2021 Mazda CX-5 vs 2022 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 was a departure from the deeply-creased hoods and chiseled grilles that many automakers favored. Instead, it presented a smooth, sleek design that appeared almost slippery even when stationary. While it wasn't a standout in terms of aggressive styling, it took Mazda's familiar design language in a more refined direction. The base CX-5 Sport featured automatic LED headlights, 17-inch gray metallic wheels, a rear roof spoiler, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Higher trims like the Touring and Grand Touring added features such as leatherette seats, dual-zone climate control, and auto-leveling LED headlights, enhancing both style and functionality.

The top-tier CX-5 Signature model, which was the test vehicle, offered a premium experience with Caturra Brown Nappa leather seats, genuine wood trim, and a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror. The interior materials felt high-quality, rivaling those found in more expensive brands like Buick and Acura. The Signature trim also included 19-inch silver aluminum alloy wheels and ambient lighting, making it a well-executed, stylish choice for those seeking a touch of luxury in a compact crossover.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered a wide range of models, from the base trim to the luxurious King Ranch, priced between $33,745 and $54,495, excluding a $1,495 destination charge. The King Ranch model, which was the test vehicle, featured 4WD, Rapid Red paint, a Premium Technology package, and a twin-panel sunroof, bringing its MSRP to $59,880. Visually, the King Ranch was distinguished by its emblems, shiny 20-inch wheels, and quad exhaust outlets, but it didn't stand out significantly from other Explorer models.

The Explorer's design was based on a rear-drive platform, allowing for a long, tall hood and a rakish roofline, giving it an athletic appearance. Inside, the King Ranch featured exclusive Del Rio leather seating with lasso-perforated inserts and King Ranch branding. The cabin had a mix of high-quality and questionable materials, but overall, it felt worthy of its near $60,000 price tag. The King Ranch's interior was comfortable and well-equipped, but it did show hints of the Explorer's base trim in some areas.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine options. The base engine was a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available. The turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, available on higher trims, delivered 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. This engine provided a more spirited performance, especially in Sport mode, and was paired with AWD as standard.

Fuel efficiency for the CX-5 varied depending on the engine and drivetrain. The most fuel-efficient version, with FWD and the non-turbo engine, achieved 25 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined. The turbocharged engine with AWD managed 22 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined. While the CX-5's fuel economy was decent, it lagged behind some competitors that offered hybrid variants. The CX-5's sporty driving style was engaging, but its stiff suspension could be a drawback for those seeking a smoother ride.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrains. The base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited, and Timberline trims came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine generating 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided up to 24 mpg in combined driving and a maximum towing capacity of 5,300 pounds. The Explorer Limited also offered a hybrid drivetrain based on a 3.3-liter V6 engine, producing a combined 318 horsepower and 322 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and up to 27 mpg in combined driving.

The top-tier engine was a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, standard on the ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trims, producing 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. This engine offered a maximum towing capacity of 5,600 pounds and 21 mpg in combined driving. The King Ranch 4WD test vehicle averaged 20.6 mpg. The twin-turbo V6 provided plenty of power and satisfying acceleration, but the hybrid powertrain offered a better blend of power, efficiency, and capability, though it wasn't available on the King Ranch trim.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5's design allowed it to fulfill most family needs with comfort and style. The seating position and comfort level were typical for an SUV of its size, with good headroom in both rows but limited legroom for back seat passengers. The CX-5 had two full LATCH connections on the rear outboard seats and a tether connector on the middle rear seat. The climate controls were straightforward and easy to use, but the larger shifter took up more passenger space than modern electronic shifters.

Cargo space in the CX-5 was below average for the segment, with 30.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 59.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Competitors like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 offered significantly more cargo space. A power liftgate was available, but the CX-5's cargo capacity was a drawback for those needing more storage.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered plenty of comfort for families of four, with the option to carry five people with a second-row bench seat. The King Ranch model featured triple-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain’s chairs. The front seats were exceptionally comfortable, suitable for long-distance driving, while the second-row seats were nearly as accommodating. However, the third-row seat was difficult for adults to access and lacked legroom.

Practical storage space within the Explorer's cabin could have been better. The center console storage bin was stingy, and the front door armrests lacked trays. The wireless charging pad and smartphone holder were well-shaped and located, but the interior lacked practical pockets, shelves, cubbies, and hooks. The King Ranch test vehicle had a hands-free power liftgate, revealing 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat. With the third-row seats folded, there was 47.9 cubic feet of cargo space, and with both rear rows folded, the maximum cargo volume was 87.8 cubic feet.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 came standard with a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. While the screen size was impressive, Mazda's operating system was not user-friendly. The information presented on the screen was not modern, and the system was difficult to use via the center console knob. There were no knobs for quickly tuning the stereo or scrolling through favorites, though the volume could be adjusted via a switch on the steering wheel or a knob in the center console. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, providing a workaround for the infotainment system's shortcomings.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered two versions of its Sync 3 infotainment system. The first had an 8-inch touchscreen display, while the second had a 10.1-inch touchscreen mounted portrait style. The smaller screen was well integrated, but the larger screen looked like an afterthought. The King Ranch test vehicle had the full menu of Sync 3 technology, including FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, Ford+Alexa functionality, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a navigation system. It also featured wireless smartphone charging, a surround-view camera system, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen premium sound system.

Ford's next-generation Sync 4 technology was not available in the Explorer, and the differences between Sync 3 and Sync 4 were significant. The voice recognition system in Sync 3 was less effective, often failing to recognize commands accurately. The King Ranch also had a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and Active Park Assist 2.0, which could autonomously park the Explorer. An available rear-seat entertainment system came with dual rear touchscreen displays.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 came with a long list 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. Additional features included a head-up display, reverse automatic emergency braking, driver attention monitoring, a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, and traffic sign recognition. The CX-5 earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. Mazda backed the CX-5 with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The 2022 Ford Explorer also earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. The NHTSA had not published complete crash-test ratings for the 2022 model, but the 2021 model received five-star ratings except for rollover resistance, which got four stars. The Explorer came with Ford Co-Pilot360, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Co-Pilot360 Assist+ added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The Explorer also had a post-collision braking system and MyKey programmable vehicle functions. The Co-Pilot360 features worked well, though the system sometimes lacked steering wheel sensitivity.