The Ford Escape has changed little since 2020, while the Hyundai Tucson arrives with a new version for 2022. Despite everything, the two SUVs are strongly gaining their market share thanks to their competitive prices.
How do these two utilities compare? To help you see more clearly, we have broken down their specifications.
Powertrains: Tie
Photo: Guillaume Fournier Photographer
Hyundai and Ford offer a series of powertrains to accommodate a broad customer base. Both manufacturers offer gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines. Hyundai plays the power card, while Ford relies on diversity. In this sense, we cannot declare a clear winner in this category.
Since there is a lot of data, we have compiled a list of engines, cogs, transmissions and power figures for both models.
Ford Escape
- 3 cyl 1.5 L turbo, AT/AWD, 8-speed transmission, 181 horsepower/190 lb-ft of torque
- 2.0L turbo 4 cyl, AWD, 8-speed transmission, 250 hp/280 lb-ft of torque
- 2.5 L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder (hybrid), FWD/AWD, CVT gearbox, 200 combined horsepower
- 2.5 L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder (plug-in hybrid), automatic transmission, CVT gearbox, 221 combined horsepower
Hyundai Tucson
- 2.5 L normally aspirated 4-cylinder, AT/AWD, 8-speed transmission, 187 hp/178 lb-ft of torque
- 1.6L turbo 4 cyl (hybrid), AWD, 6-speed transmission, 227 hp/258 lb-ft of torque
- 4 cyl 1.6 L turbo (plug-in hybrid), AWD, 6-speed transmission, 261 horsepower/258 lb-ft of torque
Consumption: Ford Escape advantage
Photo: Guillaume Fournier Photographer
With rising gas prices, fuel economy ratings are becoming increasingly relevant. Although the Tucson and Escape have comparable numbers, Ford wins the duel thanks to generally lower values.
Petrol engine
Ford Escape:
- 3 cylinders: 7.8 L/100 km (FWD), 8.4 L/100 km (AWD)
- 4 cylinders: 9.2 L/100 km (AWD)
Hyundai Tucson:
- 4 cylinders: 8.2 L/100 km (FWD), 9.0 L/100 km (AWD)
Hybrid
Ford Escape:
- 5.8 L/100 km (FWD), 5.9 L/100 km (AWD)
Hyundai Tucson:
Plug-in hybrid
Ford Escape:
- 2.2 L/100 km (electric mode), 5.8 L/100 km (hybrid mode), electric range of 60 kilometers
Hyundai Tucson:
- 2.9 L/100 km (electric mode), 6.7 L/100 km (hybrid mode), electric range of 53 kilometers
Practical side: Hyundai Tucson advantage
Photo: Julien Amado
Gas-powered versions of the Hyundai Tucson and Ford Escape can tow up to 3,500 lbs (2,000 lbs for the Escape with the 3-cylinder engine). The hybrid variants of the Tucson and Escape, meanwhile, can pull 2,000 lbs and 1,500 lbs respectively.
Despite their similar size, the Korean utility provides more cargo space. Including combustion engine and hybrid versions, the Tucson’s cargo volume varies from 1,095 liters to 2,119 liters (seats folded), compared to 850 liters to 1,841 liters (seats folded) for the Escape.
Safety: Hyundai Tucson advantage
Photo: Hyundai
When it comes to safety, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson holds the distinction Top Safety Pick+ from the American organization Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This is not the case with the Ford Escape. The latter, however, received the mention Top Safety Pick in 2021.
Regarding driver assistance systems, Ford uses Co-Pilot360 technologies. As standard, the Escape includes: automatic braking in the event of risk of collision, lane departure warning system and blind spot monitoring system.
On the Hyundai side, the Tucson is standard equipped with the SmartSense suite which includes: the emergency avoidance assistance system with the pedestrian detection system, the lane change assistance system and the detection system hypovigilance.
Thanks to its IIHS designation, the Hyundai Tucson wins the day when it comes to safety.
Technological integration: equality
Photo: Guillaume Fournier Photographer
At the control station, the driver is served by a 4.2-inch monitor for entry-level versions from Hyundai and Ford. The Escape offers larger dimensions for higher grinds, at 6.5 inches. As for the more upscale models, both SUVs offer a 10.25-inch (Tucson) and 12.3-inch (Escape) digital screen.
As for infotainment, at Hyundai, the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto applications are standard, which is not the case at Ford. The screens measure 8 or 10.25 inches for the Korean SUV, while those of the American SUV are 4.2 or 8 inches.
Options include inductive charging, a stereo and in Ford’s case, head-up display. Additionally, the Escape comes standard with the FordPass Connect Wi-Fi hotspot, which connects up to ten devices.
Price: Tie
The price difference between the Ford Escape and Hyundai Tucson obviously depends on the version chosen. Overall, the values are very comparable from vehicle to vehicle.
- Ford Escape: ($29,099 to $43,549, MSRP)
- S: $29,099
- SE: $31,099
- Hybrid SE: $33,699
- Plug-in hybrid SE: $38,449
- SALT: $33,849
- Hybrid SEL: $35,949
- SEL plug-in hybrid: $41,249
- Titanium: $40,149
- Titanium Hybrid: $37,649
- Titanium plug-in hybrid: $43,549
- Hyundai Tucson: ($27,899 to $46,199, MSRP)
- Basic: $27,899
- Preferred: $30,299
- Urban: $37,299
- N-Line: $37,299
- Luxury hybrid: $39,099 (sold out)
- Luxury plug-in hybrid: $43,499 (sold out)
- Ultimate hybrid: $41,799 (sold out)
- Ultimate plug-in hybrid: $46,199 (sold out)
Warranties: Hyundai Tucson Advantage
Photo: Hyundai
In terms of warranties, Hyundai wins the round thanks to a more aggressive basic coverage. The Korean brand offers 5 years/100,000 km against 3 years/60,000 km for Ford.
As for the rest of the protections offered by the manufacturer, they are identical from one brand to another.
- Powertrain: 5 years/100,000 km
- Perforation: 5 years/unlimited mileage
- Components specific to electric/hybrid vehicles: 8 years/160,000 km