2023 Kia Telluride vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line and X-Pro models showcased a refreshed design with updated front and rear styling, new headlights, taillights, and wheel designs. The SUV offered new paint colors like Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green, along with interior color options such as Terracotta, Navy, and Sage Green. The X-Line model replaced the Nightfall Edition, featuring a raised suspension, unique grille design, and black 20-inch wheels, while the X-Pro model added exclusive 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, enhancing its off-road appeal. Inside, the Telluride boasted a digital instrumentation panel and a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed under a curved 24-inch glass, giving the interior a modern touch. Other interior updates included new colors, minor trim changes, and a redesigned steering wheel, with embossed trim names on the front seatbacks of the X-Line and X-Pro models.

The 2023 Ford Escape embraced a more European design language, moving away from the blocky exterior of its predecessors. A 2023 refresh introduced a traditional front end with a Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. The Escape offered various trim levels, with the ST-Line Elite model featuring 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the ST-Line Elite flaunted diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, with a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat, and the interior featured a mix of plastic materials, some with a nice textured appearance. The Escape's soft suspension provided a comfortable ride on rough roads, and the steering inputs were well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness found in some competitors.

The 2023 Kia Telluride retained its mechanical prowess with a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow, with an AWD system featuring a low-speed Lock setting for power distribution. The Telluride X-Line averaged 24.1 mpg, while the X-Pro returned 20.4 mpg, with official EPA ratings at 21 mpg combined for AWD models. The X-Line and X-Pro models had raised suspensions, improved ground clearance, and enhanced off-road capabilities, with the X-Pro offering a towing capacity of 5,500 pounds. The Telluride excelled in off-road conditions, showcasing its AWD Lock mode, all-terrain tires, and stability on slopes. On highways, it provided a smooth and quiet ride, with some wind noise at higher speeds.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered two engine options: a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the three-cylinder available in FWD or AWD, and the four-cylinder exclusively in AWD. The Escape's suspension was soft and compliant, providing a comfortable ride, though it lacked performance tuning. The brakes offered predictable stopping power, and the steering inputs were well-weighted, avoiding over-boosting common in the segment. The Escape's powertrains provided adequate acceleration and passing capabilities, though it wasn't a performance crossover.

The 2023 Kia Telluride accommodated seven or eight passengers, with premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain's chairs in the SX Prestige trim. The interior offered ample space, with a power lumbar stabilization system for long trips. The second-row seats featured manual sunshades, USB ports, and storage pockets, while the third-row was more comfortable than many competitors. The Telluride provided generous storage space, with a smart power tailgate and 87 cubic feet of cargo space with both rear rows folded.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered comfortable seating with excellent ergonomics, though it fell short in cargo space compared to segment leaders. It provided 37.5 cubic feet of storage behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. Passenger space was slightly less than competitors, but the back seat offered good headroom and padded front-seat backs. The Escape's interior featured well-positioned armrests and a head-up display, enhancing driver comfort.

The 2023 Kia Telluride came standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, navigation, and Kia Connect services. The system supported voice recognition, though climate control adjustments required manual input. The Kia Access app allowed remote control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, with OTA updates and dual Bluetooth device pairing. The Telluride included Driver Talk and Quiet Mode, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, wireless charging, and digital-key technology. A Full Display Mirror and a larger head-up display were available, along with a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system.

The 2023 Ford Escape featured Sync 4 technology, with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look, with well-organized tiles for navigation, music, and Bluetooth pairing. Sync 4 was easy to navigate, though it was occasionally slow to respond. The system included a static "Home" button for easy access to various applications. Despite minor annoyances, the Escape's tech features were impressive and user-friendly.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and a new junction turning system. It also included blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Telluride featured adaptive cruise control with curve speed reduction, Highway Drive Assist 1.5, and optional Highway Drive Assist 2.0 with Lane Change Assist. Additional safety features included front parking sensors, a surround-view camera, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of review.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal- and side-crash tests. However, the IIHS did not grant it a Top Safety Pick designation due to a Marginal score in the side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and lane-centering technology, along with a surround-view camera.