2024 Hyundai Tucson vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Ford Escape veered away from its rugged, boxy roots, embracing a more European design language. The refresh for this model replaced its quirky, smiling grille with a more traditional, stylish front end, enhanced by the Ford blue oval logo and a sleek LED light bar. Available in several trims – Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite – the 2023 Escape aimed to offer something for everyone. The top-trim ST-Line Elite transformed the vehicle aesthetically with 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps and cladding, giving it a sophisticated, upscale appearance similar to a Mazda CX-5.

Inside, the ST-Line Elite displayed a combination of diamond-stitched leather upholstery, which looked upscale but felt plasticky, and comfortable, softly-padded seats adjustable in ten ways. However, the presence of cheap-feeling plastic, particularly in the center console, detracted slightly from the cabin’s luxury feel.

Contrastingly, the 2024 Hyundai Tucson carried forward the bold and unique styling introduced in 2022, blending taut angles and a remarkably clean headlight integration with the grille. Even in traditionally unflattering white, this crossover presented an athletic and contemporary look, distinguishing it from competitors. Trim levels included SE, SEL, XRT, and Limited, each offering increasingly premium features such as black alloy wheels, side steps, roof racks, and dark chrome grilles.

Inside, the Tucson's design was modern and refined, yet approachable. Missing a conventional volume dial, the touch-capacitive buttons and toggle on the steering wheel took some getting used to, but thoughtful control placement near the shifter and cupholders scored points for practicality. Higher trims offered ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a Bose premium stereo system, making the Tucson feel well-rounded and premium.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided multiple powertrain options to suit various preferences. Its 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, could be paired with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, available on higher trims, generated a robust 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with all-wheel drive. Both engines employed an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the 2.0-liter engine made the Escape confident in acceleration and highway passing, its suspension stayed soft and unassuming, keeping the handling smooth but lacking true performance tuning.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson offered one standard non-hybrid powertrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive, the engine was adequate for city driving but strained at higher speeds. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants provided greater power and efficiency, albeit with a slightly less intuitive button-style shifter.

However, the Tucson excelled in ride quality and handling. Its suspension effectively absorbed road imperfections, offering a comfortable daily commute or long trip experience. The steering was well-weighted and precise, making the Tucson enjoyable in corners. Though not as athletic as a Mazda CX-5, the Tucson’s balanced dynamics ensured a composed ride.

The 2023 Ford Escape's interior promised comfort with supportive seats and good ergonomics. However, it lagged behind competitors in cargo space, offering 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This contrast was noticeable when compared to more spacious options like the Honda CR-V and the Hyundai Tucson. Passenger space was adequate, with the back seat's headroom notably good, though legroom fell slightly short.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson shined in cargo capacity, boasting up to 38.7 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats and 74.8 cubic feet with them folded. Only the Honda CR-V surpassed these figures. Features like a hands-free power liftgate (from SEL trim and above) added convenience, and the smart liftgate technology required no foot-waving, simply sensing the key fob’s presence to open.

Passenger accommodation in the Tucson was generous, with ample headroom and legroom in both rows, comfortably seating four adults for longer trips. Additionally, the numerous deep cup holders and a thoughtfully designed center tray with wireless device charging enhanced functionality.

The Ford Escape, equipped with the Sync 4 system, impressed with an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, upgradable to a larger 13.2-inch display on higher trims. The 13.2-inch screen significantly upgraded the cabin's look and was user-friendly, featuring easy navigation between applications and built-in navigation that mimicked Google Maps. Minor downsides included occasional lag and the inconvenient positioning of the volume knob.

The Hyundai Tucson offered a standard 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which was straightforward and well-designed. Higher trims added a fully digital instrument panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen, albeit losing wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The haptic buttons were glove-friendly and functional, even though traditionalists might miss the physical dials.

The 2023 Ford Escape earned a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) but fell short of the Top Safety Pick designation by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), receiving a Marginal score in the updated side-impact test. The standard Co-Pilot360 suite included comprehensive safety features like forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Upgrading to Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and enhanced lane-centering assistance.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson also offered extensive standard safety features, including pedestrian and cyclist detection and adaptive cruise control. The Limited trim added parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, and the Smart Park feature. The Tucson secured a best overall rating of "Good" for most IIHS crash tests and scored "Superior" for crash prevention technology. NHTSA awarded it five stars in the frontal crash test and four stars in the rollover test.