The 2019 Ford Escape, a popular compact SUV, has undergone rigorous testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to evaluate its safety performance. For prospective buyers and safety-conscious drivers, understanding these ratings is crucial in making informed decisions. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the Ford Escape 2019’s safety evaluations, covering various crash scenarios and safety features.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
Excellent Driver Protection in Driver-Side Small Overlap Test
The Ford Escape 2019 received an Acceptable rating in the driver-side small overlap front crash test. This test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end on the driver’s side impacts a barrier.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | A |
| Structure and Safety Cage | A |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/Thigh | G |
| Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | A |
The structural performance of the Ford Escape in this demanding test was rated as Acceptable. Crucially, injury measures for the driver were all rated as Good, indicating a low risk of significant injuries to the head, neck, chest, hip, thigh, lower leg, and foot in a real-world crash of this type.
Action shot during the Ford Escape 2019 driver-side small overlap frontal crash test, demonstrating vehicle deformation and airbag deployment.
Post-crash dummy position in the Ford Escape 2019 driver-side small overlap test, showing adequate survival space and restraint.
However, the rating for Driver restraints and dummy kinematics was Acceptable. During the crash test, the dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but showed a tendency to slide off the left side. This was attributed to the seat belt allowing excessive forward movement of the head and torso. Despite this, the side curtain airbag deployed effectively, providing sufficient coverage to protect the head from hitting side structures or external objects. The side torso airbag also deployed as intended.
Close-up view of the airbag deployment in the Ford Escape 2019 driver-side small overlap test, highlighting the head sliding issue.
Intrusion levels in the driver’s side of the Ford Escape 2019 during the small overlap crash, indicating well-controlled occupant space.
Technical measurements from the driver-side small overlap test further detail the vehicle’s performance:
Measures of Occupant Compartment Intrusion on Driver Side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower Occupant Compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 8 |
| Footrest (cm) | 4 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 3 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 3 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 1 |
| Upper Occupant Compartment | |
| Steering column | 2 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 12 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 9 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 5 |
Driver Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 113 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 14 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.17 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 26 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.5 |
| Right | 1.1 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 3 |
| Right | 1 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.47 |
| Right | 0.43 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 1.7 |
| Right | 2.2 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 51 |
| Right | 49 |
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
Passenger-Side Small Overlap Performance: A Point of Concern
In contrast to the driver-side, the Ford Escape 2019 received a Poor rating in the passenger-side small overlap front crash test. This test is particularly important as it evaluates how well the vehicle protects the front passenger in a similar frontal collision.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | P |
| Structure and Safety Cage | P |
| Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/Thigh | P |
| Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | M |
The Structure and safety cage of the Ford Escape 2019 was rated as Poor in the passenger-side test, indicating significant deformation and compromised occupant space. While injury measures for the passenger’s head, neck, chest, and lower leg/foot were rated Good, the Hip/Thigh injury measure received a Poor rating, suggesting a high risk of injury to this area.
Action shot during the Ford Escape 2019 passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test, revealing substantial structural deformation.
Post-crash view of the Ford Escape 2019 passenger side, illustrating the compromised survival space and extensive intrusion.
Furthermore, Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics were rated as Marginal. The dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but then moved around the right side. Critically, the side curtain airbag did not deploy on the passenger side, leaving the passenger’s head vulnerable to impacts with side structures and outside objects. This lack of deployment is unusual for vehicles of this model year and later.
Demonstration of the non-deployed side curtain airbag in the Ford Escape 2019 passenger-side small overlap test, a significant safety concern.
Significant dashboard and door hinge pillar intrusion in the Ford Escape 2019 passenger-side small overlap crash, contributing to injury risk.
Technical measurements highlight the severity of the passenger-side crash:
Measures of Occupant Compartment Intrusion on Passenger Side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower Occupant Compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 22 |
| Footrest (cm) | 14 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 12 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 10 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 10 |
| Upper Occupant Compartment | |
| Center dash (cm) | 16 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 27 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 19 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 16 |
Passenger Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 75 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 9 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.20 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 20 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 3.4 |
| Right | 16.1 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 12 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 100 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.38 |
| Right | 0.77 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 1.3 |
| Right | 1.9 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 42 |
| Right | 41 |
Driver Injury Measures (Passenger-Side Test)
Notably, the passenger-side test also assesses driver injury measures, which were all rated as Good. This is expected as the focus of the structural deficiency is on the passenger side in this specific test.
