2025 Ford Escape vs 2025 Nissan Kicks

$29,515 · Crossover

$21,830 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Trying to decide between the capable 2025 Ford Escape and the budget-friendly 2025 Nissan Kicks can be tough when balancing needs versus cost. The most immediate difference is the price tag: the Escape starts at $29,515, significantly more than the Kicks' entry price of $21,830, a difference of $7,685. While the Kicks squeezes out a slight MPG edge at 31 combined versus the Escape's 30 combined, the Escape offers substantially more zest under the hood, delivering 180 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque compared to the Kicks' 141 hp and 140 lb-ft. For practicality, the Escape is also noticeably larger, measuring 180.1 inches long versus the Kicks' 171.9 inches, translating to a 37.5 cu ft cargo hold against the Kicks' 30 cu ft. This comparison pits premium power and space against excellent financial savings.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Nissan Kicks

The Nissan Kicks wins for daily commuting due to its better fuel economy, achieving 31 combined MPG.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Ford Escape

The Ford Escape is better suited for families thanks to its superior cargo capacity of 37.5 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Ford Escape

Enthusiasts will prefer the Escape's significantly higher output of 180 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque.

💰 Best Value

2025 Nissan Kicks

The Kicks offers undeniable value by being $7,685 cheaper upfront while only sacrificing 1 MPG in combined driving.

Choose the Ford Escape if...

You need the added muscle provided by 180 horsepower for easier highway merging.
Maximum storage is critical, as the Escape offers 37.5 cu ft of cargo space.
You prefer the assured feel of a traditional 8-speed automatic transmission over a CVT.

Choose the Nissan Kicks if...

Keeping the initial purchase price below $22,000 is a top priority.
You prioritize maximizing fuel efficiency, as it achieves 35 MPG on the highway.
You drive primarily in tight city environments where the Kicks' smaller 171.9-inch length is beneficial.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Ford Escape	Nissan Kicks
Length	180.1"	171.9"
Width	74.1"	70.9"
Height	66.0"	64.2"
Wheelbase	106.7"	104.6"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Ford	Nissan
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	—
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	—
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Preparation System	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	—
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	—	✓
Rear Fixed Headrests	—	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Ford	Nissan
Base Engine Displacement	1.5 L	2.0 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 3	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	180 hp @ 6000 rpm	141 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque	199 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm	140 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Number of Valves	12	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	—
Cylinder Deactivation	✓	—

Drive Train

Feature	Ford	Nissan
Transmission Type	8-speed automatic	continuously variable-speed automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive

Fuel

Feature	Ford	Nissan
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	27/34 MPG	28/35 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	30 MPG	31 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	399.6/503.2 mi.	333.2/416.5 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	14.8 gal.	11.9 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Ford	Nissan
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	—
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Steering Wheel Material	Alloy	—
Dual Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	—	✓
Single Zone Climate Control	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Ford	Nissan
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	7.0 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	4
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	—
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	—
Satellite Radio	✓	—
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	—
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—
Android Auto (Wired)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	—	✓
Auxiliary Audio Input	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Ford	Nissan
One-Touch Power Windows	1	2
Keyless Entry	✓	—
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Remote Keyless Entry	—	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Ford	Nissan
Front Head Room	40.0 in.	39.7 in.
Front Leg Room	42.4 in.	42.7 in.
Front Shoulder Room	57.6 in.	54.7 in.
Front Hip Room	55.2 in.	52.4 in.
Seat Material: Premium Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	6-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	4-way
Seat Material: Cloth	—	✓

Rearseats

Feature	Ford	Nissan
Rear Head Room	39.3 in.	38.5 in.
Rear Leg Room	40.7 in.	34.5 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	56.0 in.	54.7 in.
Rear Hip Room	53.3 in.	50.1 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Ford	Nissan
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	—
Wheel Diameter	17 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	225/65R H	215/60R16
Wheel Material	—	Steel
Wheel Cover Type	—	Full
Wheel Size	—	16 x 6.5 in

Suspension

Feature	Ford	Nissan
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	—
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Front Suspension Type	—	Independent

Warranty

Feature	Ford	Nissan
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	—	2 yr./ 24000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Ford Escape and 2025 Nissan Kicks.

How much bigger is the 2025 Ford Escape than the 2025 Nissan Kicks?

The Escape is the larger vehicle overall, measuring 180.1 inches long compared to the Kicks' 171.9 inches. This size difference results in the Escape offering 37.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity versus the Kicks' 30 cubic feet.

Which crossover is cheaper to run on fuel?

The 2025 Nissan Kicks slightly edges out the Escape in efficiency, achieving 31 combined MPG (28 city/35 highway). The Escape manages 30 combined MPG (27 city/34 highway) using regular unleaded in both models.

Is the power difference between the two significant for everyday driving?

Yes, the Escape offers 39 more horsepower (180 hp vs. 141 hp) and 59 more lb-ft of torque (199 vs. 140). This extra power in the Escape will be noticeable when accelerating onto busy roads.

What is the actual dollar difference in starting price?

The MSRPs create a substantial gap; the 2025 Ford Escape starts at $29,515, making it $7,685 more expensive than the 2025 Nissan Kicks starting at $21,830.

Do these crossovers offer different transmission types?

They do; the Ford Escape utilizes a standard 8-speed automatic transmission. In contrast, the Nissan Kicks is equipped with a continuously variable-speed automatic transmission (CVT).