Since crossovers are considered the fastest growing vehicle classification in North America, different top contenders are inevitably being compared. At this point, the 2017 Ford Escape and 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport are considered two players worthy to get buyers' attention. Which is better among the two?

According to The Car Connection, the 2017 Ford Escape is leading in terms of the site's ranking. It registered 6.2 points as compared to 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport's 4.5. This says a lot about the two vehicles being compared, but is this number conclusive? The 2017 Escape is focused more on style and being sporty. If one's buying motive is the vehicle's appeal and aesthetics, the Escape is a good option.

However, the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport also is an attractive crossover option. It also looks updated and more polished. Even better, it is a more affordable option. It is also important to note that it comes with its fair share of compromises and shortcomings for being a budget-friendly crossover.

The 2017 Escape also is favored by industry experts because of its useful cargo space. It does offer a firm but compliant ride so it provides satisfactory driving experience. On the other hand, the 2017 Outlander Sport makes ingress and egress of passengers more convenient and hassle-free. In terms of cargo space, the Escape's measures 34.3 cubic feet while Outlander only has 21.7.

The 2017 Ford Escape also offers more front legroom as compared to the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander. The Escape measures 43.1-inches and the Outlander Sport falls short by two inches measuring 41.6. This may not be too much of a difference, however, two extra inches make big difference especially for the taller passengers.

The 2017 Ford Escape offers three powertrains as the base comes is powered by 2.5-liter four-cylinder which is responsible for producing 168-horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. The EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder is rather a new introduction producing 179-horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The third is more powerful as it is powered by 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four and produces 245-horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque.

The 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport's base unit is powered by 2.0-liter inline-four which produces 148-horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. It is mated with five-speed manual or automatic CVT with FWD or AWD. The other part of its roster is capable of producing 168-horsepower and 168 pound-feet of torque.

As added by Don Herrring, as earlier reported, the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport may have been overtaken by its rival the 2017 Ford Escape, however, for others the price comes as an important factor to consider. For the practical buyers, it may come as good news to know that the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport retails $19,795 compared to Escape's $23,600.

At the end of the day, the choice will have to be based on the buyer's requirements. In this battle, however, the clear winner is 2017 Ford Escape as it bested the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander is different categories. Note though that 2017 Outlander Sport is also a good option especially for the practical ones. It may not have fared well with the Escape but it sure can give tough competition to other crossovers in the market.

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