The Ford Escape is a popular compact SUV known for its versatility and fuel efficiency. For safety-conscious buyers, understanding vehicle safety ratings is crucial. This detailed analysis breaks down the Ford Escape’s performance in various safety evaluations, providing a comprehensive overview of its safety features and crashworthiness based on rigorous testing.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts another vehicle or a narrow object like a tree or pole. This test is particularly demanding on a vehicle’s structure. The Ford Escape underwent both driver-side and passenger-side small overlap front tests.
Driver-Side Small Overlap Front
The 2020-2025 Ford Escape models received a Good rating in the driver-side small overlap front test. This is the highest possible rating and indicates excellent protection in this type of crash.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Driver-Side Evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G (Good) |
| Driver Injury Measures: Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver Injury Measures: Chest | G (Good) |
| Driver Injury Measures: Hip/Thigh | G (Good) |
| Driver Injury Measures: Lower Leg/Foot | G (Good) |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G (Good) |
Action shot from the Ford Escape driver-side small overlap frontal crash test, demonstrating vehicle deformation.
Dummy positioning after the driver-side small overlap crash, showing excellent maintenance of driver survival space.
Airbag deployment effectiveness in the Ford Escape during the driver-side small overlap frontal test, preventing head contact with rigid structures.
Assessment of leg and foot injury risk for the driver in the Ford Escape driver-side small overlap test, showing low risk.
Technical measurements from the test show minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment and low injury measures for the driver dummy, indicating a well-maintained survival space and effective restraint systems.
Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front
The passenger-side small overlap front test is equally important for ensuring the safety of front-seat passengers. The 2020-2025 Ford Escape models also achieved a Good overall rating in the passenger-side test.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Passenger-Side Evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and Safety Cage | A (Acceptable) |
| Passenger Injury Measures: Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Passenger Injury Measures: Chest | G (Good) |
| Passenger Injury Measures: Hip/Thigh | G (Good) |
| Passenger Injury Measures: Lower Leg/Foot | G (Good) |
| Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G (Good) |
While the overall rating is “Good”, the “Structure and Safety Cage” received an “Acceptable” rating, which is still a solid performance, suggesting slightly less robust structural performance on the passenger side compared to the driver side in this specific test. Injury measures for the passenger dummy remained low, indicating good protection.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash: Updated Test
The moderate overlap front crash test evaluates how well a vehicle protects occupants in a more common type of frontal collision, where the impact is across a larger portion of the front end. The updated test also assesses rear passenger protection. This rating applies to 2022-2025 Ford Escape models built after May 2022, as improvements were made to the rear seatbelt system.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G (Good) |
| Driver Injury Measures: Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver Injury Measures: Chest | G (Good) |
| Driver Injury Measures: Thigh/Hip | G (Good) |
| Driver Injury Measures: Leg/Foot | G (Good) |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G (Good) |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures: Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures: Chest | G (Good) |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures: Thigh | G (Good) |
| Rear Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | A (Acceptable) |
Vehicle condition post-moderate overlap front crash test, highlighting airbag deployment and occupant compartment integrity.
Rear passenger dummy head proximity to the front seatback in the moderate overlap test, indicating a potential head injury risk.
Injury values for the rear passenger dummy in the Ford Escape moderate overlap test, showing low risk to head, neck, and chest.
Correct lap belt positioning on the rear passenger dummy in the Ford Escape moderate overlap test, ensuring effective restraint.
The Ford Escape achieved a Good overall rating in the updated moderate overlap front crash test. All driver injury measures were rated “Good”. Rear passenger injury measures were also largely “Good,” however, rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics received an “Acceptable” rating. This indicates that while injury risk is low, there’s room for improvement in rear passenger restraint systems to further enhance protection.
Side Crash: Original Test
The original side crash test simulates a vehicle being struck by another vehicle in a typical intersection crash. The Ford Escape received a Good rating in this evaluation for 2020-2025 models.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G (Good) |
| Driver Injury Measures: Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver Injury Measures: Torso | G (Good) |
| Driver Injury Measures: Pelvis/Leg | G (Good) |
| Driver Head Protection | G (Good) |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures: Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures: Torso | G (Good) |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures: Pelvis/Leg | G (Good) |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | G (Good) |
The Ford Escape demonstrated “Good” protection across all measured categories for both driver and rear passenger in the original side crash test, reflecting strong side-impact safety performance under these conditions.
