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 and taillights, and fresh wheel designs. The new paint colours, including Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green, added a vibrant touch, while the interior offered new hues like 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 boasted exclusive 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, enhancing its off-road appeal. Inside, the Telluride's updates were subtle, with a digital instrumentation panel and a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system under a curved 24-inch glass, pushing the SUV into a modern era. The interior changes included new colours, minor trim updates, a redesigned steering wheel, and a more functional centre console. The X-Line and X-Pro trims had their names embossed on the front seatbacks, adding a touch of exclusivity.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape embraced a more European design language, moving away from the blocky exterior of its predecessors. The refreshed model featured a traditional front end with a Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. As one of the smallest vehicles in Ford's lineup, the Escape offered a range of trim levels, including the ST-Line Elite, which we tested. The top-trim model sported 19-inch wheels, body-colour mirror caps, and wheel-arch cladding, giving it an upscale appearance akin to a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the ST-Line Elite flaunted diamond-stitched leather upholstery, which, while visually appealing, felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable and softly padded, making the Escape a pleasant vehicle for long drives. However, the interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced, detracting from the overall quality.

The 2023 Kia Telluride retained its 3.8-litre V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. It offered various 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 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres, while the X-Pro returned 11.5 L/100 km, including off-roading. The Telluride's suspension was raised by 10 mm, improving ground clearance to 21.3 mm, and it featured a new Downhill Brake Control system. The X-Pro model, equipped with 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, increased towing capacity to 2,495 kilograms. The Telluride excelled in off-road conditions, showcasing its AWD Lock mode, ground clearance, and stability. On highways, it offered a smooth ride, though the steering in Sport mode felt overly firm.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. Despite the four-cylinder's impressive output, the Escape's suspension remained soft, and the transmission lacked performance tuning. The brakes provided predictable stopping power, and the soft suspension was beneficial on rough roads. The steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors.

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. The interior offered ample space, with comfortable front seats and a power lumbar stabilization system. The second row featured manual sunshades, USB ports, and storage pockets. A button on the second-row seats facilitated access to the third row, which was more comfortable than many competitors. The Telluride provided generous storage space, with a smart power tailgate and an automatic closing function. Cargo volume was 601 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,304 litres with the third row folded, and 2,455 litres with both rear rows down.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered comfortable seating with excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel felt great to hold, and the armrests were well-positioned. The test vehicle included a head-up display, easily adjustable for different drivers. The Escape's cargo space was 1,061 litres behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the second row folded, falling short of segment leaders like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Passenger space was slightly less than competitors, but the back seat offered good headroom, and the front-seat backs were padded to maximize space for tall passengers.

The 2023 Kia Telluride featured a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and Kia Connect services. The voice recognition system performed well, though climate control adjustments required manual input. Over-the-air updates kept the system current, and Bluetooth supported pairing two devices simultaneously. The Telluride included Driver Talk and Quiet Mode, a wireless phone charger, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Digital-key technology allowed smartphones or smartwatches to function as keys. The Full Display rear-view mirror and a head-up display with a 10-inch viewing area were notable features. The Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system was a favourite, reminding drivers when traffic ahead moved.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 technology, featuring 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 between Android Auto and the native system. A wi-fi hotspot was available with a subscription. The system included a static "Home" button for easy access to the main hub. Sync 4 was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient, but the overall feature set and layout were impressive. A six-speaker sound system was standard, with a Bang & Olufsen system optional on higher trims.

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, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. The Safe Exit Assist system and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability were standard. Highway Drive Assist 1.5 provided semi-autonomous driving assistance, with Advanced Highway Drive Assist adding Lane Change Assist. The Telluride included automatic high-beam headlights, a driver attention warning system, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. The IIHS rated it as a Top Safety Pick+, though NHTSA ratings were unavailable.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, with five stars in frontal- and side-crash tests and four stars in the rollover test. The IIHS did not grant it a Top Safety Pick designation due to a Marginal score in the side-impact test. The Escape included Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, with forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and lane-centring technology, along with a surround-view camera.