2020 Mazda CX-5 vs 2021 Ford Escape

Mazda had made significant strides in capturing the premium segment with its 2020 CX-5, thanks to its upgraded equipment and refinements. The vehicle had more standard features, improved instrument visibility, and reduced noise and vibration. Mazda also enhanced the CX-5’s turbocharged engine for better torque, and AWD versions came with a new off-road traction assistance feature.

The Mazda CX-5 was priced between $25,190 and $37,155 and came in Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve, and Signature trims. A test vehicle in Signature trim included Nappa leather upholstery, real wood interior accents, and a sophisticated black headliner, creating a luxurious cabin ambiance. However, the Caturra Brown leather option blended too closely with the predominantly black interior, minimizing the high-contrast appearance typical of premium vehicles.

Mazda’s commitment to the “Kodo” design language crafted a CX-5 that looked appealing, distinctive, and upscale. Nearly a decade later, this approach still impressively captured attention, giving the SUV a rare blend of elegance and class.

Conversely, the 2021 Ford Escape had a more unconventional design that straddled the line between SUV and hatchback. The fourth-generation Escape featured a curved snout and sleek roofline, resembling a larger Ford Focus while maintaining the tall ride height of a traditional SUV. This lent the Escape a less truck-like appearance compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4, yet it had a more generic look compared to the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage.

For 2021, the Escape introduced new appearance packages for three of its four trims: SE Sport Appearance, SEL Stealth AWD, and Titanium Elite Package. These packages included upgrades like 19-inch alloy wheels, ActiveX upholstery with Miko Suede inserts, and leather-wrapped steering wheels.

However, the interior design of the Escape did not feel as cohesive as its exterior. Angular instrument clusters and less-than-premium materials detracted from the cabin’s overall appeal. Even the top-tier Titanium trim lacked standard leather upholstery.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission and a Sport mode. Front-wheel drive was standard, and AWD was available. Higher trims, like the Grand Touring Reserve and Signature, featured a turbocharged version delivering 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel. These turbo models also came with AWD as standard.

The turbocharged engine provided a robust driving experience, making the CX-5 accelerate authoritatively despite its 3,825-pound curb weight. The naturally aspirated engine with AWD was rated at 26 mpg combined, whereas the turbo variants averaged around 24 mpg.

Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) technology enhanced the driving experience by using brakes to stabilize the SUV during cornering. Though engaging, the CX-5’s high center of gravity and excessive body motion during intense driving could prove tiresome. An adaptive-damping suspension could have improved overall driving dynamics.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered a broader range of powertrains, including gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options. The base model featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder EcoBoost engine producing 181 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and available in FWD or AWD. The upgraded 2.0-liter turbo-four engine produced 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, only available with AWD.

Both hybrid models used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with electric assist, providing a combined output of 200 hp. The plug-in hybrid’s larger battery allowed for significant electric-only driving. The hybrid came with either FWD or AWD, while the plug-in hybrid was FWD only.

A Class 2 Trailer Tow Package became available for the 2.0-liter, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models, offering a towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds for the 2.0-liter engine. However, the chassis tuning left much to be desired, featuring a sloppy suspension and steering that made driving less enjoyable.

Amongst compact SUVs, the 2020 Mazda CX-5 faced stiff competition in terms of interior space. Although the CX-5's cabin exuded style and refinement, it fell short on practicality and utility compared to segment leaders like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Every trim level featured an interior designed with meticulous attention to detail, including clear gauges and elegant metallic accents.

Touring trims included dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and rear air conditioning vents. Grand Touring trims offered power-adjustable front passenger seats, while Grand Touring Reserve added ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Signature trim elevated luxury with Nappa leather and wood trim.

The CX-5's front seats were comfortable but small, and rear legroom could be tight for passengers. Cargo space measured 30.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 59.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. A power liftgate was standard from the Grand Touring trim onwards.

The 2021 Ford Escape excelled in interior space compared to more traditional-looking compact SUVs. It offered near-tops-in-class headroom and legroom for both rows. A sliding rear seat provided flexibility to either expand cargo space or rear legroom, yielding 40.7 inches in the latter when fully extended.

Cargo space in the gasoline Escape models measured 33.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up, extending to 37.5 cubic feet when the rear bench was slid forward. With the rear seats folded, this space expanded to 65.4 cubic feet. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions had slightly less space due to battery placement, offering a maximum of 60.8 cubic feet.

While other competitors provided more cargo room, the Escape's sliding rear seat gained it extra points for versatility.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system, which projected an upscale, German-luxury-brand vibe. However, it also came with a steep learning curve. The Sport trim was equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen that only operated via touch when the vehicle was stationary. Higher trims added features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, a Bose sound system, navigation, and a surround-view camera.

Mazda Connect could be operated via the central console controls, steering wheel buttons, or voice recognition, none of which were particularly user-friendly. The voice recognition system was notably ineffective, often failing to provide feedback or interpret natural commands. For 2021, Mazda planned to upgrade the system further, addressing some usability issues but retaining some deficiencies.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 system. Base models came with a 4.2-inch touchscreen, but at least included standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Upgrading to SE trim provided an 8-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability and SiriusXM.

The top-tier Titanium trim offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. While the Sync 3 system was easy to use, it lacked some of the modern tech features present in competitors' vehicles, such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which were available with Ford’s newer Sync 4 system.

Mazda ensured the 2020 CX-5 was well-equipped in terms of safety, featuring a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) under the i-Activsense banner. These 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.

LED headlights and rain-sensing wipers were standard, with adaptive headlights optional starting at the Grand Touring trim level. These features, combined with robust structural engineering, helped the CX-5 earn top safety ratings: a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS and five stars overall from NHTSA.

The 2021 Ford Escape also rated highly in safety tests. IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick, along with top marks in crash tests and child seat anchor ease, but the Escape received lower ratings for headlight performance. NHTSA gave the Escape a five-star overall safety rating.

Standard Co-Pilot360 safety features ranged from automatic high beams to lane-keep assist and forward collision warning. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added advanced features like adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and evasive steering assist, further enhancing the Escape's safety credentials.