Compare the2023 Ford EscapeVS 2023 Hyundai Kona

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Kona doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Ford Escape has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Kona doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Escape has standard Post-Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Kona doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Escape (except Base) offers an optional Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Kona doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Escape (except Base) offers an optional 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Kona only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the Escape and the Kona have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Escape is safer than the Hyundai Kona:

	Escape	Kona
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	143	205
Neck Stress	185 lbs.	207 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	57 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	102	217
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	36.3%	37%
Neck Stress	181 lbs.	193 lbs.
Neck Compression	58 lbs.	70 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Escape is safer than the Hyundai Kona:

	Escape	Kona
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	191 lbs.	246 lbs.
Hip Force	240 lbs.	611 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	97	326
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	66 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	34 G’s
Hip Force	462 lbs.	744 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Escape the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 177 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Kona has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

There are almost 4 times as many Ford dealers as there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape’s warranty.

Reliability

The Escape has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Kona doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated below average.

Engine

The Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 34 more horsepower (181 vs. 147) and 58 lbs.-ft. more torque (190 vs. 132) than the Kona’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 55 more horsepower (250 vs. 195) and 85 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 195) than the Kona N Line/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Escape 1.5 Turbo’s fuel efficiency. The Kona doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Escape FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kona (14.8 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Escape AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kona (15.7 vs. 13.2 gallons).

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 Kona doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Escape higher (7 out of 10) than the Hyundai Kona (5 to 7). This means the Escape produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Kona every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Escape’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kona:

	Escape	Kona	Kona AWD/1.6T
Front Rotors	13 inches	11 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	10.3 inches	11.2 inches

The Escape stops much shorter than the Kona:

	Escape	Kona
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Escape has larger tires than the Kona (225/65R17 vs. 205/60R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escape has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Kona SE. The Escape’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Kona N Line/Limited.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Ford Escape has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Kona 4x2 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Escape has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Escape flat and controlled during cornering. The Kona 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escape’s wheelbase is 4.3 inches longer than on the Kona (106.7 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

The Escape’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (58% to 42%) than the Kona’s (59.4% to 40.6%). This gives the Escape more stable handling and braking.

Chassis

The front grille of the Escape uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Kona doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Escape has 9.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kona (104 vs. 94.1).

The Escape has .4 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 5.5 inches more rear legroom, 1.1 inches more rear hip room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona.

Cargo Capacity

The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kona with its rear seat up (37.5 vs. 19.2 cubic feet). The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kona with its rear seat folded (65.4 vs. 45.8 cubic feet).

The Escape’s cargo area is larger than the Kona’s in every dimension:

	Escape	Kona
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.8”/68.5”	28.6”/61”
Max Width	57.3”	48”
Min Width	41.4”	40”
Height	34.8”	30”

An optional locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Escape. The Kona doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Escape Active/ST-Line/Platinum has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Kona doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Escape has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Kona has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Escape uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Kona doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Escape (except Base), the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Kona doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Escape (except Base)’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Kona doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Escape Elite/Platinum offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Kona doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Escape’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Kona has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Escape Select/Elite/Platinum’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Kona SEL/N Line/Limted’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Escape’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Escape Base). The Kona doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Blue Link can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Escape’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Kona’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Escape’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Kona’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

Consumer Reports rated the Escape’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Kona’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

On extremely cold winter days, the Escape’s optional (except Base) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Kona doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Escape Active/ST-Line/Platinum’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Kona doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Escape and the Kona offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Escape offers optional rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kona doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Escape Elite/Platinum’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Kona doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Escape owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Escape with a number “5” insurance rate while the Kona is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Escape is less expensive to operate than the Kona because it costs $45 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Escape than the Kona, including $127 less for a water pump and $9 less for front struts.

Recommendations

The Ford Escape outsold the Hyundai Kona by over two to one during 2022.