2021 Kia Sportage vs. 2021 Ford Escape

2021 Kia Sportage vs. 2021 Ford Escape: Which SUV is Right for Me?

Rochester is a fantastic location for cruising around in a comfortable and fashionable compact crossover to experience its picturesque outdoors. You'll need a crossover with elegance, a cozy interior, incredible mileage, generous cargo capacity, and amazing value.

The year 2021 brings a long list of SUV models to the market, with the 2021 Kia Sportage and 2021 Ford Escape on top. So how do you choose which crossover can get you the best bang for your buck? Our staff at Tom Kadlec Kia has provided a helpful comparison to make your decision more effortless than ever. Let's have a look.

Exterior Differences

When you look at the Sportage and Escape exteriors, you'll see that both cars give off an attractive vibe with stylish fronts. However, the Escape brandishes a tuner look, whereas the Kia sports more refined cues and elegant curves. The Escape is a little longer at 181.3 inches compared to Sportage, which is 176.4 inches long. It's also an inch wider than the Kia, which means that you may feel a bit of a squeeze when parking the Ford in tight spaces. Compared to the Ford Escape, the Kia Sportage has a coupe-like appearance that makes it compact and neat.

Ford offers S, SE, SEL, and Titanium trims for the Escape with a choice of eight to 10 metallic colors. Except for the basic S trim, the other three also have two electric trims — hybrid and plug-in hybrid. With so many different options available, it can get overwhelming to choose the perfect car with just the right options and color to complement your persona.

Kia has kept things simple by offering four trims for the Sportage. You can choose from LX, S, EX, and SX turbo configurations with a choice of six bright, eye-catching colors. The darker colors range from Pacific Blue, and Hyper Red, to Burnished Copper and Black Cherry. If you prefer lighter shades, you can choose Clear White, Sparkling Silver, or Steel Gray.

Both models have sleek bodywork with a sunroof and a shining black grille in some trims. However, Kia Sportage has a special nightfall edition on the S trim for the adventurers who want dark and menacing aesthetics on their Kia. Combined with its sporty design and butter-smooth handling, the Sportage can indulge your decadence every time you hit the road.

Performance Comparison

Power for the Kia Sportage comes from a tried and tested 2.4-liter inline-four gas-powered engine for the LX, S and, EX trims. It provides a steady 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The SX Turbo trim offers a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four for power drivers, which hurls out 240 horsepower and an incredible 260 pound-feet of torque for the FWD powertrain. Transferring all this power to its wheels is a reliable six-speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic overdrive.

Ford offers a 1.5-liter inline-three, 2.0-liter inline-four, or 2.5-liter inline-four engines for the Escape. The 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter turbocharged engines churn out 181 horsepower with 190 pound-feet of torque and 250 horsepower with 280 pound-feet of torque, respectively. The hybrid and plug-in hybrids come with a 2.5-liter inline-four rated at 221 horsepower. Transmission is either an eight-speed automatic or a CVT.

The average fuel efficiency for the Kia is 26 mpg, whereas Ford Escape has 30 mpg. However, the Kia Sportage has a bigger fuel tank that can hold 16.4 gallons of gas, while the Ford Escape falls behind with its 14.8-gallon fuel capacity. This means that your cruising range in the city for Kia is 377.2 miles and 492 miles on a highway, while the Ford can run for 361.1 miles in the city and 486.7 miles on highways before refueling.

The 2021 Kia Sportage can tow 2,000 lbs., while the Ford Escape can tow anywhere from1,500 lbs. to 3,500 lbs., depending on the configuration you choose.

Interior

Both models have seating for five people. The Sportage is a bit more compact with rear legroom of 38.2 inches and front legroom of 41.5 inches compared to the Escape's 40.7 inches and 42.4 inches, respectively. However, the Sportage offers wider seats with leather covering and power ventilation for that extra comfort. The 8-inch touch screen display in Kia comes bundled with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto technology. The basic Ford trim has a smaller 4.2-inch touch screen display without any smartphone mirroring tech.

The cargo volume of Kia Sportage is 60.1 cubic-feet, with enough room for all your fishing accessories when you are on weekend holidays. Ford Escape has a little more capacity of 65.4 cubic-feet. But a power liftgate at the back of Kia Sportage makes the hands-free loading of your luggage easier than ever. The Sportage also gives you additional useful features such as a windshield de-icer, power-heated external mirrors, automatic climate control, and auto diminishing warning lights for LPG systems.

Warranty Cover for Sportage and Escape

Kia is famous for its comprehensive warranty coverage and additional benefits, with four different types of warranties:

• 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty
• Five-year/ 60,000miles limited basic warranty
• Five-year/100,000mile limited anti-perforation warranty
• Five-year/60,000miles roadside assistance plan

The icing on the cake is that if you suffer from a breakdown more than 150 miles from your home, and there is a delay of more than 24 hours in repairs, we also provide reasonable reimbursement for meals, lodging, or rental car expenses.

On the other hand, Ford Escape only offers a five-year/60,000-mile warranty.

Which Car Should You Buy, Sportage or Escape?

To make your decision easier, we have provided a handy comparison for both models in tabular format:

Kia Sportage 2021 model by configurations:

 

 

 

 

The nightfall edition and nightfall premium edition are priced approximately at $43,550 to $48,855 if you can spare that extra wad of cash.

Ford Escape 2021 model by configurations:

 

 

 

 

As you can see from the tables, the base price for Kia Sportage is $24,090, while the Ford Escape is $24,885. However, Kia Sportage is bundled with a lot of value and an extensive warranty for that price. What's more, the price gap widens as you compare premium trims on both models. Add a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, and your best bet is the 2021 Kia Sportage. It'll serve you well when performance and a big show are your top priorities.

Explore our inventory below. If you have any questions, contact us or call 507-281-2222 for a test drive, or even drop in for a cuppa. Whether you decide to buy, finance, or lease, our friendly and helpful staff will guide you every step of the way!

Explore New Kia Sportage Inventory in Rochester, MN:

Why Choose Our Rochester Kia Dealership?

Serving southeastern Minnesota for over forty years, the Tom Kadlec automotive group values our community. We love giving back to multiple charitable organizations on a regular basis, but importantly, we love giving back to you, the customer. With competitive financing and leasing options on the latest Kia models, including this year's Sportage, we're confident you'll find the sleek SUV you want at a price you can afford.  

Complete this secure contact form or give us a call. We'll respond to your inquiry quickly.

Featured Sportage images via Kia Dot Com. Featured Ford image via Ford Dot Com.