Yes, I have to say, they are simply two different vehicles. Looks, interior, and "driving feel" are subjective, so you should definitely test drive them both, but the main differences:

1. FE: Escape will get about 5-7 more mpg than the HH. It's a smaller-car, smaller-engine design. It's one class up in the fuel economy game.

2. POWER: HH has much more power, much bigger engine, much better performance. Escape is plenty fast for an occassional fast acceleration, but if you want great performance, or drive in power-hungry environments (hard mountain driving, etc), the difference between the two will be large. Floor them both uphill and you'll see.

3. SIZE: HH is rated one size bigger. I'm not sure how much more space there actually is, but you can squeeze in up to 7 people in it. So there's a real advantage is space, although escape is not small, so do you need MORE room than escape already has?

4. OFF-ROAD: People say different things, but both these SUVs use the same type of drivetrain, with the same basic capabilities/limitations. They're both capable 4wd vehicles with decent clearance, neither one of them has hard-core off-road drivetrains. Unless proven otherwise, they're the same.

5. PRICE! Out the door, HH will cost you $10,000 more. A little less if you get no options. You do get more equipment in general, but difference in price is HUGE. Again, you get more (except FE), but you pay a lot more, too.

So, if you're trying to lead the hybrid lifestyle while still having a capable, roomy vehicle and price matters, Escape is the clear choice. If you only care about decent FE and you want more power/room/equipment/toyotaness AND price doesn't matter, then HH is the clear choice.