The Escape SE/SEL/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 Rogue doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.
Both the Escape and the Rogue have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available collision warning systems, daytime running lights, 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 Nissan Rogue:
|
Escape |
Rogue |
OVERALL STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
243 |
294 |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
233/311 lbs. |
856/397 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
3 Stars |
Chest Compression |
.4 inches |
.7 inches |
Neck Injury Risk |
47% |
63% |
Neck Stress |
175 lbs. |
235 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
106 lbs. |
109 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
453/192 lbs. |
393/402 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 Ford Escape is safer than the Nissan Rogue:
|
Escape |
Rogue |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Chest Movement |
.4 inches |
1 inches |
Abdominal Force |
96 G’s |
202 G’s |
Hip Force |
351 lbs. |
477 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Hip Force |
649 lbs. |
783 lbs. |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
357 |
547 |
Hip Force |
707 lbs. |
784 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
There are almost 3 times as many Ford dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape’s warranty.
J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escape second among compact SUVs in their 2017 Initial Quality Study. The Rogue isn’t in the top three.
J.D. Power and Associates’ 2017 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 10th.
The Escape has more powerful engines than the Rogue:
|
Horsepower |
Torque |
Escape 1.5 turbo 4 cyl. |
179 HP |
177 lbs.-ft. |
Escape Titanium 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. |
245 HP |
275 lbs.-ft. |
Rogue 2.5 DOHC 4 cyl. |
170 HP |
175 lbs.-ft. |
Rogue Hybrid 2.0 DOHC 4 cyl. |
176 HP |
n/a |
As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Escape 1.5 turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Nissan Rogue 4 cyl.:
|
Escape |
Rogue |
Zero to 60 MPH |
8.9 sec |
9.1 sec |
Quarter Mile |
16.7 sec |
17 sec |
The Escape has 1.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Rogue (15.7 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.
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 Rogue doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.
For better stopping power the Escape’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Rogue:
|
Escape |
Escape EcoBoost |
Rogue |
Front Rotors |
11.8 inches |
12.6 inches |
11.65 inches |
The Escape stops shorter than the Rogue:
|
Escape |
Rogue |
|
60 to 0 MPH |
112 feet |
118 feet |
Motor Trend |
60 to 0 MPH (Wet) |
139 feet |
142 feet |
Consumer Reports |
For better traction, the Escape has larger tires than the Rogue (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 Rogue S/SV/Hybrid’s standard 65 series tires. The Escape’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Rogue SL’s optional 55 series tires.
The Escape has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Rogue’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 Rogue doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.
The Escape Titanium AWD handles at .85 G’s, while the Rogue SL AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.
The Escape Titanium AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Rogue SL AWD (27.3 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 28.9 seconds @ .58 average G’s).
The Escape is 6.4 inches shorter than the Rogue, making the Escape easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.
The front grille of the Escape (except 2.0L ECOBoost) uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Rogue doesn’t offer active grille shutters.
The Escape has .1 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more rear headroom and .3 inches more rear hip room than the Rogue.
To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Escape has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals. The Rogue doesn’t offer a telescoping steering wheel.
The Escape (except S)’s optional 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 Rogue doesn’t offer an easy entry system.
The power windows standard on both the Escape and the Rogue 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 Rogue prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.
The Escape’s standard driver’s power window opens with one touch of the switch, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Rogue’s standard power window’s switch has to be held the entire time to open it fully. The Escape SE/SEL/Titanium’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches. With the Rogue SV/SL’s power windows, only the driver’s window opens or closes automatically.
In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Escape SE/SEL/Titanium’s exterior keypad. The Rogue doesn’t offer an exterior keypad 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 Rogue’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Escape SE/SEL/Titanium’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.
The Escape has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The Rogue has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the SV/SL.
The Escape Titanium has a 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 Rogue doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.
The Escape Titanium’s 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 Rogue doesn’t offer an automated parking system.
Insurance will cost less for the Escape owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Escape will cost $305 less than the Rogue over a five-year period.
The Escape will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Escape will retain 45.44% to 49.07% of its original price after five years, while the Rogue only retains 43.21% to 44.99%.
According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Escape is less expensive to operate than the Rogue because it costs $198 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Escape than the Rogue, including $125 less for a water pump, $312 less for an alternator, $7 less for front brake pads, $153 less for a starter, $272 less for fuel injection, $378 less for a fuel pump, $26 less for front struts, $409 less for a timing belt/chain and $648 less for a power steering pump.
IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Escape will be $294 to $2619 less than for the Nissan Rogue.
The Ford Escape has won recognition from these important consumer publications:
|
Escape |
Rogue |
Consumer Reports® Recommends |
TRUE |
TRUE |
Car Book “Best Bet” |
TRUE |
FALSE |
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