Compare the2024 Kia Sportage HybridVS 2023 Ford Escape FHEV

Both the Sportage Hybrid 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, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Kia Sportage Hybrid is much safer than the Escape FHEV:

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sportage Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 58 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Escape FHEV last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

The Sportage Hybrid 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.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage Hybrid 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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 16th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 9 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The Sportage Hybrid’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 27 more horsepower (227 vs. 200) than the Escape FHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Kia Sportage Hybrid is faster than the Ford Escape FHEV:

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage Hybrid FWD gets better fuel mileage than the Escape FHEV FWD (42 city/44 hwy vs. 42 city/36 hwy).

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage Hybrid’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 Sportage Hybrid is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Escape FHEV.

The Sportage Hybrid has .6 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear hip room than the Escape FHEV.

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

The Sportage Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Escape FHEV with its rear seat up (39.5 vs. 34.4 cubic feet). The Sportage Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Escape FHEV with its rear seat folded (73.7 vs. 60.8 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sportage Hybrid’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

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

On a hot day the Sportage Hybrid’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.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Escape FHEV doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

When the Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Escape FHEV’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige 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 Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking 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 Elite/Platinum’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Sportage Hybrid and the Ford Escape FHEV, based on reliability, safety and performance.