Compare the2024 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In HybridVS 2024 Ford Escape PHEV

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid and the Escape PHEV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 around view monitors.

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 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid is much safer than the Escape PHEV:

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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 67 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Escape PHEV last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

The Tucson Plug-In 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 PHEV’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Ford covers the Escape PHEV. 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 PHEV ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Escape PHEV’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Escape PHEV.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 above average in initial quality. With 13 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 Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 40 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 16th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 11 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 51 more horsepower (261 vs. 210) than the Escape PHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

For better traction, the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has larger tires than the Escape PHEV (235/55R19 vs. 225/60R18).

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escape PHEV’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the Escape PHEV.

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

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Escape PHEV.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has 3.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Escape PHEV (105.9 vs. 102.2).

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has .1 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear hip room than the Escape PHEV.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s rear seats recline. The Escape PHEV’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Escape PHEV with its rear seat folded (66.3 vs. 60.8 cubic feet).

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

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

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Escape PHEV’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Escape PHEV’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

Both the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid and the Escape PHEV have standard heated front seats. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 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 PHEV.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Escape PHEV.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park 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 PHEV’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Hyundai Tucson outsold the Ford Escape by 28% during 2022.