2020 Ford Escape vs 2020 Chevrolet Equinox

Technology

First and foremost is technology. Cars today are far more advanced than we ever thought possible. With each new model change, the technology gets more and more advanced. If you would have told me 15 years ago that I could connect to Wi-Fi in my car while driving down the highway, I’d say to you, “What’s Wi-Fi?” 

The Ford Escape is receiving a much needed revamp this year. The all-new 2020 Ford Escape is completely redone and is more advanced than ever before. The new platform features a host of new advanced tech features. In the base S trim, the Ford Escape comes equipped with standard Wi-Fi hotspot. That’s right, you heard that right, standard Wi-Fi. That’s a good start. Further, Ford’s excellent Sync 3 with Apple CarPlay is available with an 8-inch screen. Though these features aren’t available on the base model. Also available is the same 12.3-inch digital gauge that’s available on the Ford Explorer. Other cool features include a heads-up display, wireless charging, and a premium Bang and Olufsen sound system, WAZE driving app integration, and Key by Amazon In-Car Delivery. Really, the cool features are nearly endless. I could still keep going. 

The Chevrolet Equinox is no slouch either, however. A 7-inch touchscreen is standard, as is Bluetooth. Might I add, that Bluetooth is capable of handling two devices simultaneously, so no more switching back and forth between partner’s phone and your own. Apple CarPlay/Android Auto are also standard as well, and satellite radio and Wi-Fi are available. 

Something BOTH cars have that we really appreciate is the available app. Ford’s app, FordPass Connect, and Chevrolet’s app, myChevrolet, are both capable of tons of awesome features. Start and stop the vehicle, lock/unlock the doors, check the oil level, schedule maintenance, request roadside assistance, and control the Wi-Fi hotspot, plus many many more. These apps are one of the best new features available in cars today, simply because of the wide range of services available through the app. Any new car sold without access to an app like these is immediately put behind the competition.

Safety

Safety is the most important thing to most of us. We use these vehicles every day. We trust them to protect us and our passengers, including our families. It is of the utmost importance that these vehicles are as safe as humanly possible. So what do the 2020 Ford Escape and 2020 Chevrolet Equinox have to offer in terms of safety?

Since it is a new model, and not yet released, the 2020 Ford Escape has yet to be fully tested by safety regulators such as the IIHS. However, the previous Ford Escape scored excellent remarks in terms of safety, though it did miss the IIHS Top Safety Pick award. That being said, the new Escape comes with a long list of advanced standard safety features that American brands had, up until this point, charged extra for. Features such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitor, lane-keep assist, cross-traffic alert, and even auto-high beams. These are all features that the competition, such as Hyundai, already offered as standard, it’s good to see that Ford finally caught up. 

Chevrolet, on the other hand, has received excellent safety ratings in previous years, and since there is no change, those still apply to the 2020 Equinox. The Chevy Equinox received the NHTSA 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score for Safety, along with an excellent rating from the IIHS for safety. New for the Equinox is a long list of standard advanced safety features including automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, forward collision alert, pedestrian detection, and pedestrian braking, and auto-high beams. Similar to Ford, Chevrolet learned the hard way that these features must be offered as standard. One other feature that Chevrolet offers is the Rear Camera Mirror. A safety feature that replaces the rear-view mirror with a camera, offering a wider, less obstructed point of view. 

Space

Since we are all buying SUVs, space is clearly an important part of what we are looking for. Previously, the Equinox was a slightly larger SUV than the Escape. For 2020, however, the playing field has been relatively leveled.

The 2020 Ford Escape comes in with an impressive 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up, and 65.4 with them folded. Headroom and legroom are increased for the new model as well. Headroom is now 40 inches and legroom is up to 42.4 inches. 

The Chevrolet Equinox similarly large, with up to 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up and 63.9 with them folded. Front legroom is equal to the Ford’s at 40 inches, though headroom is slightly smaller at only 38.5 inches. 

Overall, these two vehicles are pretty similarly sized. The differences are basically too small to really matter. So when it comes to size, let your emotions and eyes do the talking. The Ford feels larger and less cramped than the Chevy, simply based on how the dash and windows are set up.