV).

Buying used? The 2024 Escape and the 2022 RAV4 have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2017 Escape and the 2019 RAV4.

Basics

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Plug-in Hybrid, Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Hybrid
2.5L 4-cyl, 1.5L 3-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl
Front-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

40 MPG
Best combined MPG
43 MPG
42 city
City / highway MPG (best)
47 city
$1,700
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$1,550

Performance & space

–
Horsepower (most powerful)
186 hp
–
Seats (most)
5
180.7 in
Length
181.1 in
74 in
Width
72.8 in
66.1 in
Height
66.5 in
3,283 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
3,746 lb

Safety & reliability

11
Driver-assist features standard
13
3
Recalls (2026)
2
84
Recalls, all years since 2005
50
4
Owner complaints (latest year)
42

Interest

17,453
Wikipedia views, 30 days
45,921

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2022
2017
Year to avoid
2019

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Ford Escape if…

It doesn't clearly beat the Toyota RAV4 on any measure we track.

Choose the Toyota RAV4 if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (43 vs 40 MPG)
  • You want more standard driver-assist tech
  • You put reliability history first (50 vs 84 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2026 Ford Escape

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 40 MPG combined — 32% better than the average 2026 small SUV (30.2 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2026 Toyota RAV4

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 43 MPG combined — 42% better than the average 2026 small SUV (30.2 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2026 Ford Escape specs →Full 2026 Toyota RAV4 specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →