2023 Ford Escape vs 2024 Kia Seltos

The 2023 Ford Escape showcased a departure from its earlier rugged, boxy design, embracing a more European aesthetic. The refresh included a more traditional front end with a stylish LED light bar and the Ford blue oval logo. The ST-Line Elite trim we tested featured 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps, giving it an upscale look akin to a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the diamond-stitched leather upholstery looked premium but felt hard and plasticky. Despite the abundance of plastic materials, the seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat made long drives pleasant.

In contrast, the 2024 Kia Seltos received minor but impactful updates, including new headlight and grille designs and a light strip connecting the taillights. Our test model in “Pluton Blue” paint looked sharp. Inside, the Seltos featured a large digital panel spanning two-thirds of the dash, combining a fully digital instrument panel and a larger touchscreen infotainment system. The standard black interior was complemented by new color options like “Gentle Brown” and “Midnight Green.” The Seltos offered a range of trims, each adding more features, with the SX trim providing the most luxurious options, including a Bose premium stereo system and a power sunroof.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine could be configured with either FWD or AWD. Higher trims like the ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. Despite its power, the Escape’s suspension remained soft, prioritizing comfort over performance. The brakes were predictable and linear, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors.

The 2024 Kia Seltos came with a base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). The base LX trim included AWD, while the S and EX offered FWD with optional AWD. The X-Line and SX trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, mated to a new eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup provided noticeable acceleration improvements, especially in the 40-to-60 mph range. The Seltos handled various road conditions well, with responsive steering and minimal body roll. The brakes felt touchy initially but settled down over time. With 7.3 inches of ground clearance, the Seltos was capable of light off-road adventures.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered comfortable seating with excellent ergonomics. The front-door armrests were well-positioned, and the head-up display was easy to adjust. However, the Escape fell short in cargo space, providing up to 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. Passenger space was adequate, with good headroom and padded front-seat backs, but rear-seat legroom was slightly less than some competitors.

The 2024 Kia Seltos provided up to 62.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 26.6 cubic feet with the seats in use. The SX trim offered a hands-free power liftgate. The Seltos featured an upright seating position with ample headroom and rear legroom, accommodating taller occupants comfortably. The front seating area included decently sized in-door cupholders and cubbies, while the center console had a small tray for essentials. The SX trim also came with a removable cargo cover.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 technology. Lower trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims like the ST-Line Elite and Platinum came with a 13.2-inch screen. Sync 4 was well-organized, with easy navigation between Android Auto and the native system. However, the system was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob placement was inconvenient.

The 2024 Kia Seltos featured a consistent digital bezel across trims, with screen sizes varying. The base system included an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster. Higher trims upgraded to a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel and touchscreen. The system was responsive and included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SX trim featured an eight-speaker Bose premium stereo system and Digital Key 2 Touch for smartphone-based access.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal- and side-crash tests. However, it received a Marginal score in the IIHS side-impact test. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The Co-Pilot360 2.0 package added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and a surround-view camera.

The 2024 Kia Seltos came with standard driver assistance features like forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and driver attention warning. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Warning. The SX trim included smart cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and highway driving assist, enhancing safety and convenience.