This isn't personal, but I strongly disagree with your assessment.
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Originally Posted by rxhybrid
The Ford can go off road, the Highlander can't.
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It's true that the Highlander Hybrid has a warning not to take it off-road, but I wouldn't call the Escape Hybrid off-road cap
able, considering the unibody design and lack of a transfer case or an extra-low gear. All SUV's with enough power and ground clearance can take you camping, including the Toyota. It's certainly not an "off-road" SUV, I think we'll all agree. Someone wanting off-road prowess isn't buying either of these vehicles.
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The Ford costs a lot less and financing is great (you can buy an extended warranty and still have $$$ left over).
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It's relative - you're buying a smaller vehicle with one less row of seats, a lot less power and speed, one lacking traction and stability control, one that does worse in crash tests, etc. It's not in the same class (literally - the Escape is considered "Compact" versus the Highlander's "Midsize" classification)
I know people compare them because of the fuel economy ratings and Hybrid powertrain, but they really are apples and oranges.
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Toyota makes great cars, but their quality is slipping.
Ford makes good cars, but their quality is improving.
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Consumer Reports says the Highlander Hybrid is the best SUV you can buy. The Escape Hybrid isn't even in the top twenty (ranked 7th if you filter by "SUV's priced $30,000-40,000). Further, Lexus/Toyota are ranked as the number one/two brands, with Ford down at the 11th position.
The Highlander is ranked higher than the Escape on the ALG depreciation guide, and JD Power has it beating the Escape in every category (Overall Quality, Mechanical Quality, Body & Interior Quality, Feature & Accessory Quality, and Overall Appeal), and trouncing it in initial quality (Highlander has the max of 5 stars versus the Escapes 3 stars)
So... you get what you pay for, and you'll get more for your used car when you're done with it.