2023 Ford Escape vs 2024 BMW X5

The 2023 Ford Escape showcased a departure from its earlier rugged, boxy design, embracing a more European aesthetic. This model featured a refreshed front end with a traditional grille and a stylish LED light bar, giving it a more upscale appearance akin to a Mazda CX-5. The ST-Line Elite trim, which was tested, sported 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps, enhancing its sleek design. Inside, the Escape boasted diamond-stitched leather upholstery, which, while visually appealing, felt somewhat hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable and well-padded, making long drives pleasant. However, the interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced.

In contrast, the 2024 BMW X5 retained its well-aged styling, though the M Sport treatment was not universally favored. The test vehicle, an xDrive50e M Sport, featured optional 21-inch wheels and Brooklyn Grey paint, with an MSRP of $88,075. The X5's interior was modernized with the BMW Curved Display and reduced physical switchgear, yet it retained high-quality materials and construction. The cabin was equipped with BMW's Sensafin artificial leather, which felt premium, and the Climate Comfort Package added luxurious features like 20-way power-adjustable seats and four-zone climate control. The X5's split liftgate design provided a convenient seating area but required stretching to access deep cargo.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. This engine could be paired with either FWD or AWD. The ST-Line Elite trim featured a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. Despite its impressive output, the Escape was not a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and no paddle shifters for manual gear control. The brakes provided predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness common in some competitors.

The 2024 BMW X5 xDrive50e PHEV impressed with its new mild-hybrid engines and enhanced electric range. It featured a powerful electric motor integrated into the eight-speed automatic transmission and a 19.2 kWh battery pack, offering 38 miles of electric-only driving. The xDrive50e produced 483 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. The PHEV excelled in efficiency, achieving 38.8 mpg during a 95.5-mile evaluation drive. The adaptive damping air suspension masked the vehicle's weight, and the X5 delivered excellent handling and ride quality, even on challenging roads like Mulholland Highway.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided comfortable seating with excellent ergonomics, though its cargo space was limited compared to segment leaders. It offered 37.5 cubic feet of storage behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. Rear-seat legroom was slightly less than competitors, but headroom was impressive, and the front-seat backs were designed to maximize space for tall passengers.

The 2024 BMW X5 xDrive50e offered a spacious interior with room for five people and a cargo area expanding from 33.1 to 71.2 cubic feet. The split liftgate design provided a convenient seating area but required stretching to access deep cargo. The X5 featured standard sport seats and optional 20-way power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation. The panoramic sunroof and side window sunshades enhanced passenger comfort, though a third-row seat was no longer available.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring an optional 13.2-inch touchscreen. The system was well-organized, with easy navigation between Android Auto and the native navigation system. However, it was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient. Despite these minor issues, the system's feature set and layout were commendable.

The 2024 BMW X5 featured the BMW Curved Display, combining a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel with a 14.9-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system ran BMW Operating System 8.5, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L, and over-the-air updates. While the Harman Kardon sound system was excellent, the Intelligent Personal Assistant struggled with voice recognition, leading to inaccurate directions. The head-up display and augmented video function for navigation were highlights, though the reduction in physical controls was less favorable.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side-crash tests. However, the IIHS did not award it a Top Safety Pick due to a Marginal score in the updated side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology.

The 2024 BMW X5 introduced the Highway Assistant hands-free driving system, which worked well in specific conditions but could be unpredictable in moderate traffic. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance performed well, though the system occasionally engaged hard braking without cause. The IIHS gave the X5 high ratings, but lower headlight ratings prevented it from earning a safety award. The NHTSA awarded the X5 a four-star overall rating.