Compare the2024 Toyota bZ4XVS 2024 Ford Escape PHEV

The Toyota bZ4X has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The bZ4X has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the bZ4X AWD’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the bZ4X and the Escape PHEV 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, 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.

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 Toyota bZ4X is much safer than the Escape PHEV:

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the bZ4X for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Escape PHEV.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Toyota higher than Ford.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Ford is ranked 22nd.

The bZ4X’s optional electric motors produces 4 more horsepower (214 vs. 210) than the Escape PHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota bZ4X electric motor is faster than the Ford Escape PHEV:

On the EPA test cycle the bZ4X gets better mileage than the Escape PHEV running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the bZ4X gets better mileage than the Escape PHEV running its gasoline engine:

The bZ4X can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 222 to 252 miles. The Escape PHEV has to start its internal combustion engine after only 37 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota bZ4X higher (10 out of 10) than the Ford Escape PHEV (8). This means the bZ4X produces up to 6.3 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Escape PHEV every 15,000 miles.

The bZ4X’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Escape PHEV are solid, not vented.

The bZ4X stops shorter than the Escape PHEV:

For better traction, the bZ4X has larger tires than the Escape PHEV (235/60R18 vs. 225/60R18).

The bZ4X Limited’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escape PHEV’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the bZ4X Limited has standard 20-inch wheels. The Escape PHEV’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the bZ4X’s wheelbase is 5.5 inches longer than on the Escape PHEV (112.2 inches vs. 106.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the bZ4X is .6 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than on the Escape PHEV.

The bZ4X’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56% to 44%) than the Escape PHEV’s (58% to 42%). This gives the bZ4X more stable handling and braking.

The bZ4X Limited AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the Escape PHEV pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The bZ4X Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Escape PHEV (27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.9 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the bZ4X’s rear seats recline. The Escape PHEV’s rear seats don’t recline.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the bZ4X Limited’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

If the windows are left open on the bZ4X the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Escape PHEV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The bZ4X’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 PHEV’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The bZ4X’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Escape PHEV’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

Both the bZ4X and the Escape PHEV offer available heated front seats. The bZ4X Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Escape PHEV.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the bZ4X Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota bZ4X has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Escape PHEV.