Compare the2023 Ford Escape PHEVVS 2022 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
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 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 Kia Niro 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 Niro 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 Niro 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid 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.

The Escape PHEV has standard 911 Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Escape PHEV and the Niro 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Ford Escape PHEV weighs 420 to 479 pounds more than the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Escape PHEV is safer than the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid:

	Escape PHEV	Niro Plug-In Hybrid
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22.5%	27%
Neck Stress	185 lbs.	291 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	37 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	102	224
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	36.3%	80%
Neck Stress	181 lbs.	207 lbs.
Neck Compression	58 lbs.	63 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 PHEV is safer than the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid:

	Escape PHEV	Niro Plug-In Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	191 lbs.	196 lbs.
Hip Force	240 lbs.	342 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	97	170
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	77 G’s
Hip Force	816 lbs.	993 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	11 inches
Hip Force	462 lbs.	712 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 PHEV the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 175 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The Escape PHEV’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid runs out after 100,000 miles.

There are almost 4 times as many Ford dealers as there are Kia 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

Engine

The Escape PHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 82 more horsepower (221 vs. 139) than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Escape PHEV running on electricity gets better mileage than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity (117 city/93 hwy vs. 110 city/99 hwy MPGe).

The Escape PHEV can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 37 miles. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 26 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 Niro 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 Niro 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid:

	Escape PHEV	Niro 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid (225/60R18 vs. 205/60R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escape PHEV has standard 18-inch wheels. Only 16-inch wheels are available on the Niro 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 Niro 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 vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

Chassis

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

Passenger Space

The Escape PHEV has .7 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front hip room, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 1.5 inches more rear legroom, 5 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

The Escape PHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid with its rear seat up (34.4 vs. 19.4 cubic feet). The Escape PHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid with its rear seat folded (60.8 vs. 54.5 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Escape PHEV easier. The Escape PHEV’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.9 inches, while the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s liftover is 29 inches.

The Escape PHEV’s cargo area is larger than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s in almost every dimension:

	Escape PHEV	Niro Plug-In Hybrid
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	36.7”/68.3”	31.8”/64”
Max Width	57.3”	48.2”
Min Width	41.4”	41”
Height	32.8”	36”

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Escape PHEV has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Niro 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 Niro 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Escape PHEV’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s parking brake has to be released manually.

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window closes 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

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 Niro 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.

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

The Escape PHEV’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Kia only offers heated mirrors on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX/EX Premium.

The Escape PHEV has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX Premium.

Both the Escape PHEV and the Niro 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid only retains 43.04% to 43.11%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ford Escape PHEV, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ford Escape outsold the Kia Niro by almost five to one during 2022.