Compare the2022 Ford Escape FHEVVS 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer

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

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2024/05/03

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape FHEV have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Chevrolet Trailblazer doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The Escape FHEV has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Escape FHEV Titanium has a standard backup collision prevention system that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Escape FHEV offers optional parking sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or, for the Escape FHEV Titanium in front of the vehicle. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Escape FHEV has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Trailblazer’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Escape FHEV has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Trailblazer LS/LT/ACTIV/RS offers a rear cross-path warning system and it costs extra.

The Escape FHEV’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Escape FHEV and the Trailblazer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, rearview cameras 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 FHEV is safer than the Chevrolet Trailblazer:

	Escape FHEV	Trailblazer
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars

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

Warranty

The Escape FHEV’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Trailblazer’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Escape FHEV’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Trailblazer’s camshafts. If the Trailblazer’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The Escape FHEV 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 Trailblazer 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 FHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 63 more horsepower (200 vs. 137) than the Trailblazer’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The Escape FHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 45 more horsepower (200 vs. 155) than the Trailblazer’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Ford Escape FHEV is faster than the Chevrolet Trailblazer 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

	Escape FHEV	Trailblazer
Zero to 30 MPH	3.5 sec	3.6 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.3 sec	9.5 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.9 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	17.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	82 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Escape FHEV gets better mileage than the Trailblazer:

			MPG
Escape FHEV
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	44 city/37 hwy
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/37 hwy
Trailblazer
	FWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/33 hwy
		1.2 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/31 hwy
	AWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/30 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Escape FHEV’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Escape FHEV has a gallon more fuel capacity than the Trailblazer (14.2 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Escape FHEV 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 Trailblazer doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Escape FHEV’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Trailblazer:

	Escape FHEV	Trailblazer
Front Rotors	13 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	10.39 inches

The Escape FHEV stops shorter than the Trailblazer:

	Escape FHEV	Trailblazer
60 to 0 MPH	128 feet	133 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Escape FHEV has larger tires than the Trailblazer (225/65R17 vs. 215/65R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escape FHEV has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Trailblazer L. The Escape FHEV’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Trailblazer RS.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Ford Escape FHEV has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Chevrolet Trailblazer has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Escape FHEV has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Escape FHEV flat and controlled during cornering. The Trailblazer’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Escape FHEV has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

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

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escape FHEV is 1.4 inches wider in the front and .5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Trailblazer.

Passenger Space

The Escape FHEV has 1.5 inches more front legroom, 2.9 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 7.6 inches more rear hip room and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Trailblazer.

Cargo Capacity

The Escape FHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Trailblazer with its rear seat up (34.4 vs. 25.3 cubic feet). The Escape FHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Trailblazer with its rear seat folded (60.8 vs. 54.4 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Escape FHEV easier. The Escape FHEV’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.9 inches, while the Trailblazer’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

The Escape FHEV’s cargo area is larger than the Trailblazer’s in every dimension:

	Escape FHEV	Trailblazer
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	36.7”/68.3”	32”/64.5”
Max Width	57.3”	54”
Min Width	41.4”	41”
Height	32.8”	28.2”

Towing

The Escape FHEV’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Trailblazer’s (1500 vs. 1000 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Escape FHEV 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 Trailblazer doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Escape FHEV (except SE), the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Escape FHEV (except SE)’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Escape FHEV Titanium offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Escape FHEV SEL/Titanium’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches. The Trailblazer’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

The Escape FHEV’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 Trailblazer’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Escape FHEV Titanium’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

The Escape FHEV offers an optional center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Trailblazer L/LS doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Escape FHEV’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Escape FHEV and the Trailblazer offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Escape FHEV offers optional rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Escape FHEV’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Trailblazer’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

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

Recommendations

The Ford Escape outsold the Chevrolet Trailblazer by 74% during the 2021 model year.