Compare the2023 Ford EscapeVS 2023 Lexus NX

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 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 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, available all wheel drive and 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’s warranty.

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

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Escape turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Lexus NX:

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

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 NX doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the Escape and the NX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Escapes have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Escape uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The NX 350 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Escape AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the NX (15.7 vs. 14.5 gallons).

The Escape 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.

The Escape stops much shorter than the NX:

The Escape 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.

The Escape AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the NX 350 AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Escape AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the NX 450h AWD (27.7 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

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

The Ford Escape may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 900 pounds less than the Lexus NX.

The Escape is 3.4 inches shorter than the NX, making the Escape easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 NX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Escape 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, 4.6 inches more rear legroom, .8 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (37.5 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (65.4 vs. 46.9 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 NX’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

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

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

The power windows standard on both the Escape and the NX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Escape 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’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Escape Base). The NX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

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

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

Insurance will cost less for the Escape owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Escape will cost $185 to $2075 less than the NX over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Escape will be $8722 to $12821 less than for the Lexus NX.

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