Compare repair costs, reliability, and owner reviews
Ford Escape
$600
Average Annual
Repair Cost
Subaru Forester
$632
Average Annual
Repair Cost
Overall Reliability Rating
4
Above Average
The Ford Escape Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 16th out of 26 for compact SUVs. The average annual repair cost is $600 which means it has average ownership costs. The severity of repairs is average, and major issues are less frequent than average, so major repairs are not common for the Escape.
3
1
2
Above Average
The Subaru Forester Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 21st out of 26 for compact SUVs. The average annual repair cost is $632 which means it has average ownership costs. The frequency and severity of repairs are both fairly average when compared with all other vehicles.
The Ford Escape ranks highest in safety and ranks lowest in value.
“Problem with dead batteries.3 replacements. Replace alternator. No help from ford! Found out cause of electrical problems was bad GEM module. Had to trouble shoot myself. Had dead battery problems...”
“Problem with dead batteries.3 replacements. Replace alternator. No help from ford! Found out...”
“I bought my "98" forster 2 years ago with almost 100,000 miles on it. It has been a really good car. now I have 180.000 miles on it and I have to change the head gaskets, that will cost about...”
“I bought my "98" forster 2 years ago with almost 100,000 miles on it. It has been a really good...”
The Subaru Forester and the Ford Escape are both compact, two-row SUVs. The Forester has all-wheel drive as standard equipment, and the Escape comes with front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. The Forester also gives you more ground clearance (8.7 inches) than the Escape (7.9 inches).
Comparing engines, the Subaru Forester and the Ford Escape are very close. The Forester has a 170-horsepower standard engine with the option to bump up to 250 horsepower. The Escape has a standard engine with 168 horsepower and an optional engine with 245 horsepower.
Cargo space is another story. The Forester gives you 74.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. But the Escape comes up short with 66.4 cubic feet. It’s a meaningful difference if you plan to haul lots of stuff regularly.
Making a choice between the Subaru Forester and the Ford Escape comes down to how you plan to use your compact SUV. Both have the optional power choices for towing or hauling heavy loads. But the Subaru Forester has the edge in cargo space and off-road ability.