Compare the2026 Chevrolet TrailblazerVS 2025 Ford Escape FHEV

The Chevrolet Trailblazer has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Trailblazer and the Escape FHEV 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Trailblazer is safer than the Ford Escape FHEV:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Trailblazer is safer than the Ford Escape FHEV:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Trailblazer’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Escape FHEV’s (6 vs. 5 years).

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Trailblazer’s reliability 47 points higher than the Escape FHEV.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 9th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 65 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 23rd.

The Trailblazer stops shorter than the Escape FHEV:

For better traction, the Trailblazer RS’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Escape FHEV (245/45R19 vs. 225/55R19).

The Trailblazer RS’ tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escape FHEV’s optional 55 series tires.

The Trailblazer has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Trailblazer ACTIV AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the Escape FHEV AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Trailblazer ACTIV AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Escape FHEV AWD (27.6 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The Chevrolet Trailblazer may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 500 pounds less than the Ford Escape FHEV.

The Trailblazer is 6.6 inches shorter than the Escape FHEV, making the Trailblazer easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Trailblazer AWD uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Trailblazer ACTIV/RS’ liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Trailblazer’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Escape FHEV does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Trailblazer’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its driver’s window also automatically closes, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Escape FHEV’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

Consumer Reports rated the Trailblazer’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Escape FHEV’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Trailblazer’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Escape FHEV’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

The Trailblazer LT/ACTIV/RS offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Trailblazer, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Ford Escape FHEV isn't recommended.