When it comes to comfy family friendly travel, the 2020 Ford Escape and Dodge Journey both have a lot to offer. Which should you choose? Our comparison guide is here to help you take a closer look at this compact Ford crossover and Dodge minivan.
Maximum Passenger Space: 2020 Dodge Journey
When it comes to family-friendly space, nothing beats a minivan, not even the comfy Ford Escape. The Journey offers seating for up to seven passengers, making it the right choice for big families. The Escape, a compact crossover, seats up to five passengers.
But both models have a lot of creature comforts on offer. The Journey can spruce up your ride with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, sunroof, and tri-zone automatic climate control. And the Escape offers a similar list of luxuries, including leather upholstery and heated seats.
Sporty Capabilities: 2020 Ford Escape
Are you ready to tow a small boat or a couple of Jet Skis? So is the Ford Escape. Properly equipped, Ford’s sporty crossover SUV can tow up to 3,500 pounds. The Dodge Journey minivan can also be equipped for towing, but it can only manage smaller recreational vehicles, maxing out at 1,000 pounds.
Power and Efficiency: 2020 Ford Escape
The Escape is both more powerful and more efficient, thanks in part to a new hybrid engine. You’ll find this 200-horsepower hybrid on the SE Sport and top-trim Titanium models. It helps the Escape earn 41 mpg combined (44 city/37 highway mpg).
The Escape’s base, gas-powered engine is also thriftier and more powerful than the Journey powertrain. It combines 181 horses with 30 mpg combined (27/33 mpg).
Every Journey features a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 173 horses and earns 21 mpg combined (19/25 mpg). No matter how you look at it, this Dodge minivan lags behind the Escape in terms of both performance and fuel economy.
Infotainment and Safety Technology: 2020 Ford Escape
Both the Escape and the Journey offer impressive infotainment interfaces. Ford’s Sync 3 system includes an 8-inch touch screen and complete smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Dodge’s Uconnect system includes the same smartphone features, displaying apps on its 8.4-inch touch screen.
However, there’s a gulf between the two models’ safety features. The Escape comes standard with all the latest accident-avoidance gear, including a blind-spot monitor, lane keeping assist, and forward collision mitigation. Meanwhile, the Journey doesn’t offer any of these items, instead providing only a basic rearview camera and rear parking sensors.
Endnotes
Overall, the 2020 Dodge Journey could use a few updates, especially in the tech department. The Journey also can’t compete with the Escape when it comes to power and performance. The Escape is both more capable and more efficient, a big win. In the end, as long as you don’t need the extra seating, the 2020 Ford Escape is the ultimate family hauler.