Compare the2023 Honda PassportVS 2023 Ford Escape

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Passport deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Passport’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Escape’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

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

Both the Passport and the Escape have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The Honda Passport weighs 663 to 964 pounds more than the Ford Escape. 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 Honda Passport is safer than the Ford Escape:

	Passport	Escape
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	46/243 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, results indicate that the Honda Passport is safer than the Ford Escape:

	Passport	Escape
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	109	197
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	101 lbs.	191 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	42 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	304 lbs.	816 lbs.

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

Warranty

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Passport for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Honda will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Escape.

Reliability

The engine in the Passport has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the Escape have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

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 Passport’s reliability 38 points higher than the Escape.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Passport third among midsize suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Escape isn’t in the top three in its category.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 13 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

The Passport’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 99 more horsepower (280 vs. 181) and 72 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 190) than the Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder. The Passport’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 30 more horsepower (280 vs. 250) than the Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda Passport is faster than the Ford Escape:

	Passport	Escape turbo 3 cyl.	Escape turbo 4 cyl.
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	8.4 sec	6.9 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	16.6 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94 MPH	84.5 MPH	89.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Passport 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.

The Passport has 4.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Escape FWD’s standard fuel tank (19.5 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Passport has 3.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Escape AWD’s standard fuel tank (19.5 vs. 15.7 gallons).

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Passport, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Escape.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Passport has larger standard tires than the Escape (245/60R18 vs. 225/65R17). The Passport EX-L/Elite’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Escape (265/45R20 vs. 225/65R17).

The Passport TrailSport’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. The Passport EX-L/Elite’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Escape’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Passport TrailSport has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Escape. The Passport EX-L/Elite’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Escape.

The Passport has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Escape doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Passport’s wheelbase is 4.2 inches longer than on the Escape (110.9 inches vs. 106.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Passport is 4.5 inches wider in the front and 5.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Escape.

The Passport Elite handles at .79 G’s, while the Escape AWD pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Passport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Escape (8.1 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Passport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Passport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Escape doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Passport Elite is quieter than the Escape AWD (65 vs. 70 dB).

Passenger Space

The Passport has 10.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Escape (114.9 vs. 104).

The Passport has 3.9 inches more front hip room, 4.4 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 4 inches more rear hip room and 5.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Escape.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Escape with its rear seat up (41.2 vs. 37.5 cubic feet). The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Escape with its rear seat folded (77.7 vs. 65.4 cubic feet).

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

	Passport	Escape
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	42.5”/76”	37.8”/68.5”
Max Width	52”	57.3”
Min Width	45.5”	41.4”
Height	30”	34.8”

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Passport’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Escape doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Passport Elite’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.

Towing

The Passport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Escape’s (5000 vs. 2000 pounds).

Ergonomics

The Passport’s standard easy entry system 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 Passport’s front power windows 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 Passport 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. The driver of the Escape can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Passport 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.

Consumer Reports rated the Passport’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Escape’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Passport to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Escape doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Passport’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.

When the Passport 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’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Passport’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Escape offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Passport has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Escape, and aren’t available on the Escape Base. The Passport Elite also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Escape.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Passport Elite 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 Passport 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 Passport 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 Passport 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 Honda Passport 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.

The Passport TrailSport/Elite has a 115-volt a/c outlet, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Escape doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

The Passport will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Passport will retain 50.47% to 51.56% of its original price after five years, while the Escape only retains 49.35% to 49.88%.

Recommendations

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

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