Compare the2025 Ford EscapeVS 2025 Acura ADX

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Ford Escape achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Acura ADX has not been tested.

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 ADX 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 Ford Escape’s optional 360-Degree Camera has integrated front and rear camera washers, ensuring clear, all-weather visibility without the need for manual cleaning. In contrast, the Acura ADX lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

Both the Escape and ADX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Escape has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The ADX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Escape and the ADX 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 10 times as many Ford dealers as there are Acura 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 ADX 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’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated lower.

The Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 20 lbs.-ft. more torque (199 vs. 179) than the ADX’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 60 more horsepower (250 vs. 190) and 101 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 179) than the ADX’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

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

The Escape AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the ADX (15.7 vs. 14 gallons).

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escape’s wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer than on the ADX (106.7 inches vs. 104.5 inches).

The Escape is 5.7 inches shorter than the ADX, making the Escape easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Escape has 6.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the ADX (104 vs. 97.3).

The Escape has 1.6 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom, 5.9 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the ADX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Escape’s rear seats recline. The ADX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the ADX with its rear seat up (37.5 vs. 24.4 cubic feet). The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the ADX with its rear seat folded (65.4 vs. 55.1 cubic feet).

The Escape has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The ADX has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Escape 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 ADX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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 ADX doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the Escape and the ADX 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 ADX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 ADX A-Spec’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. The ADX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its AcuraLink can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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

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 ADX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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