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 34 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 16 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.17 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 34 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.5 |
| Right | 0.5 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 2 |
| Right | 1 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.39 |
| Right | 0.30 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 0.5 |
| Right | 0.2 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 21 |
| Right | 34 |
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test
Good Performance in Moderate Overlap Front Crash
The Ford Escape 2019 demonstrated Good performance in the moderate overlap front crash test, the most common type of severe crashes. This test involves a larger portion of the vehicle’s front impacting a barrier.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/Foot, Left | G |
| Leg/Foot, Right | G |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G |
Both the IIHS and Ford conducted moderate overlap frontal tests on the Escape, and the ratings are based on the results of both. The Structure and safety cage was rated Good, and all Driver injury measures (head/neck, chest, leg/foot) were also rated Good. Driver restraints and dummy kinematics also received a Good rating.
Action shot from the IIHS moderate overlap frontal crash test of the Ford Escape 2019.
Driver’s survival space maintained well in the Ford Escape 2019 moderate overlap crash test (IIHS test vehicle shown).
Side curtain airbag deployment effectively protecting the dummy’s head during rebound in the Ford Escape 2019 moderate overlap test (IIHS test).
Minimal intrusion into the driver’s space in the Ford Escape 2019 moderate overlap crash tests, indicating good structural integrity.
Technical measurements from the moderate overlap test:
Measures of Occupant Compartment Intrusion on Driver Side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement (IIHS Test) | Measurement (Ford Test) |
|---|---|---|
| Footwell intrusion | ||
| Footrest (cm) | 6 | 8 |
| Left (cm) | 8 | 12 |
| Center (cm) | 8 | 10 |
| Right (cm) | 8 | 7 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 3 | 2 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | ||
| Left (cm) | 1 | 1 |
| Right (cm) | 1 | 1 |
| Steering column movement | ||
| Upward (cm) | 1 | 3 |
| Rearward (cm) | 1 | -1 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 1 | 1 |
Driver Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement (IIHS Test) | Measurement (Ford Test) |
|---|---|---|
| Head | ||
| HIC-15 | 223 | 212 |
| Neck | ||
| Tension (kN) | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 12 | 23 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.22 | 0.23 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 24 | 26 |
| Legs | ||
| Femur force – left (kN) | 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Femur force – right (kN) | 0.6 | 0.5 |
| Knee displacement – left (mm) | 1 | 0 |
| Knee displacement – right (mm) | 1 | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index – left | 0.27 | 0.26 |
| Maximum tibia index – right | 0.35 | 0.36 |
| Tibia axial force – left (kN) | 1.7 | 1.6 |
| Tibia axial force – right (kN) | 2.0 | 2.2 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | ||
| Left | 38 | 61 |
| Right | 85 | 85 |
Side Crash Test
Good Rating for Side Impact Protection
The Ford Escape 2019 earned a Good rating in the side crash test, indicating strong protection in side-impact collisions. This evaluation is based on a test conducted by Ford and assessed by the IIHS.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/Leg | G |
| Driver Head Protection | G |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/Leg | G |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | G |
The Ford Escape 2019, equipped with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags, provided Good protection across all measured categories for both driver and rear passenger. This includes Structure and safety cage, Driver injury measures (head/neck, torso, pelvis/leg), Driver head protection, Rear passenger injury measures (head/neck, torso, pelvis/leg), and Rear passenger head protection.
Technical measurements from the side crash test:
Measures of Occupant Compartment Intrusion on Driver Side
| Test ID | Measurement |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -19.5 |
Driver Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 160 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.3 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 41 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.8 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 27 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 21 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.70 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.29 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 1.6 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.5 |
| Combined force (kN) | 3.0 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.5 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 47 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | -25 |
Passenger Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 118 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.2 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.3 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 37 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 2.0 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 32 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 19 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 3.00 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.41 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.5 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.5 |
| Combined force (kN) | 2.6 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.3 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 50 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 18 |
Roof Strength Test
Good Roof Strength Rating
The Ford Escape 2019 achieved a Good rating in the roof strength test, indicating its ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash.
| Overall Evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 3,612 lbs |
| Peak force | 18,167 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.03 |
With a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.03, the roof of the Ford Escape 2019 is more than capable of supporting over five times the vehicle’s weight before significant crush, providing good occupant protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints & Seats
Good Rating for Head Restraints & Seats
The head restraints and seats of the Ford Escape 2019 were rated Good for whiplash protection in rear-end collisions.
| Overall Evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
Technical measurements for head restraints and seats:
| Seat type | Power cloth seat |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 7 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | 5 |
| Seat design parameters | |
| Pass/fail | Pass |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 12.0 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 41 |
| Force rating | 1 |
| Neck forces | |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 3 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 318 |
Headlights
Headlight Performance: Significant Variation Across Trims
Headlight performance for the Ford Escape 2019 varies significantly depending on the trim level and headlight type. The IIHS evaluated six different headlight configurations.
