What is the best year for a Ford Escape?

Complaint data doesn't differentiate between model years for the Escape in our records, so a data-grounded year-specific recommendation isn't possible. The Escape received a full redesign for 2020 — later years within a generation typically benefit from resolved early-production issues.

How much does Ford Escape insurance cost?

The Escape averages around $2,054/year to insure, or roughly $171/month. Rates vary by trim, model year, location, and driving history.

Is the Ford Escape or Honda CR-V cheaper to maintain?

The CR-V is cheaper to maintain by $193/year — $407 versus $600 for the Escape. The CR-V also has a higher reliability score (9 vs. 8). On maintenance cost, the CR-V is the stronger value in this comparison.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Ford Escape?

With a major repair probability and reliability score both at the class average, the Escape presents a moderate, average-risk ownership proposition. No strong case for or against extended warranty — it comes down to individual risk tolerance and how long you plan to keep the vehicle.

Is the Subaru Forester expensive to maintain?

The Forester costs $632/year to maintain — $111 above the compact segment average of $521. Repair frequency of 37% is above the class average of 30%. Reliability score of 7 is below the class average of 8, and major repair probability of 13% is above the 11% norm. It trails the compact class average on every ownership-cost metric.

What is the best year for a Subaru Forester?

The 2024 Forester (28 complaints, 10/10 safety, 4 severe) is the standout year — the best on record. Avoid 2014 (402 complaints, 53 severe) and 2018-2019 (483 and 831 complaints respectively), which coincide with documented engine oil consumption and EyeSight recall issues. The 2022-2024 window shows significant improvement.

How much does Subaru Forester insurance cost?

Forester insurance averages about $2,035/year — roughly $170/month.

Is the Subaru Forester or Toyota RAV4 cheaper to maintain?

The RAV4 is $203/year cheaper — $429 versus $632 for the Forester, over $1,000 in savings over five years. The RAV4 also has higher reliability (8 vs. 7), lower major repair probability (10% vs. 13%), and lower repair frequency (26% vs. 37%). The RAV4 has a significant advantage on every maintenance metric.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Subaru Forester?

Reliability score of 7, major repair probability of 13%, and repair frequency of 37% — all above the compact class average — make extended warranty worth considering, particularly for 2014-2019 models with severe documented complaint spikes. For 2022 and newer, the risk profile improves substantially but still trails the class average.

Ford Escape vs Subaru Forester

Two compact SUVs compared on the numbers that matter — maintenance cost, reliability, and insurance.

// VERDICT

Our verdict

Buy the Ford Escape — lower 5-year cost and better reliability.

Buy the Subaru Forester if its specific features or size suit your needs better.

// COST HEAD TO HEAD

Maintenance and ownership cost

	Ford Escape	Subaru Forester
Annual maintenance	$600winner	$632
5-year total cost	$3,000winner	$3,160
Reliability score	8 / 10winner	7 / 10
Major repair risk (5yr)	11%winner	13%
Cargo space	—	74.4 cu ft
Starting price (new)	$30,350	$29,600winner
Best years to buy	—	—

// RELIABILITY

Which is more reliable?

	Ford Escape	Subaru Forester
RepairPal score	8 / 10winner	7 / 10
NHTSA complaints / 100k	0winner	162.9
Years to avoid	None identified	2013, 2018, 2019
Value retained · 3 yr	71.1%	86.9%winner
Value retained · 5 yr	52.5%	67.5%winner
Value retained · 7 yr	40.2%	54.4%winner

// COMMON PROBLEMS

What breaks — and what it costs

	Ford Escape	Subaru Forester
Engine	39.4%	13.3%winner
Electrical	4.6%winner	8.0%
ADAS	7.3%winner	10.6%
Brakes	2.1%winner	3.8%
Suspension	0.7%winner	4.2%
Steering	9.0%	1.8%winner
Fuel system	5.9%	1.6%winner
Tires/Wheels	1.5%	1.5%winner
Glass/Windows	1.7%winner	24.4%
Airbags	1.4%winner	10.4%

One major repair on either model can run $1,500–4,000. A warranty caps your exposure, especially on known problem years.

// INSURANCE

Which is cheaper to insure?

	Ford Escape	Subaru Forester
Avg annual premium	$2,054	$2,035winner

// FULL MODEL PAGES

GAS

Ford Escape

$600/yr maint · 8 reliability

Full model page

GAS

Subaru Forester

$632/yr maint · 7 reliability

Full model page

// FAQ

Common questions

The Escape costs $600/year to maintain — $79 above the compact segment average of $521. Repair frequency of 31% is slightly above the class average of 30%. Reliability score of 8 and major repair probability of 11% both match the segment average. It's an above-average cost with an average reliability profile.

How we calculated this. Maintenance costs and reliability scores from RepairPal. Complaints and recalls from NHTSA. Fuel economy from the EPA. Insurance averages from CarEdge. Pricing from KBB. Depreciation from iSeeCars. Full methodology →