Car Buyer Labs

Car Buying Advice, Tips, and Reviews

A grey 2021 Nissan Rogue is shown from the side parked in front of a city building.

Nissan Rogue vs Ford Escape: Family-Friendly Features

Now more than ever, SUVs are taking over roadways. And with all of the choices, versatility, and features you have when comparing options like the 2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Ford Escape, it’s no wonder why they’re so popular. Families, especially, are loving the options found in SUVs, as well as all of the space and convenience they offer without having to opt for the dreaded minivan. From keeping the kids occupied to efficiently traveling anywhere you need to go safely, the sport utility vehicle has become a staple with families.

Two options on the road that are impressing drivers, not only with their fierce style but also with their capabilities, are the Nissan Rogue and the Ford Escape, designed to meet and exceed the needs of the average family traveler. If you’re wondering which SUV is going to deliver the perfect amount of family-friendly options, as well as designer style and comfort, let’s see who the rightful winner is when it comes to the 2021 Nissan Rogue vs the 2021 Ford Escape.

Room for the Whole Family

When searching for an everyday vehicle for you and your family, it helps to be able to enjoy a cozy ride without hockey gear crowding the space or the latest science project taking up valuable legroom. That’s why parents are turning to SUVs to help get more room than sedans can offer, as well as convenience features not found in other types of vehicles.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue really wows a crowd with its expertly designed cabin, offering 36.5 cu.ft. of cargo space, as well as up to six different seating configurations to accommodate more gear and passengers. Divide-N-Hide storage allows you to create zones in your Rogue to either conceal items or organize them better with convenient shelving. And with Remote-Folding rear seats, you’re able to effortlessly create the space needed in your vehicle to provide elevated comfort for all on board.

The 2021 Ford Escape is also ready to handle your family and whatever else they’re bringing along with them. With up to 40.7 inches of rear legroom, plus 60/40 Split-Fold Down seats in the second row, the Escape can happily accommodate more without encroaching on everyone’s comfort inside. But although it provides a nice amount of space, its chintzy materials make it tough for us to fall in love with traveling in it. After all, it helps to enjoy some comfortable materials, especially when you’re waiting in the car line or carting your kids to various orthodontist appointments and whatnot. In order to get more upscale materials in the Escape, you’ll need to pay more for a higher-level trim.

The Rogue is just in a league of its own when it comes to functional style paired with unimaginable versatility. To be able to enjoy its cozy ambiance while utilizing its functional features, designed with families in mind, just makes for an experience we can’t find anywhere else. The ability to configure the Rogue’s seating arrangements is key, and with fun additions like Remote-Folding seats and innovative storage solutions, it makes it hard for the Ford Escape to keep up with the Rogue’s intelligently designed interior cabin.

A light blue 2021 Ford Escape is shown parked in a modern parking garage.

Help Along the Way

Let’s face it… your drive can get distracting, especially if you’re hauling your kids, plus some of their friends around town. This is why it helps to have a vehicle that watches out for you on your journey so that safety remains a top priority. Through Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist technology, you’re able to make the most of your travels, even if they’re just around the corner to the grocery store, and with the use of four cameras, parking has never been easier.

Named an IIHS Top Safety Pick+, the 2021 Nissan Rogue takes all of your needs into consideration, whether you require an extra set of eyes in your blind spots or you’re attempting to navigate through traffic. And with added features, like Nissan’s Snug Kids child seat guide to help you find a child restraint system to fit your unique needs, or EBD Brake Assist, adjusting the brakes based on the weight in the back of the vehicle, nothing is too much for the Rogue to handle.

Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 technology, found in the 2021 Ford Escape, also makes any driver more focused and secure. Opt for Active Park Assist 2.0 to navigate your way through the trickiest of parking scenarios, and with a Voice Activated Navigation System, it’s easy to stay confident, even if you’re in unfamiliar territory. An available Head-Up Display, which you can also find in the Rogue, allows you to remain aware of speed limit changes, as well as what lies ahead, effortlessly presented to you at eye-level on the windshield. However, 2021 Escape failed to gain the IIHS’s top safety designation, only coming away with its second-tier award.

Safety is a big priority for any driver, but it doesn’t end there. Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist is hard to beat, offering an exceptional pairing of Intelligent Cruise Control and Steering Assist tech to help drivers better predict what lies ahead. We like that although you may not know what may be waiting for you up ahead, your vehicle does, which makes the Rogue a clear winner when it comes to getting some assistance with your travels along the way.

Kid-Friendly Enhancements

Keeping the kids comfortable and busy while you’re traveling is something that many parents stress about, especially if a long drive awaits. Not only is the 2021 Rogue car seat ready, but it also features rear sunshades to reduce backseat distractions, so movie night on the go doesn’t get disturbed. Speaking of movie night, keep everyone’s devices charged and ready to go with wireless charging and multiple USB ports, and enjoy the best ride possible with an available Bose premium audio system at the ready to crank out everyone’s favorite tunes.

The 2021 Ford Escape keeps families in mind with its features, like an available Bang & Olufsen 10-speaker sound system, easy-to-use infotainment interface, and a 4G LTE WiFi Hotspot. Keeping the family occupied in the Escape is easy, but bear in mind, you’ll need to upgrade to higher-priced trims in order to cash in on those convenient perks. The base trim only offers up a tiny radio display, which means you won’t get to enjoy any of the modern connectivity features unless you choose a higher-level trim. The Rogue is a better choice here because even if you choose its base model, you’re still able to enjoy touchscreen capabilities and advanced tech.

An orange 2021 Nissan Rogue shows the grille in close up.

2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Ford Escape

To say that you have a lot of options when shopping for a family-friendly SUV is an understatement, and after a look at these two confident commuters, you may want them both! Although the Ford Escape does offer some great options and has good qualities about it, you’re just able to get more with the Rogue. Enjoy designer style without the hefty price tag, as well as a variety of convenience features, handy safety and driver-assist features, child-friendly options, and enhanced tech. Altogether, you’ve got one fine-looking, versatile and dependable traveler. The Escape is just lacking when it comes to style, especially if you’re looking for a comfortable yet beautiful interior. And if you want to enjoy cutting-edge tech, you’ll need to be prepared to pay for it in Ford’s SUV, as its base trims don’t offer much. In the end, the Rogue seamlessly blends function with style to create a one-of-a-kind SUV.