2020 Mazda CX-30 vs 2021 Ford Escape

During the 2020 Mazda CX-30's development, a decision was made to cover its lower perimeter with thick gray plastic cladding. This choice was widely regarded as a mistake, as it detracted from the vehicle's otherwise appealing design. The excessive cladding made the 18-inch wheels appear too small and gave the impression that the CX-30 was perpetually on a hydraulic lift. Despite this, the interior design was praised for its luxurious feel above the midpoint of the cabin, although hard plastics were prevalent below that level. The CX-30's pricing started at $21,900, with various trims and options pushing the cost up to $32,120 for a fully loaded model.

The 2021 Ford Escape, with its curved snout and sleek roofline, straddled the line between SUV and hatchback. It looked less truck-like compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, but its design was more generic than the Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage. For 2021, the Escape introduced new appearance packages for three of its four trim levels, including the SE Sport Appearance Package, SEL Stealth AWD Package, and Titanium Elite Package. The interior, however, was criticized for its odd design choices and low-quality materials, even in the top Titanium trim. Despite these shortcomings, the Escape offered a range of powertrains, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.

The 2020 Mazda CX-30 was powered by a smooth and refined 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, delivering 186 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 186 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. Despite its competitive power figures, the CX-30's weight of 3,408 pounds made it feel relatively heavy. The 6-speed sport automatic transmission was praised for making the most of the available power, and paddle shifters were included with the Premium trim. The CX-30 offered 8 inches of ground clearance, making it suitable for light off-roading. However, its higher center of gravity and torsion beam axle rear suspension resulted in exaggerated ride motions and body lean. The CX-30's driving dynamics were generally well-regarded, especially compared to other small SUVs, but it fell short of the sporty Mazda3. Fuel economy was a concern, with an average of 23.9 mpg during testing, and the AWD model's smaller gas tank limited its driving range.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered a variety of powertrains, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbo-four engine increased output to 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, but was only available with AWD. The Escape also offered hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, both using a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, producing a total of 200 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid's larger battery pack allowed for significant electric-only driving. Despite the variety of powertrains, the Escape's chassis tuning was criticized for its sloppy suspension and steering, making it less enjoyable to drive. The 2.0-liter engine models could tow up to 3,500 pounds, but towing figures for the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models were not provided.

The 2020 Mazda CX-30 offered ease of entry and exit due to its higher ground clearance. Inside, the cabin was upscale and elegant, with soft padding on the center console and door armrests. The driving position was excellent, and the analog gauges were easy to read. Cloth seating was standard, with simulated leather in Select and Preferred trims, and genuine leather in Premium trim. The rear seat was cramped, with limited legroom, making it suitable for younger children and shorter adults. Cargo space was also limited, with 20.2 cubic feet behind the back seat and 45.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, which was less than many competitors.

The 2021 Ford Escape compared well against other compact SUVs in terms of interior space. It offered near-top-of-segment headroom and legroom in both the first and second rows. The standard sliding rear seat could be moved to expand legroom or cargo space as needed. With the rear seat in its default position, the gasoline Escape provided 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, which increased to 37.5 cubic feet when the seat was slid forward. Folding the rear seat yielded 65.4 cubic feet of cargo space. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo space due to the battery pack placement. Despite its car-like styling, the Escape's interior space was competitive, although some rivals offered more cargo capacity.

The 2020 Mazda CX-30 featured an 8.8-inch static display integrated into the dashboard, avoiding a touchscreen to improve driver focus. However, the controls were not always intuitive, making the system challenging to use while driving. Standard technology included Bluetooth, HD Radio, Pandora, and Mazda Connected Services with a 3-year trial subscription. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available starting with the Select trim, and higher trims offered a 12-speaker Bose sound system and a head-up display.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with the base Escape S model featuring a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were standard. Upgrading to the Escape SE added an 8-inch touchscreen and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Titanium trim level included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. While Sync 3 was user-friendly, the Escape lacked some of the latest tech features found in competitors, such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2020 Mazda CX-30 excelled in safety, with a comprehensive list of standard advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) and impressive crash-test ratings. Standard features included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The Select trim added blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning, while the Premium trim included adaptive front lights. The CX-30 received a 5-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) with Premium trim.

The 2021 Ford Escape also received high safety ratings, with a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and Evasive Steering Assist. However, the Escape's headlights received mixed ratings, with some trims earning only "Acceptable" or "Marginal" scores.