2020 Mazda CX-5 vs 2021 Ford Edge

Mazda executed the concept of premium better than its competitors with the 2020 CX-5. The automaker's commitment to building better cars was evident through captivating style, compelling substance, and continual product improvement. The 2020 model year saw more standard equipment, revised instrumentation, and control markings to enhance the cabin's appearance, along with modifications to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness. The turbocharged engine received an increase in torque output, and AWD versions gained a new off-road traction assistance feature. Prices ranged from $25,190 to $37,155, with the test vehicle in Signature trim costing $38,680, including destination charges.

The CX-5's design, rooted in Mazda's "Kodo" styling themes, remained appealing, distinctive, and upscale. The interior, especially in Signature trim, featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, real wood, and a black headliner, giving it a luxurious feel. However, the Caturra Brown leather was almost indistinguishable from the black cabin, reducing the contrast that often makes a vehicle seem premium.

Ford's 2021 Edge maintained its styling since the 2019 refresh, which successfully integrated the current Ford look with the existing Edge body shell. The Edge presented a cleaner alternative to the more elaborate designs of competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Titanium models featured extra chrome, while the ST trim had a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line offered the same exterior styling without the performance upgrades and higher price tag.

Inside, the Edge's design showed its age, awkwardly tweaked over the years to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen. Titanium models had leather upholstery, while ST models boasted sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with a Sport mode. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive optional. The Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims featured a turbocharged version of the engine, generating 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular fuel. This engine also used a six-speed automatic but came only with AWD.

Despite its 3,825-pound curb weight, the turbocharged CX-5 accelerated with authority. The turbo engine was less efficient, rated at 24 mpg combined, compared to 26 mpg combined for the naturally aspirated engine with AWD. The test loop averaged 22.1 mpg. The CX-5 Signature was engaging to drive, thanks to its G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) technology, which stabilized the SUV during cornering. However, excessive body motions and a high center of gravity made it less thrilling on winding roads. The steering and brakes were responsive, making the CX-5 enjoyable in typical driving situations.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It came with standard FWD or optional AWD. The Edge ST performance model had an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6, generating 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel, with standard AWD and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The ST also had model-specific suspension tuning, with an option package for upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires.

The Edge ST aimed to compete with performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, though the comparison was a stretch. The Edge ST was enjoyable to drive, especially since its competitors didn't emphasize performance. The base FWD four-cylinder Edge had a maximum towing capacity of 3,958 pounds, while the V6-powered Edge ST could tow up to 4,525 pounds. These figures were respectable but fell short of the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, both rated to tow 5,000 pounds with AWD.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 aimed to compete with luxury SUVs, addressing its cramped interior compared to mainstream compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The CX-5's interior reflected style and good taste, with classy gauges and elegant metallic accents. Touring trim added dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and rear air conditioning vents. Grand Touring trim included a power height-adjustable front passenger seat, while Grand Touring Reserve added ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Signature trim featured Nappa leather, genuine wood trim, and more.

The CX-5 Signature's front seats were comfortable, though rear passengers might find legroom lacking. Cargo space measured 30.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat, expanding to 59.6 cubic feet with the back seat folded. Higher trims included a power liftgate with a programmable height limit.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive on interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers. Legroom in both rows was second only to the Hyundai Santa Fe. Standard features included dual-zone automatic climate control. Cargo space measured 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Higher trims offered a foot-activated power liftgate.

The Edge's rotary shift knob freed up space on the center console, though the narrow width limited its usefulness. The raised console provided a storage nook below, but its out-of-the-way location made it difficult to reach and easy to forget items placed there.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system, inspired by Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. The system included a 7-inch touchscreen in Sport trim, which responded to touch only when the vehicle was stationary. Standard features included Bluetooth, HD Radio, text messaging support, integrated internet radio apps, and E911 emergency notification. Touring trim added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Grand Touring trim upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, and a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system. Signature trim included a navigation system, a surround-view camera system, and a SiriusXM data subscription.

Mazda Connect could be controlled via the touchscreen (when stationary), center console controls, steering wheel controls, or voice-recognition technology. However, none of these methods were ideal. Users were advised to set up the system to their preferences and rely on steering controls to minimize frustration. The voice-recognition technology often failed to interpret commands or provide feedback, making it best to avoid the push-to-talk button.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured the latest Sync 4 infotainment system, with standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a 12-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio (with a three-month free trial), and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST models also had a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge included four USB ports, with two rear USB ports (one USB-C) added for the 2021 model year.

Sync 4's simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts made it user-friendly. The system's wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity were notable, as not all competitors offered this feature.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 excelled in safety, with all advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) standard on most models. The i-Activsense package included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane-keep assist. Standard features also included LED headlights and rain-sensing wipers, with adaptive headlights available on Grand Touring trim.

The CX-5 earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It received top marks in nearly all individual testing parameters, making it a highly safe SUV.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS Top Safety Pick, scoring the top "Good" rating in all crash tests and the top "Superior" rating for front crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. However, it received a lower "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings depending on trim level. The NHTSA gave the Edge a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests.

The Edge's standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), post-collision braking, dynamic brake support, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control (with stop-and-go and lane centering) and Evasive Steering Assist were standard on all but the base Edge SE trim level.