2022 Mazda CX-5 vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Ford Edge had retained much of its look since the 2019 refresh. This update successfully modernized the Edge's exterior, aligning it with Ford's latest design language. The outcome was a cleaner look compared to the busier styles of rivals like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Titanium trim of the Edge stood out with extra chrome touches, denoting its higher-level status. Meanwhile, the ST trim featured a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a sporty body kit. Ford also offered the ST-Line, which shared the ST's exterior look but at a lower price, omitting the performance enhancements.

Inside, the Edge started to show its age. The interior design didn't match the freshness of the exterior and showed signs of being patched up over the years to fit in new features, like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models boasted leather upholstery, while the ST models added sporty front seats with enhanced bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, both with contrast stitching.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5, on the other hand, introduced subtle but significant exterior changes for 2022. New LED headlights and taillights offered more distinct illumination. Whether this would resolve the issue of drivers forgetting to turn on their regular lights was yet to be seen. Additional tweaks included new bumpers, a revised grille, a redesigned rear liftgate, and fresh alloy wheel designs, although these weren't particularly inspiring. The top-end Signature trim featured body-colored lower exterior trim, underscoring Mazda's push toward a premium brand image.

Inside, the CX-5 remained unchanged stylistically, still exuding luxury, especially in the Signature trim which featured Nappa leather upholstery, real wood trim, and polished metallic accents. The 2022 model year introduced new seats, aimed at offering enhanced comfort.

However, Mazda’s new trim level lineup for the CX-5 felt confusing at first glance. Essentially, buyers could choose between the 2.5 S and 2.5 Turbo models, where the 2.5 Turbo included a turbocharged engine.

Under the hood, the 2021 Ford Edge offered two engine choices. Most trims came with a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder, delivering 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and came standard with front-wheel drive, though all-wheel drive was available.

For those seeking performance, the Edge ST model packed an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6, producing 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque when fueled with 93-octane gasoline. The ST also included standard all-wheel drive, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and a suspension specifically tuned for the ST. Additionally, the ST offered an optional package with improved brakes and 21-inch wheels equipped with summer tires. The ST aimed to rival performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, though whether it truly competed at that level was a matter of debate.

The 2021 Edge also had respectable towing capacities: 3,958 pounds for the base front-wheel-drive four-cylinder, 4,122 pounds for the all-wheel-drive four-cylinder, and 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST. However, it still fell short compared to rivals like the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, which could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 offered a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine on the 2.5 S models, delivering 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The revised six-speed automatic transmission aimed to boost performance responsiveness, and all CX-5s came standard with all-wheel drive. Fuel economy was rated at 26 mpg in combined driving.

For those wanting more power, the 2.5 Turbo model was the answer, producing 256 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque on premium gasoline, or 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque on regular gasoline. Despite being turbocharged, the EPA rated its fuel economy at 24 mpg in combined driving, although real-world tests showed 21.1 mpg.

Both the 2.5 Turbo and the higher trims of the 2.5 S boasted Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) with Normal, Sport, and Off-Road modes. Improved structural rigidity and suspension tuning aimed to offer a quieter and smoother ride. Enthusiasts noted the significant improvement in driving dynamics, reducing body roll and instilling confidence in drivers.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered competitive interior space for a five-seater midsize crossover. It had the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers of its time. Legroom was also commendable in both rows, only outdone by the Hyundai Santa Fe. Dual-zone automatic climate control was standard across the lineup.

Cargo space stood at 39.2 cubic feet with rear seats up and 73.4 cubic feet with them folded down, making it second only to the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport in its class. A foot-activated power liftgate was available for added convenience.

However, the center console didn't make the best use of space despite the innovative rotary shift knob. Though this knob freed up some room, the console's narrow width limited its utility. Additionally, an awkwardly placed storage nook under the raised console was difficult to reach and easy to forget items in.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 addressed previous complaints about its ride and seat comfort with the introduction of all-new seats for the 2022 model year. The refreshed seating offered better support and a sportier driving position. Most trim levels now also included a height-adjustable front passenger seat, rare among its competitors. The 2.5 Turbo model tested featured dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.

While rear-seat space remained snug, heated outboard cushions and rear air conditioning vents added to passenger comfort. The CX-5's control layout, however, continued to frustrate due to the non-touch-sensitive display and lack of natural voice recognition. But after some acclimatization, the center console controls became more intuitive.

When it came to cargo space, the CX-5 offered 30.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 59.3 cubic feet with them folded down. Compared to entry-level luxury SUVs, these numbers were favorable, but less so when measured against mainstream compact crossovers.

For 2021, the Ford Edge was upgraded with the latest Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring a 12-inch touchscreen and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Complementing this were standard features like Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio (including a three-month trial), and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims, like the Edge ST, included a premium 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.

The vehicle also included four USB ports, with two rear ports—one being a USB-C—added for the 2021 model year. Sync 4’s user interface received positive feedback for its simple graphics and straightforward menus, making it easy for new users to acclimate. It was worth noting not all competitors offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Mazda’s 2022 CX-5 still featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system with a 10.25-inch display that lacked touch capability, in line with Mazda’s belief that touchscreens can distract drivers. It also lacked natural voice recognition, making it more cumbersome to use. To compensate, users had to rely on controls on the center console and steering wheel, which could take some getting used to.

Over time, drivers could adapt to Mazda’s approach, but other manufacturers, like BMW, had already begun integrating touchscreens alongside traditional controls. Mazda needed to catch up, perhaps by introducing advanced voice recognition. For more intuitive control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with text-messaging support, E911 automatic emergency notification, and Mazda Connected Services, with a complimentary three-year trial subscription except for WiFi.

From the 2.5 S Premium trim and up, the CX-5 included a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system, which garnered mixed reviews but generally satisfied in the CX-5. SiriusXM satellite radio was also standard from this trim level onwards.

The 2021 Ford Edge earned high marks for safety. It was named an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) “Top Safety Pick,” earning top ratings in all crash tests and a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. However, it scored lower in vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention and for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, as well as receiving mixed ratings for headlight performance depending on the trim level.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Edge a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests.

Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite came standard with a robust set of safety features, including automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, post-collision braking, dynamic brake support, and rear parking sensors. Higher trims also included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, and Evasive Steering Assist.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 didn't hold back on safety either, equipped with Mazda’s i-Activsense package. This included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. As you climbed the trim ladder, features like adaptive headlights appeared, along with a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, automatic rear braking, and a driver monitoring system available on the top-level trims. The Traffic Jam Assist feature provided low-speed adaptive cruise control and lane-centering during congested commutes.

The i-Activsense worked well overall, although it could be slow to recognize cars merging into lanes, leading to sudden braking. The blind-spot warning was particularly user-friendly when integrated with the head-up display, ensuring drivers didn't have to look away from the road.

For crash-test ratings, the IIHS awarded the 2022 CX-5 a “Top Safety Pick+” rating, a distinction that few rivals could match, even in the luxury segment.