In the compact SUV range, the 2024 Hyundai Tucson vs 2024 Ford Escape is highly competitive. Read on to see which one we think is best.
Find the Right Car for You
In some ways, choosing the right car is harder now than it’s ever been. Cars are stuffed full of cutting-edge technology, offer impressive performance, and spoil you with luxurious features that were only found in high-end luxury sedans not too long ago. The 2024 Hyundai Tucson and the 2024 Ford Escape are two great examples of the latest breed of small crossovers offering a compelling mix of space, performance, and luxury.
The Tucson was redesigned just a couple of years ago and features an expressive exterior styling matched by a well-appointed interior with plenty of space. The Escape is also fresh off a recent update and has a handsome exterior design combined with its own practical and luxurious interior.
Both SUVs are perfectly sized for someone with a small family, and both offer multiple powertrain options that indulge those seeking performance or compliment those looking to maximize efficiency. Read on to get our take on these two crossovers and make your choice a little more informed.
Specs
In the 2024 Hyundai Tucson vs 2024 Ford Escape battle, the powertrain options don’t quickly rule one or the other out. On paper, the powertrain options are similar. For the 2024 Tucson, the base engine offered is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. This engine is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission and delivers 28 mpg combined city/highway and drops to 25 mpg combined when equipped with all-wheel drive.
The Tucson Hybrid models are powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder combined with an electric motor to deliver a combined 226 horsepower. Fuel economy for the hybrid jumps to 37 mpg combined or 38 mpg for the Blue trim level.
The Tucson is also offered with a plug-in hybrid model which has the same basic powertrain as the Hybrid model but comes with a larger battery pack that allows up to 33 miles of all-electric range. The government rates it at 80 mpge when utilizing both gas and electricity, and 35 mpg combined on gas alone. If you want to learn more about the Hyundai Tucson, be sure to read our review here.
The 2024 Ford Escape starts off with a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine that produces 181 horsepower. This engine gets up to 30 mpg combined on front-wheel drive models and 28 mpg combined on all-wheel drive models.
If you’re looking for maximum performance, then check out the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that spins out an impressive 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. This is the engine you’ll want to choose if you plan to do any towing as it can tow up to 3,500 pounds, which compares to just 2,000 pounds towing capacity with the Tucson. This performance, however, comes at the expense of efficiency and achieves 26 mpg combined.
Ford’s Escape Hybrid comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a total system horsepower rating of 192 and a combined fuel economy rating of 39 mpg for both the front- and all-wheel drive models. Like Hyundai, Ford also offers a plug-in hybrid Escape that gets a bump in horsepower, 210 total, and adds up to 37 miles of all-electric range, 101 mpge rating, and 40 mpg combined on gas. We have a lot more info on the Ford Escape that you can read in our comprehensive review here.
Driving and Performance
When you’re on the road in either of these two, you’ll find relatively similar driving dynamics. The Ford Escape tends a to be a little on the sportier side, especially with the ST-Line’s sportier suspension settings. But both are smooth and comfortable.
When comparing similar powertrain offerings, they are again pretty similar. Hyundai doesn’t offer an engine with the same power output as Ford’s turbocharged 2-liter, so if you value brisk acceleration, that will be the model for you. Ford also has the towing advantage, as previously mentioned, as this engine also has the best towing capacity of the two.
Comfort and Interior
The similarities continue when it comes to the interiors as well. Overall, both are nicely laid out and offer a variety of handy technology to make your driving safer and more enjoyable. The Limited trim on the Tucson is full of luxurious features like full leather seats that are heated a ventilated for comfort in all weather, a heated steering wheel, memory functions for the driver’s seat, a panoramic sunroof, and more.
The Tucson’s interior design looks crisp and modern, matching its more extroverted exterior styling. The 10.25-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system features navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. A dual zone automatic climate control makes it easy for you and your passenger to set the temperature just the way you want. The Tucson offers a generous 108.2 cubic feet of passenger volume and the cargo area holds up to 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats which expands to 80.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.
Hyundai tops it all off with an impressive suite of available safety tech like forward collision-avoidance, lane following and lane keeping assist, and an innovative blind-spot view monitor that displays a live video of your blind spot on the gauge cluster when you signal.
The Ford Escape’s exterior design is more conservative than the Tucson and that theme continues inside, where you’ll find a handsome interior that you might consider more traditional. That doesn’t mean it’s not just as luxurious or packed with technology. Available heated leather seats, available heated steering wheel, available panoramic sunroof, a dual-zone automatic climate control system. It’s all here.
Ford’s information system features a huge 13.2-inch touchscreen. Ford’s SYNC 4 technology makes it easy to control features with voice commands, make hands-free calls, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Overall, the Escape is less spacious inside, offering 104 cubic feet of passenger volume, 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, and 65.4 cubic feet with rear seats stowed. Ford offers a little more flexibility with rear seats that can slide forward and back. Ford also offers driver assist technology including a lane keeping system, blind-spot monitor, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control.
Trims and Features
The 2024 Tucson is offered in several trim levels. The entry trim is the SE which comes with the 2.5-liter engine, an 8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist. The SE comes with black or grey cloth seats, the distinctive LED daytime running light with LED headlights, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
The sweet spot is likely the SEL trim which builds on the SE and includes additional standard equipment like heated front seats, wireless device charging, a dual-zone automatic climate control, and a hands-free power liftgate.
The XRT trim adds a more rugged exterior design is unique body cladding, 19-inch allow wheels, black mirrors and window trim, plus durable H-Tex seating surfaces. At the top of the lineup is the Limited trim which comes with dark chrome exterior trim, heated and ventilated leather front seats, heated second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, parking distance sensors front and rear, the blind-spot view monitor. The Tucson Hybrid model is offered in either the SEL or Limited trims only.
The 2024 Escape starts out with the Active trim which comes standard with the 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine, 8-speed automatic transmission, 17-inch aluminum wheels, a dual-zone automatic climate control, and power liftgate. The Active also comes with an 8-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the sliding second-row seats.
At the top of the range is the Platinum trim which comes with the powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, and huge 13.2-inch touchscreen, a 360-degree camera system, and 19-inch aluminum wheels. The seats are covered with synthetic ActiveX material with mini-perforations, the front seats are heated and powered, and you get a heated steering wheel.
In the middle, is the ST-Line Select which benefits from the 2.0-liter turbo engine and gets performance features like sport handling suspension, heated sport contour bucket seats, and LED reflector headlights. Above the Active trim, each Escape model can also be optioned with the hybrid powertrain if desired.
Choosing Between the Tuscon and the Escape?
Choosing between two similar vehicles is tough, and the 2024 Hyundai Tucson vs 2024 Ford Escape is a close match. If you’re looking for the best performance and towing, the Ford Escape with the powerful turbocharged engine is the obvious choice.
However, we think the Hyundai Tucson is generally the one to pick. The exterior design is more exciting, the interior has a more modern look and feel, and it offers a more spacious interior. If you’re looking for the best gas mileage, the Tucson Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid models are great options. Selecting the right Tucson powertrain really comes down to your budget and needs. But overall, the Tucson is our choice.
