The 2019 Chevrolet Equinox and the 2019 Ford Escape are both offered in four different trim levels. In the case of the Ford they’re the entry level S, the SE, the SEL and the Titanium models. The Equinox base model you'll find at a Chevrolet dealership in Saint Maries is the L, and the rest of the lineup is the LS, LT and the Premier.

Front-wheel drive is the standard format for both vehicles, and the entry level 2019 Ford Escape with that drivetrain has a starting MSRP of $24,105, which looks like pretty good value. Well, it does until you find the front-drive 2019 Chevrolet Equinox L has an MSRP that starts even lower, at $23,800.

Both crossovers have pretty sporty styling, and both are very carlike. The Escape is starting to look more and more like a slightly taller Focus, which is fine if you’re not looking for too much SUV styling in your new crossover. The Equinox styling is nearly as sporty as the Escape and every bit as contemporary, but it's a lot more easily distinguishable as a crossover SUV, as opposed to a large hatchback.

Despite dropping the naturally aspirated engine in its larger Edge crossover lineup, Ford has kept all three of the Escape's engine options this year. There's a standard 2.5-liter four cylinder and a pair of turbo-fours. With the base engine and middle powerplants offering almost identical power outputs, it's hard to see the point of offering both. The first two engines in the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox lineup are 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter turbo-fours, and the 2.0-liter is more powerful than its Ford equivalent. The Equinox has another trick up its sleeve in the form of a frugal turbodiesel engine option, which only reinforces the Chevy's advantage in this area.

With two vehicles in the same class, the differences can sometimes be small, but they still add to the overall picture. Ford's more compact vehicles are rarely spacious inside, and the 2019 Ford Escape is no exception. The Escape's passenger volume is 98.7 cubic feet and the rear legroom is 37.3 inches, which falls well short of the 103.2 cubic feet and 39.9 inches offered by the Chevy.

For a compact crossover, the 2019 Ford Escape isn’t exactly great on gas. The best EPA fuel economy ratings the Ford manages are from the 1.5-liter with front-wheel drive that's rated at 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Every Equinox other than the all-wheel drive 2.0-liter beats those numbers, and the turbodiesel smashes them with ratings of 28 mpg city and 39 mpg highway in front-drive form.

The 2019 Ford Escape is a very capable and popular model, but it's hard to look beyond the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox in a head-to-head comparison. As well as offering a more varied choice of engines, a larger interior and much better fuel economy, the Equinox also costs less than the Ford.