Ford Escape vs Nissan Xterra
Side-by-side comparison from manufacturer specifications, NHTSA safety data, and live dealer listings.
Vehicles
Vehicles
2015 Nissan Xterra
Overview
| Spec | Ford EscapeActive | Nissan XterraX |
|---|---|---|
| Selected trim | Active | X |
| Body style | SUV | SUV |
| Drivetrain | front wheel drive | rear wheel drive |
| Fuel type | regular unleaded | regular unleaded |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 5-speed automatic |
| Engine type | gas | gas |
| Model year | 2026 | 2015 |
Pricing & market
| Spec | Ford EscapeActive | Nissan XterraX |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $30,350 | $23,660 (best) |
| Lowest listing price | $3,898 (best) | $8,199 |
| Median listing price | $22,889 | $10,369 (best) |
| Highest listing price | $43,129 | $11,500 (best) |
| For sale now | 135 (best) | 3 |
Fuel economy & range
| Spec | Ford EscapeActive | Nissan XterraX |
|---|---|---|
| Combined MPG | 30 MPG (best) | 18 MPG |
| City MPG | 27 MPG (best) | 16 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 34 MPG (best) | 22 MPG |
| Fuel tank | 14.8 gal | 21.1 gal (best) |
Performance
| Spec | Ford EscapeActive | Nissan XterraX |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 180 hp | 261 hp (best) |
| Torque | 199 lb-ft | 281 lb-ft (best) |
| Engine size | 1.5 L | 4 L (best) |
| Cylinders | I3 | V6 |
Size & capability
| Spec | Ford EscapeActive | Nissan XterraX |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Doors | 4 | 5 (best) |
| Cargo volume | 65.4 cu ft | 65.7 cu ft (best) |
| Towing capacity | 2,000 lbs | 5,000 lbs (best) |
| Curb weight | 3,273 lbs (best) | — |
| Ground clearance | — | 8.2 in (best) |
| Wheelbase | 106.7 in (best) | 106.3 in |
| Length | 180.1 in (best) | 178.7 in |
| Width | 74.1 in (best) | 72.8 in |
| Height | 66 in | 74.9 in (best) |
Safety & recalls
| Spec | Ford EscapeActive | Nissan XterraX |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA overall | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | Not Rated |
| Frontal crash (driver) | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | Not Rated |
| Frontal crash (passenger) | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | Not Rated |
| Side crash (driver) | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | Not Rated |
| Side crash (passenger) | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | Not Rated |
| Side pole | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | Not Rated |
| Rollover | 4 / 5 ★ (best) | 3 / 5 ★ |
| Open recalls (YMM scope) | 2 | None reported (best) |
Highlighted values indicate the better figure for that spec when a clear winner exists. Specs reflect the selected trim for each vehicle. Drag a vehicle header to reorder columns. MSRP and specifications are manufacturer data; listing prices and inventory come from live dealer listings. Safety ratings are from NHTSA.
Trim overview
All available trims with MSRP. The trim selected above is highlighted; comparison specs use that selection.
| Trim | Ford Escape | Nissan Xterra |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Active $30,350 MSRP(Currently comparing) | X $23,660 MSRP(Currently comparing) |
| 2 | Active $31,750 MSRP | X $25,710 MSRP |
| 3 | ST-Line $31,195 MSRP | S $25,670 MSRP |
| 4 | ST-Line $32,595 MSRP | S $26,670 MSRP |
| 5 | ST-Line Select $33,890 MSRP | S $27,720 MSRP |
| 6 | ST-Line Select $35,015 MSRP | PRO-4X $30,590 MSRP |
| 7 | Plug-In Hybrid $35,400 MSRP | PRO-4X $31,640 MSRP |
| 8 | Platinum $36,215 MSRP | — |
| 9 | ST-Line Elite $37,210 MSRP | — |
| 10 | Platinum $37,940 MSRP | — |
| 11 | ST-Line Elite $38,935 MSRP | — |
Live inventory
Ford Escape135 for sale
See all
Used2025 Ford Escape
Active
Oxford White23,908 mi$22,200Countryside Pre-Owned
Jackson, GA
Certified2019 Ford Escape
Titanium
Black Metallic•Medium Light Stone66,585 mi$18,684Greensboro Auto Center
Greensboro, NC
Used2025 Ford Escape
ST-Line Select
Carbonized Gray•Ebony w/Red Stitching33,072 mi$22,990Classic Volkswagen Gastonia
Gastonia, NC
Used2019 Ford Escape
Titanium
Magnetic•Charcoal Black62,011 mi$15,990Classic Volkswagen Gastonia
Gastonia, NC
Used2017 Ford Escape
SE
Ruby Red Metallic•Black51,722 mi$13,650Whitewater Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
St Charles, MN
Used2023 Ford Escape
Platinum
Black Metallic•Space Gray19,185 mi$25,481Smythe Volvo Cars
Summit, NJ
Nissan Xterra3 for sale
See all
Used2006 Nissan Xterra
Off-Road
Granite Clearcoat•Charcoal152,371 mi$8,199McCarthy Hyundai of Topeka
Topeka, KS
Used2006 Nissan Xterra
SE
Silver Lightning Clearcoat•Graphite129,381 mi$10,369Findlay Toyota Prescott
Prescott, AZ
Used2015 Nissan Xterra
X
Cayenne Red•Gray126,110 mi$11,500Subaru of North Tampa
Tampa, FL
Ford Escape vs Nissan Xterra FAQ
- Which is better: 2026 Ford Escape or 2015 Nissan Xterra?
- It depends on priorities. OpenDealer compares 2026 Ford Escape vs 2015 Nissan Xterra on MSRP, fuel economy, horsepower, seating, towing, NHTSA safety ratings, and live market prices so you can weigh the tradeoffs.
- Which costs less: 2026 Ford Escape or 2015 Nissan Xterra?
- Based on starting MSRP, the 2015 Nissan Xterra starts lower at $23,660. Live Ford Escape listings start at $3,898. Live Nissan Xterra listings start at $8,199.
- Which has better startingMsrp: 2026 Ford Escape or 2015 Nissan Xterra?
- The 2015 Nissan Xterra leads on startingMsrp in this comparison (23,660).
- Which has better combinedMpg: 2026 Ford Escape or 2015 Nissan Xterra?
- The 2026 Ford Escape leads on combinedMpg in this comparison (40).
- Which has better electricRangeMi: 2026 Ford Escape or 2015 Nissan Xterra?
- The 2026 Ford Escape leads on electricRangeMi in this comparison (37).
- Which has better horsepower: 2026 Ford Escape or 2015 Nissan Xterra?
- The 2015 Nissan Xterra leads on horsepower in this comparison (261).
- Which has better maxTowingLbs: 2026 Ford Escape or 2015 Nissan Xterra?
- The 2015 Nissan Xterra leads on maxTowingLbs in this comparison (5,000).
- How do the NHTSA safety ratings compare for 2026 Ford Escape vs 2015 Nissan Xterra?
- NHTSA overall crash-test ratings in this comparison: Ford Escape (5/5 NHTSA overall); Nissan Xterra (Not Rated/5 NHTSA overall).