Utility When it comes to passenger space, the Escape crossover offers two rows of seats for up to five occupants and 31.4 cubic feet or cargo volume behind the second row. The RAV4 compact SUV has seating for up to seven occupants when equipped with a 50/50-split folding third-row seat. If you're looking to do some towing, both can haul 1,500 pounds. Where they differ, though, is maximum cargo capacity with the second-row seats folded flat, with the RAV4 offering 73 cubic feet compared to the Escape's 67.2 cubic feet. The RAV4 also has a slightly larger wheelbase at 104.7 inches compared to the Escape's 103.1 inches.
Performance Both vehicles can be had in two- and four-wheel-drive configurations; however, the RAV4 offers slightly more power with a 179-horsepower, 2.5-liter inline-4 or a 269-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 coupled to either a four- or five-speed automatic transmission, compared to the Escape's 171-horsepower, 2.5-liter inline-4 and 240-horsepower, 3.0-liter flex-fuel V-6 mated to a six-speed automatic with manual-shift mode or a five-speed manual option.
Fuel Economy Neither the RAV4 or Escape disappoint when it comes to fuel efficiency and both are pretty even with EPA estimated fuel economy ratings for the RAV4 ranging between 19-22 mpg in the city and 26-28 mpg on the highway, while the Escape gets 18-22 mpg in the city and 23-28 mpg on the highway. If you're concerned about your carbon footprint, the RAV4 emits 7.7 tons of carbon annually while the Escape emits 8.3 tons of carbon annually.
Technology Both offer cruise control, Bluetooth capability, heated front seats, automatic climate control and an MP3 jack as either standard or optional equipment. The Escape can be had with its voice-activated Sync multimedia system with traffic and weather information, steering wheel audio controls, satellite radio, six-way power driver seat, a rearview camera and navigation system and, for XLT, a seven-speaker premium audio system. The RAV4 adds integrated XM Radio, a navigation system and backseat entertainment system, dual-zone automatic climate control and a moonroof. A Sports Appearance Package on the RAV4 includes an upgraded JBL sound system, Bluetooth hands-free capability, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and a backup camera.
Safety Both the RAV4 and Escape are class leaders when it comes to safety. The RAV4 is equipped with a full compliment of airbags, active front head restraints, antilock brakes with brake assist and an electronic stability control system. The Escape includes all these features, plus full-length head curtain airbags. In government tests, the Escape earned a five stars in front and side crash tests and, in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, the Escape scored the highest rating of "Good" in the frontal-offset and side tests. Other The Escape gains some new convenience features for 2010, including a new driver's side mirror to help minimize the vehicle's blind spot, an automatic parallel parking feature and MyKey, which allows parents to limit their teenage driver's audio volume and speed. The RAV4's Sport Appearance Package, available on two-wheel-drive, four-cylinder Sport models, is a new feature for 2010. An optional JBL audio system with hands-free Bluetooth capability and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls is available on the Sport trim and a backup camera is a new option for base models.
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