Compare the2023 Ford EscapeVS 2023 Jeep Compass

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Jeep Compass doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Escape 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 Compass 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Escape (except Base) offers an optional Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Compass doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Escape and Compass have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Escape (except Base) offers optional Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Compass’ Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Escape and the Compass have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, available all wheel drive and 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 Ford Escape is safer than the Jeep Compass:

	Escape	Compass
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	143	196
Neck Injury Risk	22.5%	41%
Neck Stress	185 lbs.	445 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	38 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	188/315 lbs.	326/489 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	102	172
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	181 lbs.	235 lbs.
Neck Compression	58 lbs.	92 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	220/169 lbs.	299/387 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 Ford Escape is safer than the Jeep Compass:

	Escape	Compass
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	240 lbs.	335 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	97	101
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	816 lbs.	928 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	12 inches
HIC	344	355
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	462 lbs.	663 lbs.

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 Escape, with its four-star roll-over rating, is 3% to 3.5% less likely to roll over than the Compass, which received a three-star rating.

Warranty

There are over 25 percent more Ford dealers than there are Jeep dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Escape’s warranty.

Reliability

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Jeep is rated below average.

Engine

The Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 50 more horsepower (250 vs. 200) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 221) than the Compass’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Escape
	FWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	27 city/34 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/32 hwy
Compass
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/32 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Escape 1.5 Turbo’s fuel efficiency. The Compass doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Escape FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Compass (14.8 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Escape AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Compass (15.7 vs. 13.5 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Escape’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Compass:

	Escape	Compass
Front Rotors	13 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	10.95 inches

The Escape stops much shorter than the Compass:

	Escape	Compass
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	144 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	151 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Escape has larger tires than the Compass (225/65R17 vs. 215/65R17).

Suspension and Handling

The Escape has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Compass’ suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escape’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the Compass (106.7 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escape is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Compass.

The Escape handles at .78 G’s, while the Compass Trailhawk pulls only .73 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Escape AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Compass Trailhawk (27.7 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 29.6 seconds @ .53 average G’s).

Chassis

The Ford Escape may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 300 pounds less than the Jeep Compass.

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

Passenger Space

The Escape has 4.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Compass (104 vs. 99.6).

The Escape has .8 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 2.4 inches more rear legroom, 4.1 inches more rear hip room and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Compass.

Cargo Capacity

The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Compass with its rear seat up (37.5 vs. 27.2 cubic feet). The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Compass with its rear seat folded (65.4 vs. 59.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Escape easier. The Escape’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.1 inches, while the Compass’ liftover is 31.1 inches.

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

	Escape	Compass
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.8”/68.5”	32.4”/65.7”
Max Width	57.3”	53.8”
Min Width	41.4”	38.1”
Height	34.8”	29.6”

An optional locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Escape. The Compass doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Escape’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Compass’ (2000 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Jeep Compass is only 2000 pounds. The Escape offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

The Escape (except Base)’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Compass doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Escape Elite/Platinum offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Compass doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Escape Select/Elite/Platinum’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 Compass’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Escape’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Escape Base). The Compass doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost SiriusXM Guardian can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Escape’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 Compass’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Escape Elite/Platinum’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Compass Latitude/Trailhawk/Limited’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Model Availability

The Escape is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Compass doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Escape owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Escape with a number “5” insurance rate while the Compass is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

The Escape will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Escape will retain 49.35% to 49.88% of its original price after five years, while the Compass only retains 48.2% to 49.34%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Escape is less expensive to operate than the Compass because typical repairs cost less on the Escape than the Compass, including $33 less for a water pump, $69 less for a fuel pump and $147 less for front struts.

Recommendations

The Ford Escape outsold the Jeep Compass by 59% during 2022.