North Georgia Ford Compares 2017 Ford Escape VS 2017 Subaru Outback Near Jasper, GA

The Escape Titanium’s optional 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 Outback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Escape and the Outback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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 Subaru Outback:

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 Subaru Outback:

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

There are almost 7 times as many Ford dealers as there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escape third among compact suvs in their 2016 Initial Quality Study. The Outback isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2016 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 11th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 22nd, below the industry average.

The Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 28 lbs.-ft. more torque (275 vs. 247) than the Outback 3.6R’s optional 3.6 DOHC 6 cyl.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Escape turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Outback 2.5i 2.5 DOHC 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the Escape AWD 1.5 turbo 4 cyl. gets better fuel mileage than the Outback 3.6R 6 cyl. (22 city/28 hwy vs. 20 city/27 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Escape EcoBoost’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Outback doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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 Outback doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

The Escape stops much shorter than the Outback:

For better traction, the Escape has larger tires than the Outback (235/55R17 vs. 225/65R17).

The Escape’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 Outback 2.5i/2.5i Premium’s standard 65 series tires. The Escape’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Outback Limited/Touring’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escape offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Outback’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

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

The Escape’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Outback doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Escape Titanium AWD handles at .85 G’s, while the Outback 3.6R Limited pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Escape Titanium AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Outback 2.5i Limited (27.3 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

The Escape is 11.5 inches shorter than the Outback, making the Escape easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Escape Titanium is quieter than the Outback 3.6R Limited (39 vs. 42 dB).

The Escape has .2 inches more front legroom and .1 inches more rear headroom than the Outback.

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

The engine computer on the Escape automatically engages the starter until the car starts with one twist of the key and disables the starter while the engine is running. The Outback’s starter can be accidentally engaged while the engine is running, making a grinding noise and possibly damaging the starter and ring gear.

The Escape Titanium’s standard 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 Outback doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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

The Escape’s optional 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 Outback Premium//Limited’s optional rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 Outback’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Escape Titanium’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

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

The Escape (except S) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Outback doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Escape Titanium’s optional Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Outback doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Escape is less expensive to operate than the Outback because it costs $468 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Escape than the Outback, including $205 less for a water pump, $15 less for front brake pads, $333 less for a starter, $154 less for fuel injection, $48 less for a fuel pump and $365 less for front struts.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escape second among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Outback isn’t in the top three.

The Ford Escape outsold the Subaru Outback by 81% during the 2016 model year.