2021 Ford Escape vs 2021 Kia Seltos

The 2021 Kia Seltos, despite being a subcompact SUV, offered a surprisingly big-car feel. Its upright design provided a commanding view of the road, and while the headlight design was somewhat busy, it complemented the grille styling well. The lower front bumper had an aggressive approach angle, hinting at off-road capabilities, even though the Seltos wasn't designed for such adventures. The two-tone roof design and red circles around the wheel centers added to its on-road driving dynamics. Inside, the Seltos featured a straightforward design with clean lines and seamlessly integrated tech, reminiscent of more upscale brands. The interior boasted a clean LCD screen for climate controls and a sporty yet utilitarian feel.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Escape straddled the line between SUV and hatchback, with a curved snout and sleek roofline that gave it a less truck-like appearance compared to rivals like the Honda CR-V. The Escape's design was more generic than some competitors, but it offered new appearance packages for 2021. Inside, the Escape's design choices were less cohesive, with an angular instrument cluster that didn't quite match the exterior. Interior materials felt low-rent, and even the top Titanium model lacked standard leather upholstery. However, the Escape did offer ambient lighting and dual-zone automatic climate control at higher trim levels.

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. While adequate for city driving, it struggled at higher speeds. The S Turbo and SX Turbo trims offered a more powerful 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard AWD. This engine provided ample power for quick acceleration and highway maneuvers. The Seltos also featured a Drive Mode dial with Normal, Sport, and Smart modes, enhancing throttle response and steering feel.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered a range of powertrains, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. An optional 2.0-liter turbo-four engine delivered 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The Escape also had hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, both using a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, producing 200 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid offered significant electric-only driving range. However, the Escape's chassis tuning left much to be desired, with sloppy suspension and steering making it less enjoyable to drive. The 2.0-liter engine models could tow up to 3,500 pounds with the optional Trailer Tow Package.

The 2021 Kia Seltos provided impressive cargo space for a subcompact SUV, with 26.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 62.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. It featured numerous storage compartments and ample rear-seat space, offering plenty of head- and legroom. The SX Turbo trim included a hard cargo cover that doubled as a tray for small items.

The 2021 Ford Escape, despite its car-like styling, offered competitive interior space. It featured a sliding rear seat that could be adjusted for more legroom or cargo space. Non-hybrid models provided 40.7 inches of rear legroom, while hybrid models had slightly less due to battery placement. Cargo space varied, with gasoline models offering 33.5 cubic feet with the rear seat up and 65.4 cubic feet with the seat folded. Hybrid models had slightly less cargo space. While the Escape offered decent space, some competitors provided more.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the base S trim, while the SX Turbo featured a Bose premium sound system and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system was intuitive, with helpful home and hard buttons for easy navigation. However, only one of the two USB ports allowed data connection, which could be frustrating.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with a 4.2-inch touchscreen on the base S model. Upgrading to the SE trim provided an 8-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability. The Titanium trim added a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. While Sync 3 was user-friendly, the Escape lacked some standard tech features and didn't offer wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The 2021 Kia Seltos included standard front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Most trims offered a suite of driver-assistance features, including forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring, while the SX trim included adaptive cruise control and cyclist detection.

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 forward collision warning. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and park assist.