Ford Escape vs Kia Niro
Side-by-side comparison from manufacturer specifications, NHTSA safety data, and live dealer listings.
Vehicles
Vehicles
2026 Kia Niro
Overview
| Spec | Ford EscapeActive | Kia NiroLX |
|---|---|---|
| Selected trim | Active | LX |
| Body style | SUV | SUV |
| Drivetrain | front wheel drive | front wheel drive |
| Fuel type | regular unleaded | regular unleaded |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 6-speed automatic |
| Engine type | gas | hybrid |
| Model year | 2026 | 2026 |
Pricing & market
| Spec | Ford EscapeActive | Kia NiroLX |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $30,350 | $27,090 (best) |
| Lowest listing price | $3,898 (best) | $24,000 |
| Median listing price | $22,889 (best) | $30,400 |
| Highest listing price | $43,129 | $33,945 (best) |
| For sale now | 127 (best) | 36 |
Fuel economy & range
| Spec | Ford EscapeActive | Kia NiroLX |
|---|---|---|
| Combined MPG | 30 MPG | 53 MPG (best) |
| City MPG | 27 MPG | 53 MPG (best) |
| Highway MPG | 34 MPG | 54 MPG (best) |
| Fuel tank | 14.8 gal (best) | 11 gal |
Performance
| Spec | Ford EscapeActive | Kia NiroLX |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 180 hp (best) | 139 hp |
| Torque | 199 lb-ft (best) | 195 lb-ft |
| Engine size | 1.5 L | 1.6 L (best) |
| Cylinders | I3 | I4 |
Size & capability
| Spec | Ford EscapeActive | Kia NiroLX |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Cargo volume | 65.4 cu ft (best) | — |
| Towing capacity | 2,000 lbs (best) | — |
| Curb weight | 3,273 lbs | 3,071 lbs (best) |
| Ground clearance | — | 6 in (best) |
| Wheelbase | 106.7 in | 107 in (best) |
| Length | 180.1 in (best) | 174 in |
| Width | 74.1 in (best) | 72 in |
| Height | 66 in (best) | 61 in |
Safety & recalls
| Spec | Ford EscapeActive | Kia NiroLX |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA overall | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | 4 / 5 ★ |
| Frontal crash (driver) | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | 4 / 5 ★ |
| Frontal crash (passenger) | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | 4 / 5 ★ |
| Side crash (driver) | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Side crash (passenger) | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Side pole | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Rollover | 4 / 5 ★ | 4 / 5 ★ |
| Open recalls (YMM scope) | 2 | None reported (best) |
Highlighted values indicate the better figure for that spec when a clear winner exists. Specs reflect the selected trim for each vehicle. Drag a vehicle header to reorder columns. MSRP and specifications are manufacturer data; listing prices and inventory come from live dealer listings. Safety ratings are from NHTSA.
Trim overview
All available trims with MSRP. The trim selected above is highlighted; comparison specs use that selection.
| Trim | Ford Escape | Kia Niro |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Active $30,350 MSRP(Currently comparing) | LX $27,090 MSRP(Currently comparing) |
| 2 | Active $31,750 MSRP | EX $29,890 MSRP |
| 3 | ST-Line $31,195 MSRP | SX $33,090 MSRP |
| 4 | ST-Line $32,595 MSRP | SX Touring $35,490 MSRP |
| 5 | ST-Line Select $33,890 MSRP | — |
| 6 | ST-Line Select $35,015 MSRP | — |
| 7 | Plug-In Hybrid $35,400 MSRP | — |
| 8 | Platinum $36,215 MSRP | — |
| 9 | ST-Line Elite $37,210 MSRP | — |
| 10 | Platinum $37,940 MSRP | — |
| 11 | ST-Line Elite $38,935 MSRP | — |
Live inventory
Ford Escape127 for sale
See all
Used2024 Ford Escape
Platinum
Iconic Silver Metallic•Black41,040 mi$25,594Peterson Chevrolet Buick
Boise, ID
New2025 Ford Escape
PHEV
Agate Black•Ebony7 mi$35,899Preston Ford West
Randallstown, MD
Used2024 Ford Escape
Platinum
Agate Black Metallic•Ebony39,756 mi$22,876Tim Short Honda
Ivel, KY
Used2021 Ford Escape
SEL
Gray Metallic•Sandstone50,684 mi$20,588King Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Lihue, HI
Used2025 Ford Escape
ST-Line
Space Silver Metallic - A3•Ebony - HM7,635 mi$22,241Maxon Hyundai
Union, NJ
New2024 Ford Escape
PHEV
Carbonized Gray•Ebony23 mi$33,104Boulevard Ford of Georgetown
Georgetown, DE
Kia Niro36 for sale
See all
Used2024 Kia Niro
SX
Snow White Pearl•Charcoal10,434 mi$32,485Lehighton Kia
Lehighton, PA
New2026 Kia Niro
LX
Aurora Black Pearl•CharcoalN/A$27,815Cape & Islands Kia South Yarmouth
South Yarmouth, MA
New2026 Kia Niro
EX
Aurora Black Pearl•Charcoal10 mi$30,220Cape & Islands Kia South Yarmouth
South Yarmouth, MA
Used2023 Kia Niro
EX Touring FWD
Snow White Pearl•charcoal25,348 mi$24,199Desert 215 Superstore Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM
Las Vegas, NV
Certified2023 Kia Niro
SX
Snow White Pearl•Charcoal41,368 mi$27,588Gateway Kia of Quakertown
Quakertown, PA
New2026 Kia Niro
LX
Aurora Black Pearl•Charcoal8 mi$28,790Sansone Jr's Keyport Kia
Keyport, NJ
Ford Escape vs Kia Niro FAQ
- Which is better: 2026 Ford Escape or 2026 Kia Niro?
- It depends on priorities. OpenDealer compares 2026 Ford Escape vs 2026 Kia Niro on MSRP, fuel economy, horsepower, seating, towing, NHTSA safety ratings, and live market prices so you can weigh the tradeoffs.
- Which costs less: 2026 Ford Escape or 2026 Kia Niro?
- Based on starting MSRP, the 2026 Kia Niro starts lower at $27,090. Live Ford Escape listings start at $3,898. Live Kia Niro listings start at $24,000.
- Which has better startingMsrp: 2026 Ford Escape or 2026 Kia Niro?
- The 2026 Kia Niro leads on startingMsrp in this comparison (27,090).
- Which has better combinedMpg: 2026 Ford Escape or 2026 Kia Niro?
- The 2026 Kia Niro leads on combinedMpg in this comparison (53).
- Which has better electricRangeMi: 2026 Ford Escape or 2026 Kia Niro?
- The 2026 Ford Escape leads on electricRangeMi in this comparison (37).
- Which has better horsepower: 2026 Ford Escape or 2026 Kia Niro?
- The 2026 Ford Escape leads on horsepower in this comparison (250).
- Which has better maxTowingLbs: 2026 Ford Escape or 2026 Kia Niro?
- The 2026 Ford Escape leads on maxTowingLbs in this comparison (3,500).
- How do the NHTSA safety ratings compare for 2026 Ford Escape vs 2026 Kia Niro?
- NHTSA overall crash-test ratings in this comparison: Ford Escape (5/5 NHTSA overall); Kia Niro (4/5 NHTSA overall).