Compare the2025 Ford EscapeVS 2025 Lexus UX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Ford Escape achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Lexus UX has not been tested.

The Escape Select/Elite/Platinum offers an optional 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The UX only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Escape has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Rear Cross Traffic Braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Parking Support Brake costs extra on the UX.

Both the Escape and the UX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Escape is safer than the Lexus UX:

	Escape	UX
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22.5%	33%
Neck Stress	185 lbs.	371 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	188/315 lbs.	376/433 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	102	290
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.7 inches
Neck Compression	58 lbs.	94 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	220/169 lbs.	345/566 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Escape is safer than the Lexus UX:

	Escape	UX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	240 lbs.	323 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	46 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	12 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	462 lbs.	919 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

There are almost 12 times as many Ford dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape’s warranty.

Reliability

The Escape has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The UX doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

Engine

The Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 47 lbs.-ft. more torque (199 vs. 152) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 54 more horsepower (250 vs. 196) and 128 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 152) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Ford Escape turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Lexus UX:

	Escape	UX
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	7.7 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	15.2 sec	20.6 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.8 sec	7.9 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.3 sec	4.3 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4 sec	5.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.4 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	90 MPH
Top Speed	127 MPH	111 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Escape 1.5 Turbo’s fuel efficiency. The UX doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the Escape and UX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Escape has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Escape FWD’s standard fuel tank has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (14.8 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Escape AWD’s standard fuel tank has 5.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (15.7 vs. 10.6 gallons).

The Escape has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The UX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

The Escape stops much shorter than the UX:

	Escape	UX
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	128 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escape offers optional 19-inch wheels. The UX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Escape offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escape’s wheelbase is 2.8 inches longer than on the UX (106.7 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escape is 1.5 inches wider in the front and .8 inches wider in the rear than on the UX.

The Escape AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the UX 300h F Sport Handling pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Escape ST-Line Elite AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the UX AWD (27.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Escape has a greater minimum ground clearance than the UX (7.3 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the Escape to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Escape uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The UX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Escape has 13.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (104 vs. 90.4).

The Escape has 2.8 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front hip room, 2.6 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear headroom, 7.6 inches more rear legroom, 1 inch more rear hip room and 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Escape’s rear seats recline. The UX’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (37.5 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

Towing

The Escape has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The UX has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Escape uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The UX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Escape and the UX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Escape is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The UX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Escape’s available exterior PIN entry system. The UX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Escape’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The UX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Escape Elite/Platinum’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The UX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Escape owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Escape will cost $345 to $2125 less than the UX over a five-year period.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Ford Escape and the Lexus UX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ford Escape outsold the Lexus UX by over 16 to one during 2024.

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