Compare the2026 Ford Escape FHEVVS 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics

Safety

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The Ford Escape FHEV has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sportage Hybrid doesn’t offer knee airbags.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Ford Escape FHEV achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Kia Sportage Hybrid has not been tested.

The Escape FHEV has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sportage Hybrid doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Escape FHEV. But it costs extra on the Sportage Hybrid.

The Escape FHEV has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Sportage Hybrid S/EX/X-Line/SX-Prestige offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Escape FHEV has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the Sportage Hybrid S/EX/X-Line/SX-Prestige offers Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning.

Both the Escape FHEV and the Sportage Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Escape FHEV is safer than the Kia Sportage Hybrid:

	Escape FHEV	Sportage Hybrid
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	143	299
Neck Injury Risk	22.5%	24.5%
Neck Stress	185 lbs.	263 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	102	307
Neck Compression	58 lbs.	115 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	220/169 lbs.	292/203 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Escape FHEV is safer than the Kia Sportage Hybrid:

	Escape FHEV	Sportage Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	240 lbs.	247 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	47 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	35 G’s
Hip Force	462 lbs.	480 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Escape FHEV’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sportage Hybrid runs out after 100,000 miles.

There are almost 4 times as many Ford dealers as there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape FHEV’s warranty.

Reliability

The Escape FHEV has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Sportage Hybrid doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

The battery on the Escape FHEV is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Escape FHEV’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Sportage Hybrid’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escape FHEV first among compact suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Sportage Hybrid isn’t in the top three.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Escape FHEV gets better fuel mileage than the Sportage Hybrid AWD (42 city/36 hwy vs. 35 city/36 hwy).

The Escape FHEV has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Sportage Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Escape FHEV higher (7 out of 10) than the Kia Sportage Hybrid (6). This means the Escape FHEV produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Sportage Hybrid every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Escape FHEV has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Sportage Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Escape FHEV’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Sportage Hybrid:

	Escape FHEV	Sportage Hybrid
Front Rotors	13 inches	12.8 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	11.8 inches

The Escape FHEV stops much shorter than the Sportage Hybrid:

	Escape FHEV	Sportage Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH	128 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	156 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Escape FHEV’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sportage Hybrid LX’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escape FHEV has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sportage Hybrid LX.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Escape FHEV’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Sportage Hybrid’s (37.2 feet vs. 38.6 feet).

Chassis

The Escape FHEV is 4.3 inches shorter than the Sportage Hybrid, making the Escape FHEV easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Escape FHEV has .4 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sportage Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

An optional locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Escape FHEV. The Sportage Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Escape FHEV can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Escape FHEV can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Sportage Hybrid can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Ergonomics

The Escape FHEV SEL/Titanium’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sportage Hybrid EX/X-Line/SX-Prestige’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Escape FHEV’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Sportage Hybrid doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its 911 Connect can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Consumer Reports rated the Escape FHEV’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Sportage Hybrid’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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