Compare the2022 Lexus RXVS 2021 Ford Escape FHEV

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

Safety

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The Lexus RX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The RX has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The RX offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Escape FHEV 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.

Both the RX and the Escape FHEV 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, 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 Lexus RX weighs 516 to 1186 pounds more than the Ford Escape FHEV. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Lexus RX is safer than the Ford Escape FHEV:

	RX	Escape FHEV
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	53	197
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	110 G’s	191 G’s
Hip Force	214 lbs.	240 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	594 lbs.	816 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	275	344

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

Warranty

The RX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Escape FHEV’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Ford covers the Escape FHEV. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Escape FHEV ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The RX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Escape FHEV’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the RX’s reliability 64 points higher than the Escape FHEV.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the RX first among midsize premium suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Escape FHEV isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 14th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 49 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 22nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in reliability. Ford is ranked 22nd.

Engine

The RX 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 95 more horsepower (295 vs. 200) than the Escape FHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The RX 450h’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 108 more horsepower (308 vs. 200) than the Escape FHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the RX 350 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the Ford Escape FHEV:

	RX	Escape FHEV
Zero to 60 MPH	6.8 sec	8.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.7 MPH	84.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The RX Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Escape FHEV (17.2 vs. 14.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The RX’s standard fuel tank has 5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Escape FHEV (19.2 vs. 14.2 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

The RX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Escape FHEV are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the RX has larger tires than the Escape FHEV (235/65R18 vs. 225/65R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RX has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Escape FHEV. The RX’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Escape FHEV Titanium.

Suspension and Handling

The RX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Escape FHEV’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RX’s wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer than on the Escape FHEV (109.8 inches vs. 106.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RX is 2 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Escape FHEV.

The RX 350 handles at .79 G’s, while the Escape FHEV SE AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The RX 350 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Escape FHEV SE AWD (27.1 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The RX has 1.7 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front hip room, .2 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear hip room and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Escape FHEV.

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

Cargo Capacity

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers or raises the RX’s optional rear seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the RX. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Ford Escape FHEV is limited to 1500 pounds. The RX offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The RX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Escape FHEV uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 62% lower rating, Ford is ranked 25th.

Ergonomics

The RX’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Escape FHEV, and is not available on all models.

The RX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Escape FHEV’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

If the windows are left open on the RX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Escape FHEV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The RX’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Escape FHEV’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the RX offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer cornering lights. The RX also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the RX to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The RX’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford charges extra for heated mirrors on the Escape FHEV.

When the RX is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Escape FHEV’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The RX’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Escape FHEV offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the RX and the Escape FHEV offer optional heated front seats. The RX also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Escape FHEV.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the RX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The RX offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® chose the Lexus RX as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Ford Escape FHEV isn't recommended.

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