2022 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2022 Kia Sportage showcased Kia's signature tiger-nose grille, albeit in a more polarizing form compared to other models like the Stinger and Sorento. The grille was positioned under large headlights and above a chrome trim that stretched between the bumper’s squared-off cheeks, resembling a Halloween party fake mustache. Despite this, every other design element of the Sportage was spot-on. The four-dot running light signature had a Porsche Macan-like vibe, while the harmonious back door shut line and rear fascia seam felt reminiscent of Volkswagen's design prowess. With its 19-inch wheels at the corners, the Sportage had commendable proportions and a grounded stance.

Inside, Kia employed Germanic design principles. The Sportage’s black dashboard with sleek metallic accents, straightforward instrumentation, and metal pedal covers on the SX Turbo evoked an upscale, high-contrast aesthetic. Available in black, gray, and beige, the interior exuded richness. Button and knob controls dominated, making adjustments for the stereo, cabin temperature, and infotainment system intuitive and user-friendly. Each drive conveyed a sense of quality, particularly from the solid and fluid transmission shifter.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape had shifted from its earlier blocky design to a more European aesthetic. The 2023 refresh replaced the previous grille, likened to a smiling goldfish, with a traditional front end featuring a centered Ford logo and a stylish LED light bar. This new design, particularly on the ST-Line Elite trim, enjoyed an upscale appeal akin to the Mazda CX-5. While not rugged, it was elegant with 19-inch wheels, body-colored mirror caps, and sleek wheel-arch cladding.

Inside, the Escape ST-Line Elite flaunted diamond-stitched leather upholstery that, while visually appealing, felt hard and plasticky. Though some interior plastics were scratchy and poorly reinforced, the seats were plush, especially the 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat. The back provided substantial headroom and innovatively scalloped front-seat backs to enhance legroom, ensuring comfort for tall passengers.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came in two engine variants. Most models had a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine pumping out 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission delivering power to the front wheels. An optional AWD was available, featuring a locking center differential for balanced power distribution at low speeds. The standout was the SX Turbo model, which sported a robust 240 hp (237 hp with AWD) and 260 lb-ft of torque, offering impressive acceleration, particularly advantageous for high-altitude regions like Denver.

The Sportage's ride mimicked the larger Kia Telluride: smooth and compliant, with a hint of body roll. MacPherson strut front suspension and independent multi-link rear suspension with high-performance dampers contributed to its polished driving character. However, the SX Turbo had larger brakes, exclusive 19-inch wheels, and higher performance dampers making it sportier and more agile, though not quite at the level of competitors like the Mazda CX-5 Turbo.

The 2023 Ford Escape came with more powertrain options. The 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine delivered 180 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in both FWD and AWD. The higher trims, like the ST-Line Elite, boasted a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing an impressive 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque.

Despite these figures, the Escape stopped short of being a performance crossover. The suspension was more geared towards comfort, while the transmission lacked sportier tunes or paddle shifters, limiting driver control over upshifts and downshifts. However, braking was predictably linear, and the steering, while a bit vague, was well-weighted, suitable for maneuvering New England’s potholes with ease.

In terms of interior space, the 2022 Kia Sportage was deceptively roomy despite its smaller size in the compact crossover segment. The SX Turbo trim offered perforated leather seats with stitching and piping, featuring ten-way power adjustments for the driver and eight-way for the front passenger. Added to this were heating, ventilation, and a heated flat-bottom steering wheel. Rear seating was generously spacious, featuring air conditioning vents and a USB port for additional comfort.

Cargo space in the Sportage was decent but not leading the segment. It offered 30.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 60.1 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded down. Moreover, the SUV included Kia’s smart liftgate technology for hands-free access, although not always practical in every scenario.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided slightly better cargo space compared to the Sportage, offering 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 65.4 cubic feet with them folded. Though it didn't surpass segment leaders like the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4, the Escape was sufficient for daily needs and moderately tight on move-in days.

Passenger comfort in the Escape was also commendable. Front-door and center console armrests were well-positioned, enhancing ergonomics, while the back seats offered ample headroom. However, its rear legroom was a tad less than that of its competitors, partially mitigated by the innovatively designed front-seat backs.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with the higher trims adding UVO Link services and satellite radio. The SX Turbo featured an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system and wireless smartphone charging. While user-friendly, the system’s 8-inch screen felt small, lacked a WiFi hotspot, and had inconsistent voice recognition.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered more modern tech, particularly with its Sync 4 system. Lower trims had an 8-inch screen, but the standout feature was the optional 13.2-inch touchscreen standard in higher trims like ST-Line Elite and Platinum. The system was organized into tiles, integrating navigation, music, and Bluetooth efficiently, and included a static “Home” button for easy navigation. While some inputs were slow and the volume knob awkwardly placed, Sync 4 was overall impressive in terms of features and usability.

The 2022 Kia Sportage provided a suite of safety features across all trims, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and driver monitoring. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning were available with higher trims or packages. The SX Turbo version also had adaptive cruise control.

In safety ratings, the Sportage performed well, with excellent ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, although only the SX Turbo’s headlights were deemed acceptable, earning it the IIHS Top Safety Pick title.

The 2023 Ford Escape also impressed with its safety features. The NHTSA gave it a 5-star overall rating, although the IIHS withheld Top Safety Pick status due to a Marginal side-impact test rating. However, it scored “Good” in all other IIHS tests.

The Escape included Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite offering comprehensive safety tech, such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and lane-centering, enhancing semi-autonomous driving capabilities.