2023 Ford Escape vs 2022 Mazda CX-5

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 featured new LED headlights and taillights, offering more distinctive illumination. It also boasted new bumpers, a revised grille, a redesigned rear liftgate, and fresh alloy wheel designs. The top-of-the-line Signature trim received body-color lower exterior trim, emphasizing Mazda’s premium brand aspirations. Inside, the CX-5 retained its luxurious feel with premium Nappa leather upholstery, real wood trim, and polished metallic accents. The new seats provided improved comfort, and the trim levels were restructured into the CX-5 2.5 S and CX-5 2.5 Turbo, with the latter offering a turbocharged engine.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape adopted a more European design language, moving away from its previous blocky exterior. The refresh included a traditional front end with a Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. The Escape offered various trim levels, with the ST-Line Elite featuring 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps and wheel-arch cladding. Inside, the ST-Line Elite flaunted diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat was easy to adjust. However, the interior was dominated by plastic, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a revised six-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The EPA rated its fuel economy at 26 mpg in combined driving. The CX-5 2.5 Turbo, on premium gas, delivered 256 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque, while on regular gas, it produced 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The Turbo also featured the revised six-speed automatic and standard AWD, with an EPA rating of 24 mpg in combined driving. The CX-5’s driving dynamics were improved, offering a quieter and smoother ride with reduced body roll and enhanced grip.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in FWD or AWD. The higher trims, such as the ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite, featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. Despite the impressive output, the Escape’s suspension remained soft and compliant, and the transmission lacked performance tuning. The brakes were predictable and linear, and the steering inputs were well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 addressed previous complaints about its ride and handling with new seats that provided better support and a sportier driving position. The height-adjustable front passenger seat was a notable addition, along with dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The back seat remained snug but offered heated outboard cushions and air conditioning vents. The control layout was frustrating due to the non-touchscreen Mazda Connect infotainment system. Cargo space was adequate, with 30.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 59.3 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered comfortable and supportive seats with excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel felt great to hold, and the front-door armrests were well-positioned. The head-up display was easy to adjust for different drivers. However, the Escape fell short in cargo space, with 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, lagging behind competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Passenger space was also limited, with less rear-seat legroom but good headroom and padded front-seat backs.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 retained its Mazda Connect infotainment system with a 10.25-inch display, which was not touch-sensitive. The system lacked natural voice recognition, requiring the use of center console and steering wheel controls. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a three-year trial subscription to Mazda Connected Services. The 2.5 S Premium trim and above included a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system and SiriusXM satellite radio.

The 2023 Ford Escape featured the Sync 4 infotainment system, with lower trims equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen and higher trims, like the ST-Line Elite and Platinum, boasting a 13.2-inch screen. Sync 4 was well-organized, with easy navigation between Android Auto and the native navigation system. However, it was slow to respond to inputs, and the volume knob was inconveniently placed. Despite these minor annoyances, the system’s feature set, layout, and ease of use were impressive.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 came with a comprehensive i-Activsense package, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added adaptive headlights, a surround-view camera system, parking sensors, automatic rear braking, and a driver monitoring system. The CX-5 received a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Ford Escape earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal- and side-crash tests and four stars in the rollover test. However, it did not receive a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS due to a Marginal score in the updated side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, lane-centering technology, and a surround-view camera.