Compare the2023 Ford Escape PHEVVS 2023 Lexus NX

The Escape PHEV 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 NX 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.

Both the Escape PHEV and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

There are over 12 times as many Ford dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape PHEV’s warranty.

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

The Escape PHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 18 more horsepower (221 vs. 203) than the NX 250’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Escape PHEV running on electricity gets better mileage than the NX 450h running on electricity (117 city/93 hwy vs. 93 city/75 hwy MPGe).

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Escape PHEV uses regular unleaded gasoline. The NX 350 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Escape PHEV 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 NX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Escape PHEV higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus NX (6 to 7). This means the Escape PHEV produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the NX every 15,000 miles.

The Escape PHEV has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the NX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better maneuverability, the Escape PHEV’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the NX’s (37.2 feet vs. 38 feet).

The Escape PHEV is 3 inches shorter than the NX, making the Escape PHEV easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Escape PHEV uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The NX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Escape PHEV has 1.7 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 2.8 inches more rear legroom, .8 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The Escape PHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (34.4 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Escape PHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (60.8 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Escape PHEV easier. The Escape PHEV’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.9 inches, while the NX’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

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

The Escape PHEV’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

The Escape PHEV can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Escape PHEV can be unhitched and driven around locally. The NX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The power windows standard on both the Escape PHEV and the NX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Escape PHEV is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The NX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Escape PHEV’s available exterior PIN entry system. The NX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Escape PHEV’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 NX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Escape PHEV has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the NX.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Escape PHEV will be $5783 to $14355 less than for the Lexus NX.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Ford Escape PHEV and the Lexus NX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ford Escape outsold the Lexus NX by almost three to one during 2022.