Compare the2025 Ford Escape FHEVVS 2025 Buick Envista

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape FHEV 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 Buick Envista doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape FHEV are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Buick Envista doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Ford Escape FHEV has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Envista doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Escape FHEV 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 Envista 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 FHEV 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 Envista doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Escape FHEV offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Envista doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

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

The Escape FHEV has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Envista’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Escape FHEV has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Buick charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Envista and the Envista’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

The Escape FHEV’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 Envista doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Escape FHEV and the Envista have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

Warranty

The Escape FHEV’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Envista’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are almost 3 times as many Ford dealers as there are Buick dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape FHEV’s warranty.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Escape FHEV’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Envista’s camshafts. If the Envista’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

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

Engine

The Escape FHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 55 more horsepower (192 vs. 137) than the Envista’s 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Escape FHEV is faster than the Buick Envista:

	Escape FHEV	Envista
Zero to 60 MPH	8.1 sec	9.4 sec
Quarter Mile	16.2 sec	17.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	88.7 MPH	80.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Escape FHEV gets better mileage than the Envista:

			MPG
Escape FHEV
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	42 city/36 hwy
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	42 city/36 hwy
Envista
	FWD	1.2 turbo 3-cyl.	28 city/32 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Escape FHEV’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Envista doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Escape FHEV has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envista (14.3 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Escape FHEV has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Envista. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Escape FHEV higher (8 out of 10) than the Buick Envista (7). This means the Escape FHEV produces up to 5.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Envista every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Escape FHEV has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Envista doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Escape FHEV	Envista
Front Rotors	13 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	11.3 inches

The Escape FHEV stops shorter than the Envista:

	Escape FHEV	Envista
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escape FHEV has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Envista Preferred.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Ford Escape FHEV has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Buick Envista has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escape FHEV is 1.1 inches wider in the front and .2 inches wider in the rear than on the Envista.

The Escape FHEV’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (58% to 42%) than the Envista’s (60% to 40%). This gives the Escape FHEV more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Escape FHEV’s turning circle is .2 feet tighter than the Envista’s (37.2 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Escape FHEV’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the Envista w/18-19” Wheels’ (37.2 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

Passenger Space

The Escape FHEV has 4.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Envista (102.2 vs. 97.5).

The Escape FHEV has .6 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 2.9 inches more front hip room, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 2 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom, 7.5 inches more rear hip room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Envista.

Cargo Capacity

The Escape FHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Envista with its rear seat up (34.4 vs. 20.7 cubic feet). The Escape FHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Envista with its rear seat folded (60.8 vs. 42 cubic feet).

Towing

The Escape FHEV has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Envista has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Escape FHEV uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Envista doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Escape FHEV, 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 Envista doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Escape FHEV’s optional Easy Entry and Exit 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 Envista doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Escape FHEV 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 Envista doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Escape FHEV SEL/Titanium’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches. The Envista’s power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

The Escape FHEV’s standard Intelligent Access allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Pushbutton Start standard on the Envista only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

The Escape FHEV’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 Envista’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Escape FHEV has a standard rear wiper. The Envista doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Escape FHEV’s 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. The Envista doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

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

With standard voice command, the Escape FHEV offers the driver hands free control of the radio and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Envista doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Compared to the Buick Envista, the Ford Escape FHEV Elite/Platinum eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the driver’s visor.

The Escape FHEV 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 Envista doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ford Escape FHEV, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ford Escape outsold the Buick Envista by almost 11 to one during 2023.

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