Compare the2022 Hyundai TucsonVS 2021 Ford Escape FHEV

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Tucson are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Tucson Limited has a standard Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Escape FHEV only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Tucson and the Escape FHEV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Tucson comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Escape FHEV’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Tucson 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Ford covers the Escape FHEV. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Escape FHEV ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Tucson’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Escape FHEV’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tucson for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Escape FHEV.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Tucson’s reliability 40 points higher than the Escape FHEV.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 10th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 16th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 22nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 16 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Both the Tucson and the Escape FHEV have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All Tucsons have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Tucson stops shorter than the Escape FHEV:

For better traction, the Tucson has larger tires than the Escape FHEV (235/65R17 vs. 225/65R17).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tucson’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the Escape FHEV (108.5 inches vs. 106.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Tucson is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Escape FHEV.

The Hyundai Tucson may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 250 pounds less than the Ford Escape FHEV.

The Tucson has 4.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Escape FHEV (108.2 vs. 104).

The Tucson has .1 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more rear headroom, 2.4 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear hip room than the Escape FHEV.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Tucson’s rear seats recline. The Escape FHEV’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Escape FHEV with its rear seat up (38.7 vs. 34.4 cubic feet). The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Escape FHEV with its rear seat folded (80.3 vs. 60.8 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Tucson’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Tucson’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Escape FHEV’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

On a hot day the Tucson’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Escape FHEV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Both the Tucson and the Escape FHEV offer available heated front seats. The Tucson Limited also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Escape FHEV.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Tucson (except SE) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Tucson Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Escape FHEV Titanium’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Tucson, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Ford Escape FHEV isn't recommended.