The Ford Escape stands out with its two turbocharged gasoline engine options — a 1.5-liter and a robust 2.0-liter turbo inline-four delivering up to 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. For fuel-efficient driving, Escape offers a hybrid powertrain outputting 192 hp and an advanced plug-in hybrid variant producing 210 hp with an electric-only range around 37 miles. These choices enable drivers in Oklahoma City and Mustang to select the balance between power and economy that suits their lifestyle.

Meanwhile, the Subaru Forester employs a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated flat-four engine, yielding 180 hp and 178 lb-ft torque, paired with a CVT. While the engine's unique boxer configuration benefits balance, the Forester's power output and acceleration—0-60 mph in about 8.6-8.7 seconds—trail behind the Escape's stronger engines, especially when equipped with the 2.0L turbo.

Inside, the Ford Escape provides generous legroom with 42.4 inches upfront and 40.7 inches in the rear, affording passenger comfort on longer drives around areas such as Union City. While the Escape's seats have been critiqued for a flatter design with limited prolonged support, the cabin benefits from a well-thought ergonomic layout and optional premium materials on higher trims.

Conversely, the Forester offers marginally more front legroom (43.3 inches) but slightly less rear space (39.4 inches), coupled with straightforward, durable upholstery. Its interior design focuses more on practicality than luxury, with textured plastics and suede-like inserts on limited trims. Noise insulation improvements help create a quieter cabin than past models but still fall short of premium segments.

The Escape strikes an excellent balance for owners who regularly haul cargo. It offers 37.5 cubic feet of space behind rear seats with a maximum of 65.4 cubic feet when folded, sufficient for family gear or weekend projects around Warr Acres or Missouri Flat neighborhoods.

The Forester impresses with 29.6 cubic feet behind seats but expands to a generous 74.4 cubic feet with them folded, claiming a class-leading cargo volume. This spaciousness comes with a trade-off for those seeking sleeker styling; larger cargo space is enabled by Forester's boxier silhouette.

Ford's Escape supports driver convenience with a standard 8.0-inch touchscreen and the option of a large 13.2-inch display, complemented by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster on upper trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, alongside available over-the-air updates, a wireless charging pad, and an available premium Bang & Olufsen 10-speaker system.

The Forester provides dual 7-inch touchscreens on base trims and an 11.6-inch vertical display on higher levels, also including wireless smartphone integration. However, its infotainment interface has faced critiques for slower responsiveness and a less intuitive layout compared to Ford's Sync 4 software.

Both vehicles come equipped with advanced driver aids, but the Ford Escape features the Ford Co-Pilot360 system on all trims, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control available even on entry trims. Plus, 360-degree camera systems can be optioned across all models—a significant advantage for parking in tight Oklahoma City areas.

The Subaru Forester's EyeSight suite also delivers automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and includes Emergency Stop Assist. Its symmetrical AWD is standard but some advanced safety tech, like blind-spot alert, is only included starting on mid-to-high trims. Safety features like DriverFocus fatigue monitoring are reserved for top-level Touring trim.

The Escape's hybrid option beats the Forester's gasoline-only setup with combined EPA ratings around 42 mpg city and 36 mpg highway, while its plug-in hybrid allows up to approximately 37 miles of electric-only driving. Gasoline Escape variants earn up to approximately 27 mpg city and 34 mpg highway with the 1.5L engine.

In contrast, the Forester's gasoline model achieves roughly 25-26 mpg city and 32-33 mpg highway with similar fuel tank capacities, offering respectable but less efficient consumption. Its hybrid variant, arriving mid-year, is expected to close this gap but won't offer plug-in capability.

The Ford Escape delivers a comprehensive package rich in powertrain options, updated tech, and strong safety features, offering flexibility across trims ranging approximately from $29,500 to $36,900. Joe Cooper Ford of Yukon's commitment to customer care, genuine parts availability via their Parts Department, and expert maintenance support via the Service Scheduler ensures long-term ownership satisfaction.

In contrast, the Forester's gasoline model achieves roughly 25-26 mpg city and 32-33 mpg highway with similar fuel tank capacities, offering respectable but less efficient consumption. Its hybrid variant, arriving mid-year, is expected to close this gap but won't offer plug-in capability.