2023 Ford Escape vs 2022 Kia EV6

The 2022 Kia EV6 was a striking vehicle, exuding a sporty and svelte design reminiscent of a Ford Mustang Mach-E. Its lower and wider stance, combined with a highback tail featuring a lip spoiler doubling as a lightbar, gave it a unique visual appeal. The wheels were pushed to the furthest corners, creating a body with pronounced hips, similar to the wide fenders of a Porsche 911. The headlights, with their squinting, V-shaped pattern, added to the aggressive look, while the sealed air intake mimicked traditional gas cars. The EV6's profile was sharp and sleek, with an angled roofline and twin ducts in the rear spoiler, complemented by a smooth, silken finish in matte silver paint. The interior was equally impressive, featuring dual 12-inch screens, a floating centre console, and ambient lighting, all contributing to a futuristic yet driver-focused experience.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape adopted a more European design language, moving away from the rugged, boxy aesthetic of its predecessors. The refreshed front end featured a traditional grille with the Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. Despite being one of the smallest vehicles in Ford's lineup, the Escape managed to look upscale, especially in the ST-Line Elite trim with 19-inch wheels and body-colour mirror caps. Inside, the Escape offered diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, with a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat, but the interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced. Overall, the Escape's design was more about comfort and practicality than cutting-edge style.

The 2022 Kia EV6, particularly in the GT-Line e-AWD configuration, delivered an exhilarating performance with its dual electric motors producing 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. This setup allowed the EV6 to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a claimed 4.6 seconds, making it a thrilling drive. The car's handling was impressive, with torque being routed quickly and effectively, ensuring a smooth and powerful ride. The regenerative braking system offered more than eight settings, allowing for one-pedal driving in the maximum I-Pedal setting. However, the EV6's range was disappointing in cold weather, achieving only 65 percent of Kia's estimated 441-kilometre range. Charging was efficient, with the EV6 accepting up to 240 kW, but real-world charging times were longer than Kia's claims.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered a choice of two engines, with the ST-Line Elite trim featuring a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided comfortable acceleration and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD. However, the Escape was not a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and no paddle shifters for manual gear changes. The brakes were predictable and linear, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness found in some competitors. Overall, the Escape's performance was more about comfort and practicality than sporty driving dynamics.

The 2022 Kia EV6 offered innovative features like pop-out door handles, paddle shifters, and a rotary shifter. The climate controls were integrated with the stereo and shortcut controls in a thin touchscreen, which could be frustrating to use while driving. The interior provided generous legroom and headroom, with reclining rear seats and air vents. However, the cargo space was limited, with 690 litres behind the seats and 1,322 litres when folded. The EV6's towing capacity was 1,043 kilograms, and it featured an onboard power generator for 120-volt equipment.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided a comfortable interior with supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel felt great to hold, and the armrests were well-positioned. The Escape's cargo space was 1,061 litres behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the seats folded, which was adequate for daily use but not class-leading. Passenger space was slightly less than some competitors, but the back seat offered good headroom and soft, scalloped front-seat backs for added comfort.

The 2022 Kia EV6 featured a user-friendly infotainment system, though it required a wired connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The instrument panel displayed live feeds of blind spots, and the 360-degree cameras were sharp and clear. The head-up display used augmented reality for navigation, and the highest trim included a 14-speaker Meridian stereo and remote parking assist.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 system, featuring an optional 13.2-inch touchscreen that enhanced the cabin's look. The system was well-organized, with easy navigation between Android Auto and the native navigation system. A wi-fi hotspot was available, and the audio system could be upgraded to a Bang & Olufsen setup. However, Sync 4 was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient.

The 2022 Kia EV6 lacked published test results but offered impressive safety tech, including forward collision avoidance, lane keep assist, and blind spot monitoring on higher trims.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it scored Marginal in the IIHS's side-impact test. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera.