2021 Mazda CX-5 vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 took a gentle approach to its design, contrasting sharply with the aggressively chiseled look that many automakers leaned into. Instead of deeply creased hoods and sharp angles, the CX-5 offered a smooth and almost slippery appearance, even when it was stationary. It might not have been the flashiest compact SUV, but it represented a stylish evolution of Mazda's consistent design language.

Across its trim levels, the exterior differences were subtle. The base CX-5 Sport featured automatic on/off LED headlights, 17-inch gray metallic aluminum alloy wheels, a rear roof spoiler, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The Touring trim added rear privacy glass, leatherette seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, two rear USB ports, a six-speaker sound system, and auto-leveling LED headlights that adjusted with steering direction—especially useful on winding roads at night.

The Touring Preferred SV Package, new for 2021, further enhanced the Touring model with a 10-speaker Bose sound system, leather seats, a power liftgate, a power moonroof, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink, a six-way power-adjustable passenger seat, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support and memory positioning. The CX-5 Carbon Edition combined Touring features with the SV Package, adding a Polymetal Gray paint job, gloss black door mirrors, and 19-inch black metallic aluminum alloy wheels, along with red leather seats and black honeycomb interior trim.

Higher trims like the Grand Touring included dual heated mirrors, leatherette-trimmed upholstery, 19-inch brilliant silver aluminum alloy wheels, LED taillights, fog lights, and daytime running lights. This model incorporated a power liftgate, paddle shifters, a 7-inch digital gauge display, and SiriusXM. The Grand Touring Reserve offered ventilated seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, automatic folding door mirrors, and windshield wiper de-icer.

At the top of the range, the CX-5 Signature provided a premium feel, with Caturra Brown Nappa leather seats, genuine wood trim, a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink, ambient lighting, a black headliner, and 19-inch silver aluminum alloy wheels. The superior interior materials and impeccable fit and finish made the Signature model rival offerings from Buick, Infiniti, and Acura.

The 2021 Ford Edge, in comparison, had its styling updated in 2019, a facelift that integrated modern Ford design cues with the established Edge body shell. This resulted in a cleaner look, offering a sleek alternative to the more ornate styling of competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe.

The Edge Titanium trim stood out with extra chrome accents denoting its higher status, while the Edge ST had a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line shared the aggressive exterior styling of the ST but without the high-performance engine and price tag.

Inside, the Edge was beginning to show its age. Its design struggled to keep up with the exterior refresh, with awkward tweaks to accommodate newer technologies like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium trim featured leather upholstery, whereas the ST had sportier front seats with extra bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, complete with contrast stitching.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine options, both of which provided competent performance. The base engine in the CX-5 Sport was a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift and sport modes. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) as an option.

The CX-5 Touring trim shared the same base engine, but the Carbon Edition offered a choice between the base engine and a more powerful 250-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which provided 320 lb-ft of torque on regular fuel. The Grand Touring Reserve and Signature models exclusively featured the turbocharged engine, and AWD was standard on these high-tier trims.

In terms of fuel efficiency, the most economical CX-5 had FWD and the base engine, achieving 25 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined. With AWD, the figures slightly dropped to 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. Models with the turbocharged engine had comparable fuel economy, with the AWD version rated at 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined.

The turbocharged engine provided a lively driving experience, particularly in Sport mode, where the CX-5 felt responsive and engaging. However, the firm suspension, while enhancing the sporty feel, made the ride a bit rougher compared to competitors. The smaller Mazda CX-30, also equipped with the turbo-four, offered even more agility and fun on the road.

The 2021 Ford Edge came standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine was available with FWD as standard and optional AWD.

For those seeking more performance, the Edge ST featured a 2.7-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 engine, churning out 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, paired with AWD and an eight-speed automatic transmission unique to the ST model. The Edge ST also came with specific suspension tuning, and an optional package added upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires.

While the Edge ST's performance aimed to emulate performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, it fell short of those lofty comparisons. However, it still offered a dynamic driving experience not typically seen in midsize crossovers. Conversely, the base turbo-four engine in non-ST models sometimes felt sluggish.

Towing capacities for the Edge varied by configuration: the base FWD model could tow up to 3,958 pounds, the AWD version 4,122 pounds, and the V6-powered Edge ST could handle up to 4,525 pounds. These figures, while respectable, lagged behind competitors like the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, both rated at 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5's thoughtful design accommodated most family needs comfortably and stylishly. The seating position and center stack distance aligned well with typical SUVs in its class. Headroom was sufficient in both rows, but legroom for rear passengers was compromised when taller individuals occupied the front seats.

The CX-5 came equipped with two LATCH connections on the rear outboard seats and a tether connector on the middle rear seat, which worked adequately though not effortlessly. The straightforward climate controls were user-friendly and standard for Mazda.

However, the larger shifter in the center took up more space than necessary, contrasting with the more compact electronic shifters common in other modern SUVs. The positioning of the infotainment controls also posed difficulty for shorter drivers.

In terms of cargo space, the CX-5 offered 30.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 59.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. This was below average for the segment, outmatched by models like the Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, and Honda CR-V. A power liftgate was available for added convenience.

The 2021 Ford Edge provided competitive interior space, particularly with its ample rear-seat headroom, leading among two-row midsize crossovers. Legroom in both rows was also generous, bettered only by the Hyundai Santa Fe. Standard features included dual-zone automatic climate control.

The Edge had significant cargo space, with 39.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 73.4 cubic feet with them folded, trailing only behind the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Higher trims offered a foot-activated power liftgate for easier access.

Ford's rotary shift knob aimed to free up space on the center console, but the narrow console width limited the extra room. Although the raised console allowed for a storage nook beneath, it was difficult to access and easy to forget items placed there.

For 2021, all Mazda CX-5 models came with a sizable 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. While the screen size was commendable, Mazda's operating system was not as user-friendly, with a design that felt outdated and difficult to navigate using the central console knob.

Music lovers could rejoice in the inclusion of volume controls both on the steering wheel and the center console. Unfortunately, the lack of tuning knobs made changing stations more cumbersome than necessary. Though somewhat mitigated by standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, depending on these to enhance basic usability should not have been necessary.

The 2021 Ford Edge stayed ahead in technology with the introduction of the Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring a 12-inch touchscreen and standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Other standard tech included Bluetooth, SiriusXM with a three-month free trial, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST trim offered a premium 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system for an elevated in-car audio experience.

Four USB ports provided ample charging opportunities, with two rear USB ports, including a USB-C port, added for 2021. Sync 4 received praise for its clear graphics and user-friendly interface, making it easier for new users to adapt. The wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto offered an advantage, as not all competitors provided these features.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 featured a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, lane keep assist, and a rearview camera.

Optional safety features included a head-up display (HUD), reverse automatic emergency braking, driver attention monitoring, a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, and traffic sign recognition—though the latter occasionally lagged in displaying correct information.

These features contributed to the CX-5 earning high safety ratings, being named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Mazda's warranty coverage included a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The 2021 Ford Edge also garnered high safety marks, being named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS and receiving a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 umbrella 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.

Most trims also came with adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, lane centering, and Evasive Steering Assist, enhancing overall safety. However, the Edge’s ratings varied, with the SUV earning an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention and "Acceptable" and "Poor" ratings for headlight performance depending on the trim level.