Compare the2023 Ford EscapeVS 2022 BMW X1

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
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 BMW X1 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X1 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Automatic Emergency Braking in the Escape as “Superior.” The X1 scores only 4 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

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 X1 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 X1 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 X1 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.

The Escape’s blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The X1 doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Escape’s standard Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The X1 doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Escape and the X1 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, 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 BMW X1:

	Escape	X1
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	143	328
Neck Injury Risk	22.5%	32%
Neck Stress	185 lbs.	360 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	188/315 lbs.	257/329 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	102	187
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Compression	58 lbs.	68 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	220/169 lbs.	309/268 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 BMW X1:

	Escape	X1
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	240 lbs.	486 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	97	193
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	65 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	462 lbs.	815 lbs.

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Escape the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 177 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X1 last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2019.

Warranty

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Escape 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X1. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X1 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 9 times as many Ford dealers as there are BMW 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 X1 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 optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (250 vs. 228) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 258) than the X1’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Escape gets better mileage than the X1:

			MPG
Escape
	FWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	27 city/34 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/32 hwy
X1
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/33 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 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 X1 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

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 X1 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

The Escape stops much shorter than the X1:

	Escape	X1
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	180 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	128 feet	134 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escape’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the X1 (106.7 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

The Escape AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the X1 xDrive28i pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The Ford Escape may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 250 pounds less than the BMW X1.

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 X1 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Escape AWD is quieter than the X1 xDrive28i (37 vs. 40 dB).

Passenger Space

The Escape has 2.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X1 (104 vs. 101.2).

The Escape has 2 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, 3.7 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the X1.

Cargo Capacity

The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X1 with its rear seat up (37.5 vs. 27.1 cubic feet). The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X1 with its rear seat folded (65.4 vs. 58.7 cubic feet).

The Escape’s cargo area is larger than the X1’s in almost every dimension:

	Escape	X1
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.8”/68.5”	35.1”/69”
Max Width	57.3”	51.5”
Min Width	41.4”	39.5”
Height	34.8”	33”

Towing

The Escape has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The X1 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 X1 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Escape offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The X1 doesn’t offer a remote starting 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 X1 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 (not available on Escape Base). The X1 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its BMW Assist can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Escape has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X1 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Escape’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the X1’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

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 X1’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Escape owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Escape will cost $50 to $795 less than the X1 over a five-year period.

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 X1 only retains 47.06% to 47.87%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Escape is less expensive to operate than the X1 because it costs $27 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Escape than the X1, including $486 less for a water pump, $68 less for front brake pads, $312 less for a starter, $365 less for fuel injection, $259 less for a fuel pump, $216 less for front struts, $232 less for a timing belt/chain and $432 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Escape will be $4165 to $10935 less than for the BMW X1.

Recommendations

The Ford Escape outsold the BMW X1 by over 19 to one during 2022.

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