2021 Genesis GV80 vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2021 Genesis GV80, as a new entrant in the SUV market, offered a fresh design perspective unburdened by a long legacy. This allowed Genesis to innovate and establish its signature look, characterized by a massive trapezoidal grille, Quad Lamp LED headlights, and elegant two-box design. The GV80's exterior was marked by its long hood, short front overhang, and large wheel arches, which housed 19-inch to 22-inch wheels. The rear design echoed the front with Quad Lamp taillights and twin trapezoidal tailpipes. Inside, the GV80 boasted a luxurious and uncluttered interior, featuring a sleek dashboard, a 14.5-inch widescreen display, and high-quality materials like real wood, metal, and leather.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Escape presented a more generic design, straddling the line between SUV and hatchback. Its curved snout and sleek roofline gave it a less truck-like appearance compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The Escape offered new appearance packages for its SE, SEL, and Titanium trims, enhancing its visual appeal with features like 19-inch alloy wheels and leather-wrapped steering wheels. However, the interior design lacked cohesion, with low-rent materials and odd design choices, such as an angular instrument cluster. Despite these shortcomings, the Escape provided a practical and spacious interior, especially with its sliding rear seat.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. The V6 models came standard with all-wheel drive, while the four-cylinder models had rear-wheel drive with optional AWD. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The GV80's ride was enhanced by features like electronically-controlled suspension and an electronic limited-slip differential on the 3.5T models. Fuel economy for the 2.5T was 21 mpg city/25 mpg highway with RWD, while the 3.5T AWD achieved 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered a range of powertrains, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 181 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque, and a 2.0-liter turbo-four producing 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the 2.0-liter engine available only with AWD. The Escape also offered hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, both using a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, delivering a total output of 200 hp. The plug-in hybrid's larger battery allowed for significant electric-only driving. The Escape's towing capacity reached 3,500 pounds with the 2.0-liter engine, but the hybrid models lacked specific towing figures.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 featured a sophisticated interior with advanced technology and ergonomic design. The center console housed a rotary gear selector and a multimedia controller with dual control capability. The HVAC control panel used capacitive touch buttons with intelligent masking to prevent accidental misuse. The GV80's second row was spacious, with available power seats and window shades. A third row was standard on 3.5T AWD Advanced+ models, increasing passenger capacity to seven, though it was not available on other trims.

The 2021 Ford Escape, despite its car-like styling, offered competitive interior space for a compact SUV. It featured a standard sliding rear seat, providing 40.7 inches of rear legroom in non-hybrid models. However, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had reduced legroom due to battery placement. Cargo space varied, with gasoline models offering 33.5 cubic feet with the rear seat up, expandable to 65.4 cubic feet with the seat folded. Hybrid models had slightly less cargo space. While the Escape's cargo capacity was decent, competitors like the Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester offered more.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 was equipped with the sixth-generation Genesis UX infotainment system, featuring a 14.5-inch HD screen with split-screen displays. It supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with over-the-air updates and cloud profiles for personalized settings. Android users could utilize a digital key function, while Genesis Connected Services offered features like remote start and vehicle health reports. A head-up display and a 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument cluster were available on higher trims, along with a premium Lexicon audio system.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with base models featuring a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot were standard. Upgrading to the SE trim added an 8-inch touchscreen and SiriusXM radio, while the Titanium trim offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a Bang & Olufsen sound system. While Sync 3 was user-friendly, the Escape lacked some of the advanced tech features found in competitors, such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but Genesis aimed for top safety ratings. It came with 10 airbags, including a front-center airbag, and a suite of safety features like blind-spot collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, and forward collision-avoidance assist. The GV80 also offered adaptive cruise control with machine learning and highway-driving assist, along with Remote Smart Parking Assist for automated parking.

The 2021 Ford Escape received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and park assist. However, the Escape's headlights received mixed ratings, depending on the trim level.