2026 Ford Escape vs 2026 Nissan Rogue
Too close to call: Nissan Rogue 86 vs Ford Escape 85.6 with these weights. The Ford Escape is ahead on fuel & range. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.3 and it flips.
2026 Ford Escape
The 2026 Ford Escape is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas compact SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Escape…
2026 Nissan Rogue
The 2026 Nissan Rogue is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Rogue FWD, is EPA-rated at 32 mp…
2026 Nissan Rogue
Toss-upToo close to call: Nissan Rogue 86 vs Ford Escape 85.6 with these weights. The Ford Escape is ahead on fuel & range. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.3 and it flips.
| Category · weight | 2026 Ford Escapeoverall 85.6 | 2026 Nissan Rogueoverall 86 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 97.2 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 80.7 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 63.2 | 76.1 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargonot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 85.6 | 86 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 3 of 7 categories compared
Ford Escape: base trim Active · Nissan Rogue: base trim S FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.3 and the answer flips.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Nissan Rogue wins
- It lists 24 standard driver-assist features against 0.
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 91 against 72).
- It starts $860 lower ($29,490 against $30,350 base MSRP).
Where the 2026 Ford Escape answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (4 against 53 filed with NHTSA).
- It is rated 40 combined against 32 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
47 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Ford EscapeActive | Nissan RogueS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $30,350 | $29,490 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | — | 3 |
| Engine displacement | — | 1,498 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | — | 1.5L 3-cylinder VC-Turbo DOHC |
| Fuel injection system | — | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | — | DOHC |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | — | 201 hp |
| Torque | — | 225 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 29 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 32 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 36 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 5.676 |
| Transmission type | — | cvt |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 8.2 in |
| Overall height | — | 66.5 in |
| Overall length | — | 183 in |
| Overall width | — | 72.4 in |
| Wheelbase | — | 107 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | — | 74.1 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | — | 31.6 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | — | 41.1 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 39.2 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | — | 41.5 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 38.5 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 3,477 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 3,477 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 4,641 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | — | Independent strut with coil springs |
| Rear suspension type | — | Independent multi-link |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | — | Electric power-assisted |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 35.4 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 296 mm |
| Front brake type | — | Vented disc |
| Parking brake type | — | Electronic |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 292 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | Vented disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | — | 17 in |
| Wheel material | — | alloy |
| Wheel width | — | 7.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 235/65R17 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | — | 14.5 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | NissanConnect Services powered by SiriusXM |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | — | 57.1 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 55.9 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
53 features · differences first, then sharedSafety24 differ · 24 listed
| Feature | Ford EscapeActive | Nissan RogueS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Spot Warning | — | std |
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | — | std |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | — | std |
| Front seat mounted side-impact supplemental air bags | — | std |
| Lane Departure Warning | — | std |
| Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor | — | std |
| Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags with rollover sensor for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection | — | std |
| Intelligent Driver Alertness | — | std |
| LATCH system | — | std |
| Rear seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags | — | std |
| Anti-lock Braking System | — | std |
| Easy-Fill Tire Alert | — | std |
| Haptic steering wheel | — | std |
| High Beam Assist | — | std |
| Hill Start Assist | — | std |
| Intelligent Trace Control | — | std |
| Intersection Assist | — | std |
| Rear Door Alert | — | std |
| Rear Sonar System | — | std |
| RearView Monitor | — | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (direct sensor type with individual position monitoring) | — | std |
| Traction Control System | — | std |
| Vehicle Dynamic Control | — | std |
| Immobilizer | — | std |
Infotainment15 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Ford EscapeActive | Nissan RogueS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2 front illuminated USB Type-C connection ports | — | std |
| 8-inch color display | — | std |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system | — | std |
| Hands-free Text Messaging Assistant | — | std |
| NissanConnect® featuring Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, SiriusXM®, 8-inch color display with multi-touch control, AM/FM with 4 speakers | — | std |
| Paddle shifters | — | std |
| Satellite radio antenna | — | std |
| Siri® Eyes Free | — | std |
| SiriusXM® (subscription required, sold separately) | — | std |
| Speed-sensitive volume control | — | std |
| Steering wheel audio controls | — | std |
| Streaming audio via Bluetooth® | — | std |
| Voice recognition | — | std |
| Wired Android Auto™ | — | std |
| Wired Apple CarPlay® | — | std |
Convenience1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Ford EscapeActive | Nissan RogueS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual liftgate | — | std |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Ford EscapeActive | Nissan RogueS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioning/heater – manual temperature control | — | std |
Seating1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Ford EscapeActive | Nissan RogueS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 6-way manual adjustable driver's seat | — | std |
Interior4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Ford EscapeActive | Nissan RogueS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual dimming inside rearview mirror | — | std |
| Manual tilt and telescoping steering wheel | — | std |
| Cargo area light | — | std |
| Overhead console with sunglass holder | — | std |
Exterior2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Ford EscapeActive | Nissan RogueS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| LED daytime running lights | — | std |
| LED taillights | — | std |
Powertrain4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Ford EscapeActive | Nissan RogueS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligent All-Wheel Drive | — | std |
| Front Wheel Drive (FWD) | — | std |
| Drive Mode Selector – Dial type (5-mode) AWD / Lever switch type (3-mode) FWD | — | std |
| Idle stop/start system | — | std |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Ford EscapeActive | Nissan RogueS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Active Ride Control | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPFord Escape
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V091000 · 25,237 vehicles
- high Power Train 26V301000 · 208 vehicles
- high Seat Belts 25V862000 · 780 vehicles
Nissan Rogue
Top recalls
- moderate Power Train 26V419000 · 5,823 vehicles
- minor Tires 25V912000 · 4,655 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Ford EscapeActive | Nissan RogueS FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $30,350 (base trim) | $29,490 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $30,350 – $38,935 6 trims | $29,490 – $39,390 8 trims |
| Powertrains | PHEV, HEV, GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Escape FWD PHEV | Rogue FWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 40 | 32 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,700 | $2,100 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi (make terms) | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi (make terms) | — |
| Roadside assistance | 5 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Ford Escape or the 2026 Nissan Rogue?
Too close to call: Nissan Rogue 86 vs Ford Escape 85.6 with these weights. The Ford Escape is ahead on fuel & range. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.3 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Nissan Rogue scores 86 and the 2026 Ford Escape 85.6. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Ford Escape or the 2026 Nissan Rogue?
The 2026 Nissan Rogue starts lower — $29,490 against $30,350, a gap of $860 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Ford Escape or the 2026 Nissan Rogue?
2026 Ford Escape: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 3 recalls. 2026 Nissan Rogue: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 2 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Ford Escape and the 2026 Nissan Rogue?
Where the 2026 Nissan Rogue wins: it lists 24 standard driver-assist features against 0, has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 91 against 72), and starts $860 lower ($29,490 against $30,350 base MSRP). Where the 2026 Ford Escape answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (4 against 53 filed with NHTSA) and is rated 40 combined against 32 (EPA mpg or MPGe).