2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Nissan Kicks

The 2020 Ford Escape was a very attractive compact crossover, sharing its large grille with the outgoing Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks. The headlights were inspired by the Ford GT supercar. The previous Escape had a more upright rear end, but the new curvaceous design came at a cost. Despite this, the Escape remained one of the best-looking small SUVs on the market, perhaps only behind the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee. Inside, the Escape revealed a fantastic, modern cabin with a fully digital instrument panel, floating infotainment screen, and an overall smooth, modern design.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks saw significant changes to its exterior, adopting a bolder design in line with the new face of the 2021 Nissan Armada and Rogue. The nose featured a deep V-motion design with a new “double V-motion” feature. Thinner, longer headlights extended most of the way down the face, and the top-tier Kicks SR trim level had LED multi-reflector headlights and standard LED fog lights. The rear of the Kicks had a new bumper, back door finisher, and LED taillight combination, giving it a real sense of proportion. The Kicks also offered new paint options and a two-tone paint job option, enhancing its upmarket look.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered four engine options, including a new 3-cylinder engine making 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, standard in the S, SE, and SEL trims. The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, available on the SEL and standard on the Titanium, made 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine was part of the hybrid drivetrain, making 198 horsepower. There was also a plug-in hybrid variant. The conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic, while the hybrids used a CVT. The Escape's most efficient version was the non-Sport hybrid, returning 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came with a single powertrain: a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine providing 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque, paired with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT and FWD. The Kicks featured electric power-assisted steering with vehicle-speed variable assist, making it nimble in various driving conditions. The SUV had a front independent strut stabilizer bar suspension with twist beam and twin-tube shock absorbers. The Kicks' fuel economy was rated at 31 mpg city, 36 highway, and 33 combined, making it one of the most fuel-efficient subcompact crossovers.

The 2020 Ford Escape had a sleeker design but sacrificed cargo space, offering 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the backseat down. Hybrid models had slightly less cargo space. The Escape emphasized passenger space, with plenty of headroom and legroom for second-row passengers and commanding seating positions for the front occupants. The interior had multiple storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and various trays and compartments.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks made the most of its small size with easy-to-reach buttons and knobs, good small-item storage, and multiple smartphone storage options. The Kicks had a D-shaped steering wheel, six-way adjustable driver’s seat, four-way adjustable front passenger seat, and 60/40 split-folding rear seat as standard. The Kicks offered best-in-class front seat legroom, though the hip room was more compartmentalized. The rear seats could comfortably fit adults, and the available tonneau cover provided hidden storage.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim had a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, while the SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync 3 screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Titanium trim featured a head-up display (HUD) with a flip-up screen, which was less effective for taller drivers. The latest version of Sync allowed for multi-tasking, enhancing the user experience.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks offered a 7-inch infotainment touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, three USB ports, keyless entry, push-button start, and Easy Fill Tire Alert as standard on the base model. The Kicks SV added Nissan Intelligent Key, automatic climate control, a 7-inch driver information screen, satellite radio, remote engine start, and a USB-C port. The Kicks SR Premium Package included a class-exclusive Bose Personal Plus sound system with eight speakers and a surround-view monitor.

The 2020 Ford Escape came with a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system (TPMS). It earned the best overall score of Good from the IIHS in all phases of testing. The Escape also came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. The Kicks had 10 airbags, a driver alertness monitor, and rear door alert as standard on the SV and SR trims. The 2020 Kicks received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, and the 2021 model was expected to perform similarly.