Compare the2023 Ford EscapeVS 2023 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
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape 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 its rear seat belts.

The Escape 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 (except Base) offers an optional Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

The Escape has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 has standard Cross Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Trailblazer and the Trailblazer’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

The Escape’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 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 is safer than the Chevrolet Trailblazer:

	Escape	Trailblazer
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	143	185
Neck Injury Risk	22.5%	24%
Neck Stress	185 lbs.	190 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	102	401
Neck Compression	58 lbs.	82 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	220/169 lbs.	409/383 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 Chevrolet Trailblazer:

	Escape	Trailblazer
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	191 lbs.	199 lbs.
Hip Force	240 lbs.	459 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	97	185
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	38 G’s
Hip Force	462 lbs.	591 lbs.

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

Warranty

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

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 Trailblazer doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 2 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

Engine

The Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 44 more horsepower (181 vs. 137) and 28 lbs.-ft. more torque (190 vs. 162) than the Trailblazer’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The Escape’s 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 26 more horsepower (181 vs. 155) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (190 vs. 174) than the Trailblazer’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder. The Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 95 more horsepower (250 vs. 155) and 106 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 174) than the Trailblazer’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Escape is faster than the Chevrolet Trailblazer 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

	Escape turbo 3 cyl.	Escape turbo 4 cyl.	Trailblazer
Zero to 60 MPH	8.4 sec	6.9 sec	9.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16.6 sec	15.3 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	84.5 MPH	89.3 MPH	80.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Escape
	FWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	27 city/34 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/32 hwy
Trailblazer
	FWD	1.2 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/31 hwy
	AWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/30 hwy

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 Trailblazer doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Escape FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Trailblazer (14.8 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Escape AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Trailblazer (15.7 vs. 13.2 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 Trailblazer doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

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

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

The Escape stops shorter than the Trailblazer:

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

Tires and Wheels

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

Suspension and Handling

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

The Escape has vehicle speed sensitive 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’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 is 1.5 inches wider in the front and .5 inches wider in the rear than on the Trailblazer.

The Escape’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (58% to 42%) than the Trailblazer’s (60% to 40%). This gives the Escape more stable handling and braking.

The Escape AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Trailblazer RS AWD (27.7 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Escape 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, 1.3 inches more rear legroom, 7.6 inches more rear hip room and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Trailblazer.

Cargo Capacity

The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Trailblazer with its rear seat up (37.5 vs. 25.3 cubic feet). The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Trailblazer with its rear seat folded (65.4 vs. 54.4 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Escape easier. The Escape’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.1 inches, while the Trailblazer’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

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

	Escape	Trailblazer
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.8”/68.5”	32”/64.5”
Max Width	57.3”	54”
Min Width	41.4”	41”
Height	34.8”	28.2”

An optional locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Escape. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Escape’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Trailblazer’s (2000 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Chevrolet Trailblazer is only 1000 pounds. The Escape offers up to a 3500 lbs. 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 Trailblazer doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Escape (except Base), 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 (except Base)’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 Elite/Platinum 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 Select/Elite/Platinum’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’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 Elite/Platinum’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

The Escape’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Trailblazer’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Escape Active/ST-Line/Platinum’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 and the Trailblazer offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Escape 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 (except Base)’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 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 Trailblazer doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

The Escape will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Escape will retain 49.35% to 49.88% of its original price after five years, while the Trailblazer only retains 46.25% to 46.73%.

Recommendations

The Ford Escape outsold the Chevrolet Trailblazer by over two to one during 2022.