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2017 Ford Escape compared with the 2017 MINI Countryman

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. GTAIT-KCTPD 18.189.180.43 2024-10-06

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The MINI Countryman doesn't offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Escape Titanium's optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Countryman doesn't offer a lane departure warning system.

The Escape (except S)'s optional blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert driver to objects in the vehicle's blind spots where the side view mirrors don't reveal them. The Countryman doesn't offer a system to reveal objects in the driver's blind spots.

To help make backing safer, the Escape (except S)'s optional cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Countryman doesn't offer a cross-path warning system.

The Escape Titanium's optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Countryman doesn't offer a driver alert monitor.

The Escape has standard SYNC®, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Countryman doesn't offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you're involved in an accident and you're incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Escape and the Countryman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes and front and rear parking sensors.

Warranty

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Ford's powertrain warranty covers the Escape 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Countryman. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Countryman ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 25 times as many Ford dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape's warranty.

Reliability

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J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escape third among compact suvs in their 2016 Initial Quality Study. The Countryman isn't in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2016 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 11th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is ranked 26th, below the industry average.

Engine

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The Escape has more powerful engines than the Countryman:

 

Horsepower

Torque

Escape 2.5 DOHC 4 cyl.

168 HP

170 lbs.-ft.

Escape 1.5 turbo 4 cyl.

179 HP

177 lbs.-ft.

Escape 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.

245 HP

275 lbs.-ft.

Countryman 4dr Sport Utility 1.5 turbo 3 cyl.

134 HP

162 lbs.-ft.

Countryman S 4dr Sport Utility 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.

189 HP

207 lbs.-ft.

JCW Countryman 4dr Sport Utility 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.

228 HP

236 lbs.-ft.

Fuel Economy and Range

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In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Escape EcoBoost's engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn't accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Countryman doesn't offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Escape has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it's removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Countryman doesn't offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

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The Ford Escape comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Countryman.

Tires and Wheels

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For better traction, the Escape has larger tires than the Countryman (235/55R17 vs. 225/55R17).

Suspension and Handling

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The Escape's drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Countryman doesn't offer drift compensation steering.

For greater off-road capability the Escape has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Countryman (7.8 vs. 6.5 inches), allowing the Escape to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

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The front grille of the Escape (except 2.0L ECOBoost) uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Countryman doesn't offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

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The Escape has 2.7 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Countryman.

Cargo Capacity

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The Escape has a much larger cargo area with its rear seat up than the Countryman 4dr Sport Utility with its rear seat up (34 vs. 17.6 cubic feet). The Escape has a much larger cargo area with its rear seat folded than the Countryman 4dr Sport Utility with its rear seat folded (68 vs. 47.6 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

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The Escape offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Countryman doesn't offer a remote starting system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don't have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Escape SE/Titanium's exterior keypad. The Countryman doesn't offer an exterior keypad entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Escape has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Countryman only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn't as good.

On extremely cold Winter days, the Escape Titanium's optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Countryman doesn't offer a heated steering wheel.

The Escape (except S) 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 Countryman doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

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Consumer Reports® recommends the Ford Escape, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ford Escape outsold the MINI Countryman by over 21 to one during the 2016 model year.