Ford Kuga vs Ford Escape Comparison

Ford is a popular automotive manufacturer with a proven record of manufacturing durable and reliable vehicles with advanced technology and features. Ford is a best-seller in hatchbacks, SUVs, sedans, and pick-up trucks. The Kuga and Escape look similar but they differ in some aspects. The Escape was unveiled in 2000 while the Kuga was introduced in 2013 as the successor of the Escape. Even though they somewhat look similar, they actually differ slightly with respect to interior space, performance, etc. This review will focus on the performance, interior, exterior, style, and engine capacity of the Ford Escape and Ford Kuga.

N.B: Prices are reflective of average BE FORWARD prices as of March 2023

Exterior

Kuga

Ford Kuga white side

Escape

Ford escape white side

Kuga

The exterior of the 2023 Kuga is curvy with standard features that include a large grille, bright and spiking LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, privacy glass, a heated windscreen, and 17-inch alloy wheels. Higher-spec models come with adaptive LED headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels, while the ST-Line Edition adds stiffer suspension and sportier styling.

Escape

The Ford Escape has a curvy exterior, a long hood, and a wide grille flanked by LED headlights and DRLs. On the sides, you find body-colored door handles and mirrors, and sharp creases. Choosing the high-end ST-Line trim, you’ll get a much sportier version with a red interior kit, a matt black grille, a body color kit, and revised suspensions.

Ford Escape 2008 | Car Review

Interior

Kuga

Ford Kuga white interior driving sheet

Escape

Ford escape white interior driving sheet

Kuga

The Kuga’s interior is curvy and spacious. It comes fitted with a centrally located user-friendly 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with smartphone connectivity, and physical climate control buttons.
The seats are comfortable and supportive with lumbar support as standard. The high driving position is great, and the supportive driver seat with plenty of adjustments, including lumbar support and height and reach steering. 
Unlike the analog instrument cluster that is standard, top trims come with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
The car has plenty of legroom and headroom throughout, with the rear bench capable of sliding back and forth to improve or reduce legroom and boot space

Escape

The 2023 Escape’s cabin is spacious and neatly styled throughout. It comes with an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster as standard, with a larger 12.3-inch available on the top trims.
Cloth upholstery is standard, while the top-spec models are fitted with faux leather as standard.
There is enough cargo space behind the rear seat which can be adjusted by sliding back and forth the rear seat.

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Fuel efficiency

Kuga

Escape

Kuga

The standard turbocharged 1.5-liter powerplant paired with a six-speed manual transmission has an average fuel rating of 15km/L.
The hybrid model with a 2.5-liter engine paired with two motors has an average rating of 22km/L. This model is paired with a CVT transmission.

Escape

The PHEV model is fitted with a 10.7-kWh battery pack, that can power it for an estimated 60 kilometers of electric-only driving. Its average fuel rating is 70km/L.
The turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder model in FWD or AWD has an average rating of 48 km/L and 45 km/L respectively.
The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with AWD has an average rating of 42km/L.

There are many fuel-efficient SUVs similar to the Ford Kuga and Escape. Find the perfect car for you based on the characteristics and prices of each car from the following blog.


Engine

Kuga

Escape

Kuga

The standard engine on the 2023 Kuga is the 1.5-liter Ecoboost(EcoBlue)-powered petrol or diesel engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission. A hybrid system that pairs the 2.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with two motors is an option. It comes with a CVT transmission.

Escape

The Escape has several powertrains, the base turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine in FWD or AWD, two hybrids (PHEV and FHEV) that pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two motors, and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. The petrol engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic while the hybrids are paired with a CVT transmission.


Price

Kuga
2023US$ 40,400 – US$51,500
2022US$ 32,400 – US$39,200
2021US$ 28,500 – US$32,800
2020US$ 26,400 – US$30,300
2019US$ 21,000 – US$24,700
2018US$ 18,600 – US$23,000
Ford Kuga price
Escape
2023US$ 29,495 – US$40,500
2022US$ 27,000 – US$37,000
2021 US$ 19,000 – US$33,000
2020US$ 16,000 – US$31,000
2019US$ 14,500 – US$26,000
2018US$ 12,000 – US$26,000
Ford Escape price

Writer’s perspective

The Ford Escape was introduced in 2001 as a compact crossover SUV. In 2013 Ford introduced the Ford Kuga as a replacement for the Ford Escape in the European and other markets outside the USA.
From this review, I have to the conclusion that the Ford Escape and Ford Kuga a identical twins as they are the same car just branded differently. The only difference is that the Escape is only available with an automatic transmission as standard with CVT available on the hybrid models, while the Kuga comes with a manual transmission as standard with CVT available on the hybrid models.
Written by: Samuel


Final Verdict

Ford KugaFord Escape
Capacity/Doors4doors/5 seater4 doors/ 5 seater
Torque270 Nm – 400 Nm184 Nm – 302 Nm
Top Speed240 Kph223 Kph
0-100 km/h8.7 sec 11.6 sec6.4 sec
Max Power120 PS - 225 PS179 PS – 207 PS
Engine1.5L – 2.5L1.5L – 3.0L
Fuel Tank Capacity45L – 60L53.7L – 59L
Key FeaturesAdaptive Cruise Control with

Stop & Go, Speed Sign

Recognition and Lane

Centring, Active Park Assist

2, Auto high beam, Front

wide-view camera, Front

and rear parking sensors
Intelligent Adaptive Cruise

Control, Rear View Camera,

Evasive Steering Assist,

Lane-Keeping System,

Voice-Activated Navigation

System, Active Park Assist

2.0
Fuel Consumption15.1 Km/L - 18.1 Km/L13.0km/L - 15.5km/L
Length x Width x Height4.45×1.86×1.72 m4.54×1.84×1.71 m
BE FORWARD PRICEUSD 7,510 – USD 14,920USD 1,490 – USD 30,530

Ford has a good reputation in car manufacturing, with their cars known fro reliability, dependability, durability, and good resale value.

The Ford Escape and the Kuga are some of those car models in the Ford lineup that are countless in almost every aspect of car details, but there are minor differences between those cars. Kuga and Escape seem to have good comfortability and performance but the Kuga latest model seems to have more comfortability, high performance, and space. Both Kuga and Escape seem to have similar fuel economies. 

After perusing through this review, we hope you will have enough understanding of these two Ford Kuga and Ford Escape. You can buy Kuga or Escape on BE FORWARD.

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