Compare the2026 BMW X2VS 2026 Ford Escape

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The BMW X2 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the X2. But it costs extra on the Escape.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the X2’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Escape doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the X2 and the Escape have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 BMW X2 is much safer than the Escape:

	X2	Escape
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	125	391
Head Peak Forces	no contact	93 G’s
Neck Tension	245 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	.94 in	1.1 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	1.77 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	736 lbs.	1160 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.98 in	1.54 in
Shoulder Force	223 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.94 in	1.5 in
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The X2 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Escape’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The X2’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Escape’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X2 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Escape.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the X2’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Escape’s camshafts. If the Escape’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 5 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

The X2 xDrive28i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 61 more horsepower (241 vs. 180) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 199) than the Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder. The X2 xDrive28i’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 280) than the Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X2 M35i xDrive’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 62 more horsepower (312 vs. 250) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 280) than the Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the X2 xDrive28i is faster than the Ford Escape turbo 3 cyl.:

	X2	Escape
Zero to 30 MPH	3.1 sec	3.3 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7 sec	8.9 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	3.8 sec	5.2 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	16.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	85 MPH

As tested in Motor Trend the X2 M35i xDrive is faster than the Ford Escape 2.0:

	X2	Escape
Zero to 60 MPH	4.9 sec	6.9 sec
Quarter Mile	13.5 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	104 MPH	89.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the X2 28i xDrive with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the Escape 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder (24 city/34 hwy vs. 23 city/31 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the X2’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Escape doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X2 has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Escape. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

The X2 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Escape doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The X2’s optional launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Escape doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

The X2’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 are solid, not vented.

The X2 stops much shorter than the Escape:

	X2	Escape
60 to 0 MPH	105 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X2 has larger tires than the Escape (245/45R19 vs. 225/65R17).

The X2 xDrive28i’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escape’s standard 65 series tires. The X2’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Escape Elite/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X2 xDrive28i has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Escape. The X2’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Escape Elite/Platinum.

Suspension and Handling

The X2 offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Escape’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The X2 M35i xDrive handles at .86 G’s, while the Escape AWD pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X2 M35i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.1 seconds quicker than the Escape (26.1 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X2 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Escape (8.1 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the X2 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The X2 has .1 inches more front headroom and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Escape.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the X2’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Escape doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

The X2 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Escape uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The X2’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Escape.

The X2’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 Escape’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

If the windows are left open on the X2 the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Escape can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The X2’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’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the X2 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Escape doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 X2’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Escape’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the X2 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Escape doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The X2’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford charges extra for heated mirrors on the Escape.

When the X2 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Escape’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The X2’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Escape offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the BMW X2 and Ford Escape offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The X2 features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Escape’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The X2 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Escape.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW X2 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Escape.

The X2’s Automatic Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Escape doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 BMW X2 retains 48.83% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 48.65% resale value of the 2025 Ford Escape after five years, which can save the BMW’s owner.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW X2 and the Ford Escape, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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