We are living in the golden age of SUVs. Even if you know you want a sports utility vehicle, and you know you want a Ford, you still have about five options to choose from. That’s because Ford SUVs come in almost any size you want, from the subcompact EcoSport to the gargantuan Ford Expedition. In this article, we’ll be looking at something between David and Goliath. The 2019 Ford Edge and the Escape are the mid-size and compact SUVs of the Ford lineup. They’re similar in many ways, but size sets them apart. Which is right for you and your family? Read on to find out.
Passenger and Cargo Space: 2019 Ford Edge
No surprise here, but the 2019 Ford Edge is bigger than the compact Escape. But how big a difference are we talking? The Edge is about 400 pounds heavier, ¾-inch wider, and about two inches taller. Measuring length, the Edge is almost a foot longer. Each dimension doesn’t seem like a lot, but put them all together, and you’ll discover that the Edge has 15 cubic feet more of passenger space and 5 extra cubes of cargo space behind the back seat.
There’s very little difference in terms of front legroom, but adults sitting in the back of the 2019 Ford Edge will see a notice a sizeable difference. There’s over three inches extra back there, which can be a godsend on long road trips or bumper-to-bumper traffic jams.
Price: 2019 Ford Escape
The tradeoff, of course, for extra legroom is extra price. The 2019 Ford Edge starts at $29,995 while the 2019 Escape starts at $24,105. What does that extra 5K give you? Quite a bit, as it turns out. In addition to the extra cabin space, there’s the 2-liter EcoBoost engine, cloth seats, 18-inch alloy wheels and all-season tires, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, rain-sensing wipers, SYNC system, six-speaker stereo, satellite radio, USB port, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi hot spot, and Ford’s Co-Pilot suite of safety features. That’s a lot of tech.
Meanwhile, the Ford Escape offers just 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, cloth upholstery, six-way manually adjustable driver's seat, rearview camera, MyKey, and Ford's voice-activated SYNC infotainment system with 4.2-inch display screen, six-speaker audio system, and USB port. You can step up the trim levels to catch up to the standard equipment on the Escape, but then the price advantage narrows.
Fuel Economy: Tie
But wait! There may still be a budget reason to prefer the Ford Edge. We’re talking, of course, about fuel economy. That day-in, day-out expense. Being a larger SUV, can the 2019 Ford Escape compete with its smaller sibling? The Escape gets 21 city miles and 29 highway miles per gallon. Meanwhile, the Edge gets 22 city and the same highway mileage. Okay, never mind. Though the Escape has a very narrow advantage, that’s too close to matter much. We’re calling this one a tie.
Towing: Tie
Another way the Escape and Edge are twins is in their towing capacity. Some manufacturers don’t even bother to give their smaller SUVs towing ability, but this is Ford we’re talking about. Surprisingly, the Escape and Edge have the exact same maximum trailering capacity: 3,500 pounds. That is a great number for a mid-size SUV, and almost unheard of for a compact.
As it turns out, the Escape and Edge have a lot in common. So you just have to ask yourself these two questions: How much space do I need behind the front seats? And what am I willing to pay for it?