The 2025 Ford Escape Hybrid vs. Toyota Crown Signia: Which Midsize SUV Is Right for You?

If you're in the market for a midsize hybrid SUV with good gas mileage and seating for five, you'll find several compelling options. The 2025 Ford Escape hybrid variants are popular choices, back for another year in their fourth generation. The 2025 Toyota Crown Signia is a new competitor in the arena. We're comparing these options at Stivers Ford South in Union City, Georgia, to reveal all you should know about them.

Key Highlights and Updates: What's New for 2025

The popular Ford Escape got its most recent update in 2023, receiving a new front fascia, stylish updated taillights, and an expanded digital gauge cluster. The hybrid powertrain dropped from 200 horsepower in the third generation to 192 horsepower in the fourth. The Escape hybrid range maintains this output for the 2025 model year.

The Crown Signia is a brand-new offering in the Toyota range. It replaces the Venza and takes a similar positioning in the brand's lineup, which makes it a prime competitor for the Ford Escape hybrids.

Performance and Efficiency 

The Ford Escape hybrids and the Toyota Crown Signia deliver comfortable commuting. They provide competent handling and a smooth drive. The Crown Signia produces a bit of a drone during acceleration, but does manage to complete highway passing maneuvers. The Escape hybrids offer multiple drive modes to customize your driving experience. They transition smoothly between hybrid and electric power, making the change unnoticeable.

Drivetrain Specifications

The Ford Escape hybrids and the Toyota Crown Signia have a continuously variable automatic transmission and a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The Ford Escape hybrids pair this with two electric motors for 192 horsepower. The Escape range also offers a plug-in hybrid powertrain that boosts potency to 210 horsepower. The Toyota Crown Signia boasts three electric motors, which give it 240 horsepower. Front-wheel drive is standard on the Escape hybrids, but all-wheel drive is available. All-wheel drive comes standard on the Crown Signia.

Fuel Economy

The Escape hybrids offer superior fuel economy: 42 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. The plug-in hybrids do even better, getting as much as 44 mpg in the city. The 11.2 kWh battery pack in the plug-in models provides an EPA-estimated 37 miles of driving using the battery alone.

The Crown Signia lacks a plug-in variant and lags in fuel economy. Though it offers an estimated 39 mpg city and 37 mpg highway, Car and Driver noted that the Crown Signia underperformed in a real-world highway test and achieved only 32 mpg.

Safety and Reliability

The 2025 Ford Escape hybrids and the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia have yet to receive complete safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The 2024 Escape received five-star NHTSA ratings in the overall crash, frontal crash, and side crash categories, and the 2025 Crown Signia has gained a full five stars in frontal crash and side crash ratings. Both vehicles offer a well-rounded suite of safety and driver-assistance features, including blind-spot monitoring, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist.

While adaptive cruise control is standard on the Crown Signia, this is an optional feature for the Escape. In its upper trims, the Escape offers driver-assistance perks such as speed sign recognition, evasive steering assistance, and a 360-degree camera. A panoramic view monitor is an optional addition to the Crown Signia.

Interior, Cargo Space, and Technology

You'll get all the latest in connectivity and convenience with the Escape hybrids and the Crown Signia. Both are spacious, but the Escape hybrids feature smooth sliding second-row seats with a 60/40 split that optimizes flexibility. You can slide the seat back to uncover 5.9 extra inches of legroom or fold it entirely to expand your cargo space.

Interior Design and Comfort

The Escape hybrids and the Crown Signia offer a spacious and comfortable ride experience. The Escape hybrids boast standard cloth and vinyl seat upholstery, but you can upgrade to leather in the upper trims. Heated seats and a heated steering wheel are available. The Crown Signia comes standard with heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seating.

If you have passengers in both rows, the Escape provides more cargo room with 34.4 cubic feet in the back, outstripping the Crown Signia's 25.8 cubic feet. Both models offer impressive cargo space when you lower their rear seats, expanding your storage to 60.8 cubic feet in the Escape and 68.8 cubic feet in the Crown Signia. 

Infotainment and Connectivity

The ST-Line trim of the Ford Escape has a standard 8-inch infotainment screen with the option of a 13.2-inch version. This larger display is standard on the other trims offering hybrid variants. The Crown Signia has a 12.3-inch touch screen that, like its Escape counterparts, is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Both models come standard with six-speaker stereos, but you can upgrade to a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen system in the Escape hybrids or an 11-speaker JBL setup in the Crown Signia. 

Final Thoughts: The 2025 Ford Escape Hybrids vs. the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia

The 2025 Ford Escape hybrids and the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia offer an appealing balance of comfort and functionality. However, the Ford Escape range delivers superior fuel economy and lower prices. Four Escape trims have hybrid variants, with MSRPs ranging from $29,995 to $35,940.

The Crown Signia offers far less flexibility. You have only two trims to choose from, with MSRPs of $43,790 and $48,190. Overall, the Ford Escape hybrids are a better investment for most drivers.

Explore the 2025 Ford Escape Hybrids in Union City

The best way to appreciate the 2025 Ford Escape hybrid range is in person. Our knowledgeable and dedicated team at Stivers Ford South will walk you through all the trims and help you find the best midsize SUV for your needs. To schedule a test drive, contact us today or visit our Union City, Georgia, dealership. You'll soon be driving away in the Ford Escape hybrid of your dreams.

Images by OEM