Kia Sportage vs. Ford Escape

The Escape sports a length of 180.1 inches from the front to the rear axles, but the Sportage stretches farther. The Kia’s length of 183.5 inches makes it a more spacious vehicle, so drivers and passengers of all sizes will be comfortable.

The difference in their wheelbases will be felt in how each one handles. The Escape’s wheelbase measures 106.7 inches, while the Sportage has a 108.5-inch wheelbase. Why does this matter? A larger wheelbase means there’s more time between the front and rear wheels coming in contact with any bumps or dips in the road for smoother handling. Plus, it helps the Sportage experience greater stability when maneuvering corners.

Since you may be traveling with friends or family, the dimensions in the second row become important. Riders in the rear seats will find slightly more room in the Kia Sportage, most notably when it comes to legroom.

The Sportage provides 41.3 inches of rear legroom compared to 40.7 inches in the Escape. So, passengers in the Kia will be able to stretch out and be more comfortable, especially during family vacations or weekend road trips.

Perhaps the most notable interior size difference, though, is found in cargo volume. When all seats are occupied, the Kia provides 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space compared to 37.5 cubic feet in the Ford. If you’re transporting more gear than people, put down the back seats for up to 65.4 cubic feet in the Escape. The Sportage far exceeds this amount by providing a maximum of 74.1 cubic feet of cargo room.

The Kia Sportage and the Ford Escape share a number of similarities when it comes to their drivetrains. Both models are Front-Wheel Drive and offer available All-Wheel Drive.

They both also provide standard multiple Drive Modes so you can fine-tune your vehicle’s performance and handling to your situation or road conditions.

Of course, one of the surest ways to know what you can expect on the road is by looking under the hood. Although both models equip an 8-speed automatic transmission, there are a few notable differences.

The base trim of the Ford Escape has a 1.5L 3-cylinder motor that yields 180 horsepower. Meanwhile, the Kia Sportage ups the ante, with a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine that generates 187 horsepower.

How does this translate into pulling power? With its standard engine, the Escape can tow 2,000 pounds. While that's impressive, the Sportage goes beyond one better—more like 500 pounds better—with its 2,500-pound towing capacity.

Finding connection is so, so important—even when you step behind the wheel. These similar standard features will be at your fingertips in either the Sportage or the Escape:

• Android Auto™ / Apple CarPlay®
• Bluetooth® wireless technology
• 8-inch touchscreen display

So, whether you’re running late or plan to stop to pick up dinner for the family after work, you can easily connect to your loved ones at home in both the Kia and the Ford.

However, only the Kia Sportage comes standard with a 12.2-inch instrument display compared to the 8-inch display in the Escape. If you want a larger display equal to that found in the Sportage, you’ll have to upgrade to a higher trim.

Both SUVs offer premium sound—available Harman Kardon® Premium Surround Sound in the Sportage and an available B&O® Sound System by Bang & Olufsen® in the Escape.

However, only the system in the Sportage offers HALOsonic®. This suite of technologies solves acoustic challenges within vehicles, including Road Noise Cancellation, Electronic Sound Synthesis, and more. So, if you want to fully enjoy your music as intended, the Sportage provides.