Compare the2026 Ford EscapeVS 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander

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 Mitsubishi Outlander 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 Outlander 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.

Both the Escape and Outlander have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Escape has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Outlander’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Escape and the Outlander 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, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 Outlander:

The Escape’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Outlander’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are almost 9 times as many Ford dealers as there are Mitsubishi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape’s warranty.

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 Outlander 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 first among compact suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Outlander isn’t in the top three.

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 Mitsubishi vehicles. With 29 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Ford higher than Mitsubishi.

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 Mitsubishi With 48 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Ford higher than Mitsubishi.

The Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 6 more horsepower (180 vs. 174) than the Outlander’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 76 more horsepower (250 vs. 174) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 206) than the Outlander’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Escape gets better mileage than the Outlander:

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

The Escape AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Outlander (15.7 vs. 14.5 gallons).

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 Outlander; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

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 Outlander doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Ford Escape may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 500 pounds less than the Mitsubishi Outlander.

The Escape is 5.7 inches shorter than the Outlander, making the Escape easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Escape has .7 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, .2 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Outlander.

The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Outlander with its rear seat up (37.5 vs. 10.9 cubic feet). The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Outlander with its rear seat folded (65.4 vs. 64.3 cubic feet).

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

Maximum trailer towing in the Mitsubishi Outlander is limited to 2000 pounds. The Escape offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The power windows standard on both the Escape and the Outlander 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 Outlander prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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

The Escape’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. Pushbutton Start standard on the Outlander only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle. Pushbutton Start is not available on the Outlander SE/SEL/Trail.

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

The Ford Escape outsold the Mitsubishi Outlander by over three to one during 2025.