2024 Kia EV9 vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Ford Escape presented a departure from its earlier, more rugged design, embracing a European-inspired aesthetic. This model featured a refreshed front end with a traditional grille and a stylish LED light bar, giving it a more upscale appearance akin to a Mazda CX-5. Despite its sleek design, the Escape remained the smallest SUV in Ford's lineup, offering a range of trims from Active to ST-Line Elite. Inside, the ST-Line Elite trim showcased diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt somewhat hard and plasticky. The interior was comfortable for long drives, with a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat, but was dominated by plastic materials that felt cost-cutting.

The 2024 Kia EV9, meanwhile, introduced a bold new design for Kia's electric SUVs, with a blocky exterior and distinctive lighting signatures. The "Star Map" daytime running lights and the "Digital Tiger Face" grille added a futuristic touch, while the top Land trim featured a Digital Pattern Lighting Grille. The EV9's design was both modern and distinctly Kia, with a focus on innovative lighting and a digital aesthetic. The vehicle's interior was spacious, particularly in the third row, which offered ample headroom and legroom, making it a standout feature for an electric SUV. The EV9's cargo space was competitive, with a high and flat load floor for easy luggage retrieval.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque, available in both FWD and AWD. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a more powerful 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, exclusively with AWD. Despite its impressive output, the Escape's suspension was soft and compliant, prioritizing comfort over performance. The brakes provided predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness common in some competitors.

The 2024 Kia EV9 offered a range of powertrains, starting with the Light trim's single motor RWD setup, producing 215 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, with an electric range of 370 kilometres. The Wind model featured a larger battery for a range of 489 kilometres, though with slightly reduced horsepower. The top Land trim, with its dual-motor AWD system, delivered 379 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a range of up to 451 kilometres. The EV9's power delivery was smooth and refined, with good handling and minimal body roll. The regenerative braking system was adjustable, allowing for a natural feel comparable to gas-powered vehicles.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided comfortable seating with excellent ergonomics, though it fell short in cargo space compared to segment leaders. It offered up to 1,061 litres of storage behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the seats folded, making it suitable for daily use but potentially cramped for larger loads. Passenger space was adequate, with good headroom in the back, though rear-seat legroom was slightly less than some competitors.

The 2024 Kia EV9 stood out with its spacious third row, offering 1,004 millimetres of headroom and up to 813 millimetres of legroom, accommodating seven passengers with a second-row bench seat. Cargo space was generous, with 572 litres behind the third row, expandable to 2,313 litres with the front seats in place. The EV9's interior featured a high and flat load floor, enhancing practicality. Storage space in the front was limited, but second-row passengers enjoyed additional storage options in higher trims.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring an optional 13.2-inch touchscreen that enhanced the cabin's look. The system was well-organized, with easy navigation between applications like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A wi-fi hotspot was available with a subscription, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system was optional on higher trims. Despite minor annoyances like a slow response time and inconvenient volume knob placement, the tech features were user-friendly and attractive.

The 2024 Kia EV9 took technology to the next level with a three-screen curved display, including a 12.3-inch driver information display, a 5-inch Climate Display, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a wireless charging pad. Higher trims featured a 14-speaker Meridian Premium Audio system. The EV9's connectedness was noteworthy, with over-the-air updates allowing owners to purchase additional features from the Kia Connect store, offering a customizable and future-proof driving experience.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in most tests but a Marginal rating in the IIHS's updated side-impact test. Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite of driver assist features was standard, including 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.

The 2024 Kia EV9's safety features were comprehensive, with standard adaptive cruise control, blind-spot collision avoidance, and forward collision avoidance. The Blind-spot View Monitor and reverse parking collision avoidance assist were available on higher trims. While the EV9 had not yet been rated by North American safety organizations, it received the highest rating from Euro NCAP.