Titanium trim with Ford Safe and Smart package:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | HID projector |
| High-beam headlight type | HID projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | A |
This top-tier headlight system, featuring HID projectors and high-beam assist, received an Acceptable rating. Low beams provided good visibility on the right side of straightaways and fair visibility on the left. High beams offered good visibility on the right side of straightaways and fair on the left. High-beam assist was noted to compensate for some limitations of the low beams.
Titanium trim (without Ford Safe and Smart package):
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | HID projector |
| High-beam headlight type | HID projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | No |
| Overall rating | A |
Similar to the version with the Safe and Smart package, the standard Titanium trim headlights (HID projectors) also earned an Acceptable rating. Performance metrics were largely consistent.
SEL trim with Ford Safe and Smart package:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | Halogen projector |
| High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | M |
The SEL trim with the Safe and Smart package, equipped with Halogen projector low beams and Halogen reflector high beams, received a Marginal rating. Visibility was fair on straightaways with low beams but inadequate on curves. High beams provided good visibility on the right straightaway but were inadequate elsewhere. High-beam assist offered some compensation.
SEL trim (without Ford Safe and Smart package):
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | Halogen projector |
| High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | No |
| Overall rating | M |
The standard SEL trim headlights (Halogen projectors and reflectors) also received a Marginal rating, with similar performance limitations as the version with the Safe and Smart package.
SE trim with Ford Safe and Smart package:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | P |
The SE trim with the Safe and Smart package, featuring Halogen reflector headlights, received a Poor rating. Low beams provided good visibility on the right straightaway but were otherwise inadequate, and created some glare. High beams were also limited. High-beam assist provided some compensation.
S and SE trims (without Ford Safe and Smart package):
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | No |
| Overall rating | P |
The base S and SE trims, with standard Halogen reflector headlights, also received a Poor rating, mirroring the performance and glare issues of the SE trim with the Safe and Smart package.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Basic Front Crash Prevention System
The Ford Escape 2019 offers an optional Forward Collision Warning and Brake Support system as part of the Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Collision Warning and Brake Support package.
| Overall Evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Basic |
The system meets the requirements for forward collision warning, earning a Basic rating in vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. However, automatic emergency braking (autobrake) is not available with this system.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Marginal Child Seat Anchor System (LATCH)
The Ford Escape 2019 has a Marginal rating for its child seat anchor system (LATCH).
| Overall Evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | M |
| Vehicle trim | SE |
| Seat type | cloth |
The vehicle has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and one additional position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors. However, the system is rated Marginal due to issues with anchor location and usability.
Details by Seating Position:
| Position | Rating Details |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tether anchor: easy-to-find location, other hardware could be confused for anchor. Lower anchors: too deep in seat, difficult to maneuver around anchors. |
| 2 | Tether anchor: easy-to-find location, no other hardware could be confused for anchor. Lower anchors: Can be borrowed from positions 1 and 3. |
| 3 | Tether anchor: easy-to-find location, other hardware could be confused for anchor. Lower anchors: too deep in seat. |
Conclusion: Ford Escape 2019 Safety Performance Overview
The 2019 Ford Escape presents a mixed safety profile. It performs well in moderate overlap front, side, and roof strength tests, earning Good ratings in these critical areas. Driver-side small overlap protection is Acceptable, with good injury measures but some concerns about dummy kinematics.
However, the Poor rating in the passenger-side small overlap test is a significant concern, primarily due to structural issues and the failure of the side curtain airbag to deploy, leading to potential passenger hip/thigh injury risk. Headlight performance is also highly variable, with only the Titanium trim’s HID projector headlights achieving an Acceptable rating, while lower trims with Halogen headlights are rated Marginal or Poor. The LATCH system for child seats is rated Marginal due to usability issues.
For prospective buyers prioritizing safety, it’s crucial to be aware of these mixed results. While the Ford Escape 2019 offers solid protection in many crash scenarios, the passenger-side small overlap performance and headlight ratings, particularly in lower trims, should be carefully considered. Choosing a higher trim level like Titanium may improve headlight performance, but the passenger-side small overlap structural issue remains a point of weakness for the 2019 Ford Escape.