Side Crash: Updated Test
An updated side crash test was introduced to better reflect more severe side-impact scenarios, involving a heavier striking barrier and higher impact speed. The Ford Escape’s performance in this updated test resulted in a lower overall rating compared to the original side test. This rating applies to 2020-2025 models.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | M (Marginal) |
| Structure and Safety Cage | A (Acceptable) |
| Driver Injury Measures: Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver Injury Measures: Torso | M (Marginal) |
| Driver Injury Measures: Pelvis | M (Marginal) |
| Driver Head Protection | M (Marginal) |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures: Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures: Torso | A (Acceptable) |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures: Pelvis | A (Acceptable) |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | G (Good) |
Vehicle condition immediately after the updated side crash test, illustrating the impact.
Side airbag deployment and occupant compartment damage visible after the updated side crash test, with doors removed.
Greasepaint smear indicating driver dummy head contact with the window sill, bypassing the side curtain airbag in the updated side crash test.
Greasepaint mark showing rear passenger head protection by side airbags in the updated side crash test.
The overall rating for the updated side crash test is Marginal. While head and neck protection for both driver and rear passenger remains “Good,” and rear passenger torso and pelvis protection are “Acceptable,” driver torso, pelvis, and head protection are rated “Marginal”. Notably, driver head protection is flagged as “Marginal” because the dummy’s head moved past the side curtain airbag and struck the window sill, indicating a potential weakness in side impact head protection for the driver in more severe crashes.
Headlight Rating
Headlight performance is a critical safety feature, especially for nighttime driving. The Ford Escape’s headlight ratings vary by trim level. The Platinum and ST-Line Elite trims were tested and received an Acceptable overall rating.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-Beam Headlight Type | LED projector |
| High-Beam Headlight Type | LED projector |
| Curve-Adaptive? | No |
| High-Beam Assist? | Yes |
| Overall Rating | A (Acceptable) |
The LED projector headlights on these trims offer good visibility on straightaways with low beams and high beams providing good visibility on right curves. However, low beam visibility is fair to inadequate on left curves. The high-beam assist feature compensates for some of these limitations.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle 2.0
Front crash prevention systems are designed to help drivers avoid or mitigate frontal collisions. The Ford Escape comes standard with Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking. In vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention tests, the Ford Escape received a Marginal overall rating.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | M (Marginal) |
The system successfully avoided collisions in tests at 31 mph with both centered and off-center passenger car targets and motorcycle targets. However, in higher speed tests (37 and 43 mph), the system provided significant speed reduction but did not avoid collisions entirely. Warning system performance with a semitrailer target was not fully evaluated in the provided data.
Seat Belt Reminders
Seat belt reminders are essential safety features that encourage seat belt use, which is crucial for occupant protection in crashes. The Ford Escape’s seat belt reminder system received a Good overall rating.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G (Good) |
| Front Row Unbelted Occupant Alert | Good |
| Second Row Startup Status Alert | Good |
| Second Row Belt Disengaged Alert | Good |
The system meets criteria for audible and visual alerts for unbelted front occupants and provides effective reminders for second-row occupants as well, contributing to increased seat belt usage.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchors, also known as LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children), make it easier to properly install child safety seats. The Ford Escape received a Good+ rating for its LATCH system, indicating it is user-friendly and provides extra LATCH positions.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G+ (Good+) |
| Vehicle Trim | SE |
| Seat Type | Cloth |
The Ford Escape has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position where lower anchors can be borrowed. The tether anchors are easy to find, and the lower anchors are readily accessible, making child seat installation simpler and more secure.
Conclusion
The Ford Escape Ratings reveal a vehicle that generally performs well in crash tests, achieving “Good” ratings in several key areas, including small overlap front and moderate overlap front tests. However, the “Marginal” rating in the updated side crash test and front crash prevention highlights areas for potential improvement. Headlight performance is “Acceptable” on tested trims, and seat belt reminders and child seat anchors are rated “Good.”
Overall, the Ford Escape provides a solid level of safety, but prospective buyers should consider the updated side crash test rating and front crash prevention performance when evaluating its safety features against other vehicles in its class. Always prioritize models with “Good” ratings in all crash tests and advanced safety features for optimal protection.
