Compare the2023 Chevrolet BlazerVS 2023 Ford Escape

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front shoulder belts of the Chevrolet Blazer are height-adjustable, and the rear seat shoulder belts have child comfort guides to move the belt to properly fit children. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages children to buckle up. The Ford Escape has only front height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Blazer and the Escape have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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

	Blazer	Escape
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	22.5%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	185 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 Chevrolet Blazer is safer than the Ford Escape:

	Blazer	Escape
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	93	197
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	157 lbs.	191 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	673 lbs.	816 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	265	344

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Blazer is 1.4% to 2.7% less likely to roll over than the Escape.

Warranty

The Blazer’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Escape’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Blazer’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.

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 Blazer’s reliability 31 points higher than the Escape.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

Engine

The Blazer’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 47 more horsepower (228 vs. 181) and 68 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 190) than the Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder. The Blazer’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 58 more horsepower (308 vs. 250) than the Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Blazer V6 is faster than the Ford Escape turbo 4 cyl.:

	Blazer	Escape
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	6.9 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.5 MPH	89.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Blazer FWD’s standard fuel tank has 4.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Escape FWD’s standard fuel tank (19.4 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Blazer AWD’s standard fuel tank has 6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Escape AWD’s standard fuel tank (21.7 vs. 15.7 gallons).

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Blazer higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Ford Escape (5 to 7). This means the Blazer produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Escape every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

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

Brakes and Stopping

The Blazer stops much shorter than the Escape:

	Blazer	Escape
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Blazer has larger standard tires than the Escape (235/65R18 vs. 225/65R17). The Blazer RS/Premier’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Escape (265/45R21 vs. 225/65R17).

The Blazer RS/Premier’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escape’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Blazer has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Escape. The Blazer RS/Premier’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Escape.

The Chevrolet Blazer’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Ford Escape only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Blazer 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 Blazer’s wheelbase is 6 inches longer than on the Escape (112.7 inches vs. 106.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Blazer is 4 inches wider in the front and 4.4 inches wider in the rear than on the Escape.

The Blazer RS 4x4 handles at .87 G’s, while the Escape AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Blazer RS 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Escape (27.1 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Blazer LT has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Escape (7.5 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Blazer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Blazer RS/Premier’s minimum ground clearance is .3 inch higher than on the Escape (7.6 vs. 7.3 inches).

Chassis

The Blazer 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, the interior of the Blazer RS 4x4 is quieter than the Escape AWD:

	Blazer	Escape
Full-Throttle	74 dB	75 dB
70 MPH Cruising	66 dB	70 dB

Passenger Space

The Blazer has 3.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Escape (107.8 vs. 104).

The Blazer has .4 inches more front hip room, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear hip room and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Escape.

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

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Blazer’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 Blazer RS/Premier’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

Maximum trailer towing in the Ford Escape is limited to 3500 pounds. The Blazer offers up to a 4500 lbs. towing capacity.

The Blazer 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 Blazer can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Escape can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Servicing Ease

The Blazer uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Escape uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Blazer’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Escape does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Blazer’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its driver’s window also automatically closes, 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.

On a hot day the Blazer’s driver can lower all the windows 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.

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

The Blazer’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 Blazer with available tilt-down mirrors 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 Blazer’s optional 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.

Both the Blazer and the Escape offer available heated front seats. The Blazer RS/Premier also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Escape.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Blazer RS/Premier 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 Blazer 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 Blazer 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 Blazer has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Escape S doesn’t offer rear vents.

The Blazer offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, 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

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Blazer is less expensive to operate than the Escape because typical repairs cost much less on the Blazer than the Escape, including $1030 less for a muffler, $28 less for a starter and $32 less for front struts.

Recommendations

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Blazer second 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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