2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Hyundai Kona

The 2020 Ford Escape was a striking compact crossover, boasting a large grille reminiscent of the outgoing Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks, with headlights inspired by the Ford GT supercar. Its design was more curvaceous than its predecessor, which had a more upright rear end. Despite this change, the Escape remained one of the most attractive small SUVs, trailing only behind the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee. Inside, the Escape featured a modern cabin that balanced futuristic design with practical controls. The test model included a fully digital instrument panel and a floating infotainment screen, contributing to its sleek and contemporary interior.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Kona presented a funky and playful exterior, appealing to younger buyers. Its front end was busy with multiple lighting features, while the rear maintained a more conventional crossover appearance. The interior mirrored the exterior's fun vibe without being overly whimsical. The seats had neat patterns, and higher trims offered leather upgrades. The well-organized interior featured a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and physical climate controls, making it simple and intuitive to use, complementing the Kona's compact size.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered a diverse range of four engine options, setting it apart from competitors. The base 3-cylinder engine produced 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, standard in the S, SE, and SEL trims. A 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, available on the SEL and standard on the Titanium, delivered 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration. The hybrid drivetrain, combining a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with electric power, generated 198 horsepower, standard on the SE Sport and available on the Titanium. A plug-in hybrid variant was also offered. The Escape's conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, while hybrids employed a CVT. The most efficient version was the non-Sport hybrid, achieving 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came with two powertrain options. The base model featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional turbocharged 1.6-liter engine produced 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. While neither engine was particularly powerful, they provided sufficient power for city and highway driving. The Kona's handling was surprisingly confident, offering agility and engagement, with a balance of comfort and composure on curvy roads. The base engine with FWD returned 27/33/30 mpg, while the turbo engine with FWD delivered 28/32/30 mpg.

The 2020 Ford Escape's sleeker design resulted in reduced cargo space compared to its predecessor. It offered 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, dropping to 34.4 cubic feet in hybrid models. With the backseat folded, it provided 65.4 cubic feet, or 60.8 cubic feet in upper-level trims. Despite the decrease, the Escape prioritized passenger space, offering ample headroom and legroom for second-row passengers. The front seats provided commanding positions with good visibility, and the interior featured numerous storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and multiple compartments.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona's front seats offered decent headroom and legroom, with controls and displays easily accessible. The seats were wide and well-padded but lacked support for spirited driving. The rear seats provided good headroom but limited legroom, though large rear door openings facilitated loading and unloading. The Kona's cargo space was limited, only surpassing the Mazda CX-3 in its segment. However, small-item storage was generous, with large door pockets and a spacious center console area.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim featured a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, which stood out due to its "floating screen" design. The SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync 3 screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, offering a more modern and functional interface. The Titanium trim included a head-up display, though its flip-up screen design limited its effectiveness for taller drivers.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with an eight-inch infotainment system touchscreen, Bluetooth, six speakers, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Available tech included SiriusXM radio, navigation, wireless device charging, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. Hyundai's infotainment software was simple, colorful, and responsive, making it easy to navigate and access features.

The 2020 Ford Escape came with a comprehensive array of safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and TPMS. It earned a "Good" rating from the IIHS in all testing phases. The Escape also featured Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced safety systems, including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams, along with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona received a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a driver attention warning system, and rear occupant alert. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and parking sensors.