Compare the2023 Ford Escape PHEVVS 2022 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
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 PHEV 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 Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Escape PHEV 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 Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid 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 PHEV offers optional Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Escape PHEV offers an optional 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid 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.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Escape PHEV has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid.

Both the Escape PHEV and the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The Ford Escape PHEV weighs 552 pounds more than the Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 PHEV the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 175 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid 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 PHEV’s warranty.

Reliability

The Escape PHEV 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 Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the car’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 PHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 82 more horsepower (221 vs. 139) than the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Escape PHEV can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 37 miles. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 29 miles.

The Escape PHEV 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 Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

The Escape PHEV has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Escape PHEV’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid:

	Escape PHEV	Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid
Front Rotors	13 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	11.2 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Escape PHEV has larger tires than the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid (225/60R18 vs. 205/55R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escape PHEV has standard 18-inch wheels. Only 16-inch wheels are available on the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid.

The Escape PHEV has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Escape PHEV has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer rear gas-charged shocks.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escape PHEV is 1.2 inches wider in the front than on the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid.

Passenger Space

The Escape PHEV has 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid (102.2 vs. 96.2).

The Escape PHEV has .9 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front hip room, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom, 3.2 inches more rear legroom, .4 inches more rear hip room and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Escape PHEV has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Escape PHEV has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid has no towing capacity.

The Escape PHEV can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Escape PHEV can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Escape PHEV 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 Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Escape PHEV has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Escape PHEV 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 Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Escape PHEV’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 Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid’s optional power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Escape PHEV’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid 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 PHEV’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 Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Escape PHEV’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Escape PHEV has a standard rear wiper. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

On extremely cold winter days, the Escape PHEV’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Escape PHEV and the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Escape PHEV has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Ford Escape PHEV offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Escape PHEV’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 Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Escape PHEV owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Escape PHEV will cost $790 to $2735 less than the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid over a five-year period.

The Escape PHEV will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Escape PHEV will retain 48.6% to 48.86% of its original price after five years, while the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid only retains 41.48% to 42.63%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Ford Escape PHEV and the Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ford Escape outsold the Hyundai Ioniq by over five to one during 2022.