Navigating car lineups with expert guidance
Guide

Off-road adventure comparison: ford escape vs kia soul – which one conquers the trails best?

Mike has spent over 15 years working in the automotive industry and is a lifelong Ford truck guy. He currently drives a 2018 Ford F-150 Lariat that he enjoys customizing on the weekends. As editor of wheelsgeeks.com, Mike focuses on sharing his passion for Blue Oval vehicles through reviews, how-to...

What To Know

  • The Escape received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, and it was named a Top Safety Pick++ by the IIHS.
  • The Soul received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, and it was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS.
  • The Soul is a good choice if you want a vehicle with a spacious interior, a lot of features, and a low price.

When it comes to choosing a compact SUV, the Ford Escape and Kia Soul are two of the most popular options on the market. Both vehicles offer a spacious interior, a comfortable ride, and a variety of features. But which one is the right choice for you? In this blog post, we’ll compare the Ford Escape vs Kia Soul in terms of performance, fuel economy, interior, safety, and price.

Performance

The Ford Escape and Kia Soul offer similar performance. The Escape is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 165 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque. The Soul is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. Both vehicles come standard with front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive is available as an option.

In terms of acceleration, the Escape is slightly quicker than the Soul. The Escape can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds, while the Soul takes 9.1 seconds. However, the Soul has a slightly higher top speed of 115 mph, compared to the Escape’s 112 mph.

Fuel Economy

The Ford Escape and Kia Soul have similar fuel economy. The Escape gets an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive. The Soul gets an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive.

With all-wheel drive, the Escape gets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. The Soul gets an EPA-estimated 25 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway with all-wheel drive.

Interior

The Ford Escape and Kia Soul have spacious interiors. The Escape has 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, and 68.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The Soul has 24.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, and 61.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

Both vehicles offer a variety of features to make your ride more comfortable. The Escape comes standard with cloth seats, a six-speaker audio system, and a 4.2-inch touchscreen display. The Soul comes standard with cloth seats, a four-speaker audio system, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen display.

Safety

The Ford Escape and Kia Soul have both received good safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The Escape received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, and it was named a Top Safety Pick++ by the IIHS. The Soul received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, and it was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS.

Both vehicles come standard with a variety of safety features, including airbags, anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability control.

Price

The Ford Escape has a starting price of $26,395. The Kia Soul has a starting price of $19,490.

Which One is Right for You?

The Ford Escape and Kia Soul are both great compact SUVs. The Escape is a good choice if you want a vehicle with good performance, fuel economy, and safety. The Soul is a good choice if you want a vehicle with a spacious interior, a lot of features, and a low price.

Basics You Wanted To Know

Q: Which vehicle has a more powerful engine?
A: The Ford Escape has a more powerful engine than the Kia Soul.

Q: Which vehicle has better fuel economy?
A: The Ford Escape and Kia Soul have similar fuel economy.

Q: Which vehicle has a more spacious interior?
A: The Ford Escape has a more spacious interior than the Kia Soul.

Q: Which vehicle has a higher safety rating?
A: The Ford Escape and Kia Soul have both received good safety ratings from the NHTSA and the IIHS.

Q: Which vehicle has a lower starting price?
A: The Kia Soul has a lower starting price than the Ford Escape.

Was this page helpful?

Mike Sullivan

Mike has spent over 15 years working in the automotive industry and is a lifelong Ford truck guy. He currently drives a 2018 Ford F-150 Lariat that he enjoys customizing on the weekends. As editor of wheelsgeeks.com, Mike focuses on sharing his passion for Blue Oval vehicles through reviews, how-to guides and industry news updates. When he's not writing about Ford, you can find Mike cheering on his favorite NFL team at the local pub on game days.
Back to top button