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Ford Escape vs Kia Seltos

2026 Ford Escape vs 2026 Kia Seltos — two small SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Ford Escape

2026 Ford Escape

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS2 – 3Kia Seltos wins 3 of 5 categories
Kia Seltos

2026 Kia Seltos

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WD

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The short version

The Ford Escape is more fuel-efficient: 40 vs 29 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $600 a year less in fuel for the Ford Escape (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Ford Escape is the bigger car, about 9 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Kia Seltos has had fewer recall campaigns (4 vs 84).

The two cars

The 2026 Ford Escape is a small SUV offered with 3 engines (2.5L 4-cyl, 1.5L 3-cyl turbo and 2.0L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive, part-time 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 181 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 107-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,419 lb (4dr SUV 1.5l AWD).

The 2026 Kia Seltos is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl and 1.6L 4-cyl turbo) and all-wheel drive. It measures about 172 inches long and 71 inches wide on a 104-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,186 lb (AWD 4dr SUV).

Buying used? The 2024 Escape and the 2023 Seltos have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2017 Escape and the 2021 Seltos.

Basics

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Plug-in Hybrid, Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.5L 4-cyl, 1.5L 3-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo
Front-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

40 MPG
Best combined MPG
29 MPG
42 city
City / highway MPG (best)
27 city
$1,700
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$2,300

Performance & space

180.7 in
Length
172 in
74 in
Width
70.9 in
66.1 in
Height
63.8 in
3,283 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
2,893 lb

Safety & reliability

11
Driver-assist features standard
13
3
Recalls (2026)
0
84
Recalls, all years since 2005
4
4
Owner complaints (latest year)
4

Interest

17,453
Wikipedia views, 30 days
19,599

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2023
2017
Year to avoid
2021

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Ford Escape if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (40 vs 29 MPG)
  • You want more room (9 in longer)
  • You want a hybrid or electric option

Choose the Kia Seltos if…

  • You want something easier to park (9 in shorter)
  • You want more standard driver-assist tech
  • You put reliability history first (4 vs 84 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2026 Ford Escape

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 40 MPG combined — 32% better than the average 2026 small SUV (30.2 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2026 Kia Seltos

  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2026 Ford Escape specs →Full 2026 Kia Seltos specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →