2023 Ford Escape vs 2024 Kia Seltos

The 2023 Ford Escape presented a departure from its earlier, more rugged design, embracing a European-inspired aesthetic. This refresh included a more traditional front end with a central Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar, replacing the previous grille design. Despite its sleek appearance, the Escape maintained a compact size within Ford's SUV lineup, offering a range of trims from Active to ST-Line Elite. The ST-Line Elite model featured 19-inch wheels and body-colour accents, giving it an upscale look akin to a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the Escape's diamond-stitched leather upholstery looked appealing but felt somewhat hard, though the seats were comfortable for long drives.

In contrast, the 2024 Kia Seltos underwent a mid-cycle refresh with subtle exterior updates, including new headlight and grille designs and a connecting light strip between the taillights. The test model in "Pluton Blue" paint added a sharp touch. Inside, the Seltos introduced a large digital panel spanning two-thirds of the dash, enhancing the cabin's modern feel. The Seltos offered a range of trims, from the base LX to the top-tier X-Line, each with varying features. The interior boasted a new Gentle Brown colour option, while the standard black interior provided a practical and stylish environment. The Seltos's upright seating position and ample headroom contributed to excellent driver visibility and rear legroom, making it a comfortable choice for taller occupants.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine was available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, providing competitive performance within its segment. Higher trims, such as the ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite, featured a more powerful 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, exclusively with all-wheel drive. While the Escape's suspension was soft and compliant, it excelled in providing a comfortable ride on rough roads, and its steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors.

The 2024 Kia Seltos came with a base 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine generating 146 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with Kia's Intelligent Variable Transmission. The SX and X-Line trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 195 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup provided noticeable improvements in acceleration, especially in 60 to 100 km/h situations. The Seltos handled various road surfaces well, with responsive steering and minimal body roll. The brakes initially felt touchy but settled down over time, and the Seltos's 18 cm ground clearance made it suitable for light off-road adventures.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered a comfortable interior with supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel, though plain in appearance, felt good to hold, and the armrests were well-positioned. The Escape's cargo space was slightly smaller than some competitors, with 1,061 litres behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the seats folded. While passenger space was adequate, rear-seat legroom was slightly less than some rivals, though headroom was impressive.

The 2024 Kia Seltos provided up to 1,778 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 753 litres with them in use. A hands-free power liftgate was standard from the EX Premium trim. The Seltos's upright seating position and ample headroom contributed to excellent driver visibility and rear legroom, accommodating taller occupants comfortably. The front seating area featured decently sized in-door cupholders and cubbies, while the centre console offered a practical open design for storing essentials.

The 2023 Ford Escape featured the Sync 4 infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a larger 13.2-inch screen on higher trims like the ST-Line Elite and Platinum. The system was well-organized, with easy navigation between features like Android Auto and the native navigation system. A wi-fi hotspot was available with a subscription, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system was optional on higher trims. While Sync 4 was generally user-friendly, it was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was less convenient.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered a consistent digital bezel across trims, with an 8-inch touchscreen on base models and a 10.25-inch screen on upper trims. The infotainment system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a logical layout and responsive performance. The Seltos retained tactile controls for volume and climate settings, enhancing usability. The SX and X-Line trims featured an upgraded eight-speaker Bose stereo system, and the Seltos was available with 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, the IIHS did not award it a Top Safety Pick designation due to a Marginal score in the updated side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including features like 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 Seltos included standard driver assistance features such as forward collision avoidance, lane keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims like the EX Premium added smart adaptive cruise control and highway driving assist. The SX trim included traffic sign recognition and a junction-turning function for forward collision warning. The Seltos also featured a drive-away warning to alert distracted drivers when traffic moves.