Compare the2026 Ford Escape FHEVVS 2025 BMW X1

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape FHEV have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X1 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape FHEV are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X1 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Escape FHEV are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X1 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Ford Escape FHEV 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 BMW X1 has not been tested.

Both the Escape FHEV and the X1 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Escape FHEV is safer than the BMW X1:

	Escape FHEV	X1
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	143	223
Neck Injury Risk	22.5%	35.1%
Neck Stress	185 lbs.	299 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	77 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	188/315 lbs.	363/373 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	102	311
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Compression	58 lbs.	102 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	220/169 lbs.	395/452 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 FHEV is safer than the BMW X1:

	Escape FHEV	X1
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	240 lbs.	330 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	97	102
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	43 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	42 G’s
Hip Force	462 lbs.	648 lbs.

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

Warranty

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Escape FHEV 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X1. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X1 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 8 times as many Ford dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape FHEV’s warranty.

Reliability

The Escape FHEV 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 X1 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escape FHEV first among compact suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The X1 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. With 3 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Ford higher than BMW.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Escape FHEV gets better mileage than the X1:

			MPG
Escape FHEV
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	42 city/36 hwy
X1
	AWD	xDrive28i 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/33 hwy
		M35i 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Escape FHEV uses regular unleaded gasoline. The X1 M35i xDrive requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Escape FHEV 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 X1 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Escape FHEV higher (7 out of 10) than the BMW X1 (5 to 7). This means the Escape FHEV produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X1 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Escape FHEV has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The X1 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Escape FHEV stops shorter than the X1:

	Escape FHEV	X1
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	136 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Escape FHEV’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the X1’s (37.2 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

Chassis

The Ford Escape FHEV may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 200 pounds less than the BMW X1.

Passenger Space

The Escape FHEV has 2 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the X1.

Cargo Capacity

The Escape FHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X1 with its rear seat up (34.4 vs. 25.7 cubic feet). The Escape FHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X1 with its rear seat folded (60.8 vs. 57.2 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

The Escape FHEV’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 X1 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Escape FHEV SEL/Titanium’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 X1’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Escape FHEV’s available exterior PIN entry system. The X1 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its BMW Assist can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Escape FHEV’s standard Intelligent Access allow 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. Comfort Go standard on the X1 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Escape FHEV has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X1 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Escape FHEV’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The X1 doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Ford Escape FHEV retains 49.84% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 49.64% resale value of the 2025 BMW X1 after five years, which can save the Ford’s owner up to $5255.99438 in depreciation.

Recommendations

The Ford Escape outsold the BMW X1 by almost six to one during 2024.

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