Compare the2023 Volkswagen ID.4VS 2023 Ford Escape PHEV

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics

Safety

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The ID.4’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the ID.4 and Escape PHEV have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The ID.4 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Escape PHEV’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The ID.4 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the ID.4 and the Escape PHEV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Volkswagen ID.4 weighs 447 to 1007 pounds more than the Ford Escape PHEV. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen ID.4 is safer than the Ford Escape PHEV:

	ID.4	Escape PHEV
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	18%	22.5%
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	23 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	39/39 lbs.	188/315 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 Volkswagen ID.4 is safer than the Ford Escape PHEV:

	ID.4	Escape PHEV
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	76	197
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	128 lbs.	191 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	527 lbs.	816 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	6 inches	11 inches
HIC	333	344

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Volkswagen ID.4 is much safer than the Escape PHEV:

	ID.4	Escape PHEV
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	41	391
Head Peak Forces	no contact	93 G’s
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	.98 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.83 in	1.77 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	357 lbs.	1160 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.28 in	1.54 in
Shoulder Force	112 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.71 in	1.5 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	5 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	446 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the ID.4 is 6.5% to 7.1% less likely to roll over than the Escape PHEV.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the ID.4 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Escape PHEV last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

The ID.4 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Escape PHEV’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Volkswagen’s powertrain warranty covers the ID.4 3 years and 40,000 miles longer than Ford covers the Escape PHEV. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Escape PHEV ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The ID.4’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Escape PHEV’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the ID.4 for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Escape PHEV.

Engine

The ID.4’s optional electric motors produces 74 more horsepower (295 vs. 221) than the Escape PHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the ID.4 gets better mileage than the Escape PHEV running on electricity:

			MPGe
ID.4
	RWD	Standard Electric Motor	115 city/99 hwy
		S Electric Motor	115 city/99 hwy
		Electric Motor	115 city/98 hwy
		S Electric Motor	115 city/98 hwy
Escape PHEV
	FWD	Electric Motor	117 city/93 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the ID.4 gets better mileage than the Escape PHEV running its gasoline engine:

			MPGe
ID.4
	RWD	Standard Electric Motor	115 city/99 hwy
		S Electric Motor	115 city/99 hwy
		Electric Motor	115 city/98 hwy
		S Electric Motor	115 city/98 hwy
Escape PHEV
			MPG
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/38 hwy

The ID.4 can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 209 to 275 miles. The Escape PHEV has to start its internal combustion engine after only 37 miles.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen ID.4 higher (10 out of 10) than the Ford Escape PHEV (7). This means the ID.4 produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Escape PHEV every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the ID.4’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Escape PHEV:

	ID.4	Escape PHEV
Front Rotors	14.1 inches	13 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the ID.4 has larger tires than the Escape PHEV (F:235/55R19 & R:255/50R19 vs. 225/60R18).

The ID.4’s standard 235/55R19 front and 255/50R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series front and 50 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escape PHEV’s standard 60 series tires. The ID.4 S’ 235/50R20 front and 255/45R20 rear tires have a lower 50 series front and 45 series rear profile than the Escape PHEV’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ID.4 has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the Escape PHEV. The ID.4 S has standard 20-inch wheels.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the ID.4’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the Escape PHEV (108.7 inches vs. 106.7 inches).

For better maneuverability, the ID.4’s turning circle is 5.7 feet tighter than the Escape PHEV’s (31.5 feet vs. 37.2 feet). The ID.4 AWD’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Escape PHEV’s (36.42 feet vs. 37.2 feet).

Cargo Capacity

The ID.4 has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Escape PHEV with its rear seat folded (64.2 vs. 60.8 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the ID.4’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

The ID.4’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Escape PHEV’s (2200 vs. 1500 pounds).

Ergonomics

If the windows are left open on the ID.4 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Escape PHEV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The ID.4’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 PHEV’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the ID.4 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The ID.4’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Escape PHEV’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the ID.4 S/Pro S has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer cornering lights. The ID.4 S/Pro S also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

When the ID.4 Pro S Plus is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Escape PHEV’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the ID.4 and the Escape PHEV have standard heated front seats. The ID.4 Pro S Plus also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Escape PHEV.

The ID.4 S/Pro S/Pro S Plus has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Escape PHEV.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen ID.4 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Escape PHEV.

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