Compare the2023 Toyota VenzaVS 2023 Ford Escape

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

Safety

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To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Venza. But it costs extra on the Escape.

Both the Venza and the Escape have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Venza is safer than the Ford Escape:

	Venza	Escape
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches

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 Toyota Venza is safer than the Ford Escape:

	Venza	Escape
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	83	197
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	138 lbs.	191 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	508 lbs.	816 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	299	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 Toyota Venza is safer than the Escape:

	Venza	Escape
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	120	391
Head Peak Forces	no contact	93 G’s
Neck Tension	134 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	.47 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.34 in	1.77 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	1093 lbs.	1160 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.94 in	1.54 in
Shoulder Force	290 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.83 in	1.5 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	692 lbs.	1093 lbs.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Venza is 1.4% to 1.9% less likely to roll over than the Escape.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Venza the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Escape last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Venza for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Escape.

Reliability

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

The battery on the Venza is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Venza’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Escape’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Venza’s reliability 38 points higher than the Escape.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Ford is ranked 18th.

Engine

The Venza’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 38 more horsepower (219 vs. 181) than the Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota Venza is faster than the Ford Escape turbo 3 cyl.:

	Venza	Escape
Zero to 30 MPH	2.9 sec	3.3 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.8 sec	8.9 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.8 sec	5.2 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	16.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	85 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Venza
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/37 hwy
Escape
	FWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	28 city/34 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/31 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/31 hwy

The Venza can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 1.6 miles. The Escape can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Venza uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Escape with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Venza higher (7 out of 10) than the Ford Escape (5 to 7). This means the Venza produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Escape every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Venza has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Escape doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Venza stops shorter than the Escape:

	Venza	Escape
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Venza LE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escape’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Venza LE has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Escape.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Venza is .6 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than on the Escape.

The Venza’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56% to 44%) than the Escape’s (58% to 42%). This gives the Venza more stable handling and braking.

The Venza Limited handles at .80 G’s, while the Escape AWD pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Venza Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Escape (27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Venza LE’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Escape’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Venza has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Escape (8.2 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Venza to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Venza’s rear seats recline. The Escape’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

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

Ergonomics

The Venza’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Escape, and is not available on all models.

The Venza’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’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Venza 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 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Venza has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Escape doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Venza’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Escape and aren’t offered on the Escape Base.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Venza Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Escape doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Venza has a standard 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 Escape S doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Venza has a 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. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Escape Active/ST-Line/Platinum.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Venza has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Escape S doesn’t offer rear vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Venza has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Escape and isn’t available on the Escape Base.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Venza, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Ford Escape isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Venza third among midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Escape isn’t in the top three.

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