2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Kia Seltos

The 2020 Ford Escape was a visually appealing compact crossover, borrowing design elements from the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks, with headlights inspired by the Ford GT supercar. Its curvaceous design marked a departure from the previous model's upright rear end, which came at the cost of some cargo space. Despite this, the Escape remained one of the most attractive small SUVs, trailing only behind the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee. Inside, the Escape boasted a modern yet practical cabin, featuring a fully digital instrument panel and a floating infotainment screen, maintaining a balance between futuristic design and user-friendly controls.

The 2021 Kia Seltos, although classified as a subcompact SUV, offered a big-car feel with its upright layout and commanding road view. Its headlight design, though busy, complemented the grille styling, and the aggressive lower front bumper hinted at off-road capabilities. The two-tone roof design and red wheel center accents added to its dynamic appearance. Inside, the Seltos featured a straightforward design with clean lines and integrated tech, drawing inspiration from upscale brands like Audi. The interior was both utilitarian and sporty, with a clean LCD screen for climate controls and a unique handle framing the center stack tray.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered a diverse range of engine options, setting it apart from competitors. It featured a new 3-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, standard in the S, SE, and SEL trims. Additionally, a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and two hybrid setups were available. The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, standard on the Titanium trim, 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, produced 198 horsepower. The Escape's conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrids employed a CVT. The Escape's steering was direct and taut, offering an athletic feel, with strong brakes enhancing its sporty personality. The most efficient version was the non-Sport hybrid, achieving 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came with two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, available in the S Turbo and SX Turbo trims, delivered 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The turbo engine provided ample power for quick acceleration and highway maneuvers. The Seltos offered Drive Mode options, including Normal, Sport, and Smart, enhancing throttle response and steering feel. Despite its upright design, the Seltos exhibited minimal body roll in turns, maintaining a smooth ride over bumps, akin to a luxury SUV.

The 2020 Ford Escape's sleek 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, the Escape provided 65.4 cubic feet of space, or 60.8 cubic feet in upper-level trims. While this was less than rivals like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, it was comparable to the Mazda CX-5. The Escape prioritized passenger space, offering ample headroom and legroom for second-row passengers, along with numerous storage compartments for real-world use.

The 2021 Kia Seltos excelled in cargo space, providing 26.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and expanding to 62.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. This made it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs, surpassing some compact models. The SX Turbo trim included a hard cargo cover that doubled as a tray for small items. The Seltos offered generous rear-seat space, with ample head- and legroom, a rarity among subcompact SUVs. It featured numerous cubbies and compartments for storage, enhancing its practicality.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim featured a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, which stood out due to the floating screen design. The SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, offering multitasking capabilities. The Titanium trim included a head-up display (HUD) with a flip-up screen, which was less effective for taller drivers. Despite this, the Escape's tech offerings were generally user-friendly and functional.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the base S trim, while the SX Turbo featured a Bose premium sound system and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The large screen allowed for simultaneous display of Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and additional data. However, plugging in a smartphone via USB defaulted to the phone's audio output, which could be inconvenient. Only one of the two USB ports allowed data connection, with the other serving as a power source. Despite these quirks, Kia's infotainment system was intuitive, with helpful hard buttons for easy navigation.

The 2020 Ford Escape included a comprehensive array of safety features, such as front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. It earned a Good rating from the IIHS in all testing phases. The Escape also came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, offering advanced safety systems like forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor.

The 2021 Kia Seltos provided standard safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. All trims except the base LX included driver-assistance features like forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX trim offered adaptive cruise control with idle stop-and-go and cyclist detection. The Seltos also featured an alert for when a vehicle in front has moved, preventing potential delays at stoplights.