Compare the2025 Volvo XC40VS 2025 Ford Escape FHEV

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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The XC40’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the XC40 and Escape FHEV have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The XC40 Ultra has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Escape FHEV’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The XC40 has a standard Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WHIPS allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the XC40. But it costs extra on the Escape FHEV.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the XC40’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the XC40 and the Escape FHEV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available 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 Volvo XC40 is safer than the Ford Escape FHEV:

	XC40	Escape FHEV
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	31%	36.3%
Neck Stress	156 lbs.	181 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 Volvo XC40 is safer than the Ford Escape FHEV:

	XC40	Escape FHEV
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	78	197
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	156 lbs.	191 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	755 lbs.	816 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	237	344
Hip Force	411 lbs.	462 lbs.

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Volvo XC40 is safer than the Escape FHEV:

	XC40	Escape FHEV
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	129	391
Head Peak Forces	no contact	93 G’s
Neck Tension	312 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Torso Max Deflection	1.65 in	1.77 in
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.1 in	1.54 in
Shoulder Force	290 lbs.	379 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	692 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the XC40 is 1.4% to 1.9% less likely to roll over than the Escape FHEV.

Warranty

The XC40 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Escape FHEV’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The XC40’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Escape FHEV’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the XC40 for 3 years and 30,000 miles. Volvo will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Escape FHEV.

Engine

The XC40 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 55 more horsepower (247 vs. 192) than the Escape FHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the XC40’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Escape FHEV:

	XC40	Escape FHEV
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	13 inches

The XC40 stops much shorter than the Escape FHEV:

	XC40	Escape FHEV
60 to 0 MPH	111 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the XC40 has larger standard tires than the Escape FHEV (235/55R18 vs. 225/55R19). The XC40’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Escape FHEV (245/45R20 vs. 225/55R19).

The XC40’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escape FHEV’s standard 60 series tires. The XC40’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Escape FHEV’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XC40 offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Escape FHEV’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XC40 is .6 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Escape FHEV.

The XC40 B5 Plus handles at .86 G’s, while the Escape FHEV AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The XC40 B5 Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Escape FHEV AWD (27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

Chassis

The XC40 is 5.3 inches shorter than the Escape FHEV, making the XC40 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The XC40 has 1.3 inches more rear hip room and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Escape FHEV.

Cargo Capacity

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the XC40’s optional rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the XC40. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the XC40’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

The XC40’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Escape FHEV’s (3500 vs. 1500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The XC40 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Escape FHEV 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 XC40’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 Escape FHEV’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

If the windows are left open on the XC40 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Escape FHEV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The XC40’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Escape FHEV’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Consumer Reports rated the XC40’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Escape FHEV’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the XC40 offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer cornering lights. The XC40 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The XC40’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford charges extra for heated mirrors on the Escape FHEV.

When the XC40 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 FHEV’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The XC40’s standard 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 FHEV offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Volvo XC40 and Ford Escape FHEV offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The XC40 features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Escape FHEV’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The XC40 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Escape FHEV. The XC40 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Escape FHEV.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volvo XC40 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Escape FHEV.

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