Compare the2023 Ford EscapeVS 2023 Jeep Renegade

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
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 Renegade 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 Renegade 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.

The Escape (except Base) offers an optional 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Renegade only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Escape and Renegade 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 Renegade’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

The Escape’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Renegade doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Escape and the Renegade 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

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 Renegade:

	Escape	Renegade
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	143	207
Neck Injury Risk	22.5%	26%
Neck Stress	185 lbs.	332 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	188/315 lbs.	343/366 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	102	363
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.7 inches
Neck Stress	181 lbs.	221 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	220/169 lbs.	290/322 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 Renegade:

	Escape	Renegade
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1 inches
Hip Force	240 lbs.	328 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	97	286
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	73 G’s
Hip Force	816 lbs.	1157 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	462 lbs.	625 lbs.

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Escape the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 177 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Renegade last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2019.

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 Renegade 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 standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 4 more horsepower (181 vs. 177) than the Renegade’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder. The Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 73 more horsepower (250 vs. 177) and 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 210) than the Renegade’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Escape is faster than the Jeep Renegade:

	Escape turbo 3 cyl.	Escape turbo 4 cyl.	Renegade
Zero to 60 MPH	8.4 sec	6.9 sec	9.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16.6 sec	15.3 sec	17.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	84.5 MPH	89.3 MPH	78.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Escape
	FWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	27 city/34 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/32 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy
Renegade
	AWD	1.3 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
		Trailhawk 1.3 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 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 Renegade doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Escape FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Renegade (14.8 vs. 12.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Escape AWD’s standard fuel tank has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Renegade (15.7 vs. 12.7 gallons).

Environmental Friendliness

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

Brakes and Stopping

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

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

The Escape stops much shorter than the Renegade:

	Escape	Renegade
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	181 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Escape has larger tires than the Renegade (225/65R17 vs. 215/60R17).

Suspension and Handling

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

The Escape has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Renegade doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escape’s wheelbase is 5.5 inches longer than on the Renegade (106.7 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escape is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Renegade.

The Escape AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the Renegade Latitude pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Escape AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Renegade Trailhawk (27.7 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 29 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Chassis

For excellent aerodynamics, the Escape has standard flush composite headlights. The Renegade has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

Passenger Space

The Escape has 3.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Renegade (104 vs. 100.1).

The Escape has 1.2 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front hip room, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, 5.6 inches more rear legroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Renegade.

Cargo Capacity

The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Renegade with its rear seat up (37.5 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Renegade with its rear seat folded (65.4 vs. 50.8 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 Renegade’s liftover is 30.2 inches.

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

	Escape	Renegade
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.8”/68.5”	28.9”/59”
Max Width	57.3”	40.1”
Min Width	41.4”	37.6”
Height	34.8”	33.7”

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Escape Active/ST-Line/Platinum has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Renegade doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Jeep Renegade is limited to 2000 pounds. The Escape offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Escape (except Base), the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Renegade doesn’t offer a memory system.

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 Renegade 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 Renegade 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 Renegade’s 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 Renegade doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its 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 Renegade Latitude/Altitude/(Red)’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Escape’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Renegade’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

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

The Escape has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The Renegade only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

The Escape offers an optional 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 Renegade doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

Both the Escape and the Renegade offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Escape offers optional rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Renegade doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Ford Escape (except Base) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Renegade doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

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 Renegade 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 Renegade doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Escape owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Escape will cost $290 less than the Renegade over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Escape is less expensive to operate than the Renegade because it costs $190 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Escape than the Renegade, including $75 less for a water pump, $137 less for front brake pads, $343 less for a starter, $12 less for a fuel pump and $276 less for front struts.

Recommendations

The Ford Escape outsold the Jeep Renegade by almost five to one during 2022.

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