Compare the2026 Ford EscapeVS 2025 Subaru Impreza

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Subaru Impreza 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 Impreza 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Escape Select/Elite/Platinum offers an optional Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Impreza doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Escape Select/Elite/Platinum offers an optional 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Impreza only offers a rear monitor.

The Escape has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Impreza’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Escape has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Subaru charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Impreza and its not available on the Base and the Impreza’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the Escape and the Impreza have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

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 Impreza:

	Escape	Impreza
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	143	222
Neck Stress	185 lbs.	267 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	99 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	188/315 lbs.	265/291 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	102	170
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	220/169 lbs.	291/273 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Escape is much safer than the Impreza:

	Escape	Impreza
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	122	277
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg Forces L/R	382/292 pounds	607/472 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL

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 Impreza:

	Escape	Impreza
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	97	291
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	59 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	462 lbs.	721 lbs.

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

Warranty

There are over 4 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.

Reliability

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 Impreza doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the car’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escape first among compact suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Impreza isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Subaru With 4 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Ford higher than Subaru.

Engine

The Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 28 more horsepower (180 vs. 152) and 54 lbs.-ft. more torque (199 vs. 145) than the Impreza’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Escape’s 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 21 lbs.-ft. more torque (199 vs. 178) than the Impreza RS’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 68 more horsepower (250 vs. 182) and 102 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 178) than the Impreza RS’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Ford Escape turbo 3 cyl. is faster than the Subaru Impreza 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder:

	Escape	Impreza
Zero to 30 MPH	3.3 sec	3.8 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.9 sec	9.4 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.2 sec	6.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16.9 sec	17.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85 MPH	84 MPH

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Escape 2.0 is faster than the Impreza RS 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder:

	Escape	Impreza
Zero to 60 MPH	6.6 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.2 MPH	90.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

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

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Escape’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Impreza:

	Escape	Impreza
Front Rotors	12.1 inches	11.6 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	11.2 inches

The Escape stops much shorter than the Impreza:

	Escape	Impreza
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	149 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Escape has larger tires than the Impreza (225/65R17 vs. 205/55R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escape has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Impreza. The Escape Elite/Platinum’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Impreza Sport/RS.

The Escape offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Impreza; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Escape has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Impreza doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escape’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the Impreza (106.7 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escape is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 1 inch wider in the rear than on the Impreza.

The Escape AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the Impreza RS pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Escape has a 2.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Impreza (7.3 vs. 5.1 inches), allowing the Escape to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Escape has 3.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Impreza (104 vs. 100.5).

The Escape has .2 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 4.2 inches more rear legroom, .1 inches more rear hip room and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Impreza.

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

Cargo Capacity

An optional locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Escape. The Impreza doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Escape offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Impreza doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Escape has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Impreza 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 Impreza doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Escape, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Impreza doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Escape’s optional Easy Entry and Exit 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 Impreza doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Impreza doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the Escape and the Impreza 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 Impreza prevents the driver from operating the rear 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 Impreza’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Escape has standard Intelligent Access that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Impreza Sport/RS offers Keyless Entry and Start.

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 Impreza’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Escape Elite/Platinum’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

On extremely cold winter days, the Escape’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Impreza doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

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

Model Availability

The Escape is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Impreza doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

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

The Ford Escape outsold the Subaru Impreza by almost five to one during 2024.

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