Compare the2022 Toyota MiraiVS 2022 Ford Escape FHEV

The Toyota Mirai 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 Mirai has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats (WIL), which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WIL system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Mirai offers an optional Bird’s Eye 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 Mirai 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, 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 and driver alert monitors.

The Toyota Mirai weighs 587 to 844 pounds more than the Ford Escape FHEV. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Mirai for 3 years and 35000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Escape FHEV.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 5 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 Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 22nd.

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

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Mirai is faster than the Ford Escape FHEV:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Mirai higher (10 out of 10) than the Ford Escape FHEV (7). This means the Mirai produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Escape FHEV every 15,000 miles.

The Mirai’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.

The Mirai stops shorter than the Escape FHEV:

For better traction, the Mirai has larger standard tires than the Escape FHEV (235/55R19 vs. 225/65R17). The Mirai Limited’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Escape FHEV (245/45R20 vs. 225/65R17).

The Mirai’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escape FHEV’s standard 65 series tires. The Mirai Limited’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Escape FHEV’s optional 55 series tires.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mirai’s wheelbase is 8.2 inches longer than on the Escape FHEV (114.9 inches vs. 106.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Mirai is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Escape FHEV.

The Mirai XLE handles at .84 G’s, while the Escape FHEV SE AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Mirai is 8.2 inches shorter in height than the Escape FHEV, making the Mirai much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The Mirai has 1.3 inches more front hip room and .8 inches more front shoulder room than the Escape FHEV.

With its sedan body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the Mirai offers cargo security. The Escape FHEV’s sport utility bodystyle defeats cargo security.

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

The Mirai 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.

The Mirai’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. The Escape FHEV SEL/Titanium’s .

If the windows are left open on the Mirai 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. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Escape FHEV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the Mirai Limited to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The Mirai’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 Mirai Limited 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 Mirai has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Escape FHEV. The Mirai Limited also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Escape FHEV.

Standard air conditioned seats in front and rear seats keep the Mirai Limited’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda CX-5 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Escape FHEV SEL/Titanium offers wireless charging and it costs extra.