2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid was built on the N3 platform, shared with the larger Kia Sorento, resulting in a size increase over the 2022 model. It was 7.1 inches longer with a 3.4-inch longer wheelbase, enhancing rear-seat legroom. The new Sportage was also about an inch taller and half an inch wider than its predecessor. The styling took bold risks, featuring a radically designed front end with angular LED headlights and “boomerang” LED daytime running lights, creating a distinctive appearance. The interior was centered around a large optional infotainment display, with a clean, minimalist design. However, the SynTex artificial leather upholstery felt somewhat cheap, despite being promoted as an “animal free” alternative.

The 2023 Ford Escape adopted a more European design language, moving away from the blocky exterior of its predecessors. A 2023 refresh introduced a traditional front end with the Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. The Escape offered various trim levels, with the ST-Line Elite featuring 19-inch wheels and a sleek design. Inside, the ST-Line Elite boasted diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat was easy to customize. The interior had a lot of plastic, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid featured a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor, producing 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The base LX trim offered standard front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive, while the EX and SX-Prestige were AWD-only. The powertrain delivered smooth and predictable acceleration, with seamless transitions between electric and gasoline power. The Sportage Hybrid had a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 pounds, 500 pounds less than the non-hybrid version.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options. The 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine produced 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. The Escape’s suspension was soft and compliant, and the brakes provided predictable stopping power. The steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness found in some competitors.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid had slightly less headroom and cargo space than the non-hybrid version but remained competitive. It offered more front-seat headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 hybrids, though less for second-row passengers. The dual-level cargo floor provided flexibility, with 39.5 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up and 73.7 cubic feet with them folded. The Sportage Hybrid featured a rotary shift knob, large bin for phones, and clever cupholders.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided comfortable seating and excellent ergonomics. The cargo space was 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with it folded, falling short of some competitors. Passenger space was slightly less than rivals, but the back seat offered good headroom. The front-seat backs were padded and scalloped to maximize space for tall passengers.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid came with an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The EX model had a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the SX-Prestige featured a panoramic display. The panoramic display was visually impressive and user-friendly, with touch controls below the screen. Hybrid models included four USB-C ports, with additional ports and wireless charging available on higher trims.

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, and Sync 4 was well-organized with easy navigation. Despite minor annoyances like slow response and inconvenient volume knob placement, the system offered a comprehensive feature set.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid lacked crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA at the time of testing. It included standard forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and more. The SX-Prestige trim added advanced features like adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but did not earn a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS due to a Marginal side-impact test score. It came with Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology.