Compare the2023 Mazda CX-5VS 2022 Ford EcoSport

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The CX-5 has standard Whiplash-Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The CX-5 has standard Smart City Brake Support, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The EcoSport doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-5 Turbo Signature has standard Smart Brake Support-Rear that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The EcoSport doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The CX-5’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The CX-5 Turbo Signature has a standard 360° Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The EcoSport only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-5 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Ford charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the EcoSport and its not available on the S.

The CX-5 Turbo Signature’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-5 and the EcoSport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

The Mazda CX-5 weighs 428 to 567 pounds more than the Ford EcoSport. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Ford EcoSport:

	CX-5	EcoSport
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	82	250
Neck Injury Risk	23%	36%
Neck Stress	274 lbs.	403 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	160/307 lbs.	495/441 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	156	325
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	37%	38%

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Ford EcoSport:

	CX-5	EcoSport
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	189 lbs.	337 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	524 lbs.	685 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	37 G’s
Hip Force	435 lbs.	549 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the CX-5 is 1.7% to 3.5% less likely to roll over than the EcoSport.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-5 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The EcoSport has not been fully tested, yet.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CX-5’s reliability 42 points higher than the EcoSport.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Ford is ranked 18th.

Engine

The CX-5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 21 more horsepower (187 vs. 166) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 149) than the EcoSport’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 90 more horsepower (256 vs. 166) and 171 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 149) than the EcoSport’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Mazda CX-5 is faster than the Ford EcoSport:

	CX-5 4 cyl.	CX-5 turbo 4 cyl.	EcoSport
Zero to 30 MPH	3.1 sec	n/a	3.9 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.6 sec	6.4 sec	10.7 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.4 sec	n/a	6.7 sec
Quarter Mile	16.6 sec	14.9 sec	18.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85 MPH	93.6 MPH	79 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-5 with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the EcoSport (24 city/30 hwy vs. 23 city/29 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-5 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-5 has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the EcoSport (15.3 vs. 13.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CX-5 Turbo’s brake rotors are larger than those on the EcoSport:

	CX-5 Turbo	EcoSport
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	10.7 inches

The CX-5 stops much shorter than the EcoSport:

	CX-5	EcoSport
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	186 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CX-5 has larger tires than the EcoSport (225/65R17 vs. 205/60R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-5 has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the EcoSport. The CX-5 Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels optional on the EcoSport.

The Mazda CX-5’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Ford EcoSport only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

The CX-5 has engine speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The EcoSport doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 7 inches longer than on the EcoSport (106.2 inches vs. 99.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-5 is 3 inches wider in the front and 3.1 inches wider in the rear than on the EcoSport.

The CX-5 handles at .82 G’s, while the EcoSport Titanium pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the EcoSport SE (27.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The CX-5 has 12.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the EcoSport (103.6 vs. 91.1).

The CX-5 has .1 inches more front headroom, 3.6 inches more front hip room, 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 2.9 inches more rear legroom, 4.4 inches more rear hip room and 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the EcoSport.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CX-5’s rear seats recline. The EcoSport’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the EcoSport with its rear seat up (30.8 vs. 20.9 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the EcoSport with its rear seat folded (59.3 vs. 50 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The EcoSport doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The CX-5’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The EcoSport’s swing out door blocks loading from the driver’s side.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the CX-5 Premium/Turbo has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a power cargo door.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the CX-5 Preferred/Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The EcoSport doesn’t offer memory seats.

The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-5’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The EcoSport has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The CX-5’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The EcoSport’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

The CX-5 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The CX-5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The EcoSport’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The CX-5’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the EcoSport’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen. The CX-5’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the EcoSport’s projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

Consumer Reports rated the CX-5’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the EcoSport’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the CX-5 detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The EcoSport doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-5 Premium/Turbo has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The EcoSport doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the CX-5 and the EcoSport offer available heated front seats. The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the EcoSport.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The EcoSport doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The CX-5 Select/Preferred/Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The EcoSport doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the CX-5 and the EcoSport offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CX-5 Select/Preferred/Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The EcoSport doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the CX-5 has a standard Radar Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The EcoSport doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda CX-5 Turbo has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. The EcoSport doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the CX-5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CX-5 will cost $575 less than the EcoSport over a five-year period.

The CX-5 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the CX-5 will retain 50.99% to 51.37% of its original price after five years, while the EcoSport only retains 44.94% to 46.13%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-5 is less expensive to operate than the EcoSport because it costs $46 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the CX-5 than the EcoSport, including $16 less for a muffler, $20 less for front brake pads, $120 less for a fuel pump, $55 less for front struts, $595 less for a timing belt/chain and $433 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-5, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Ford EcoSport isn't recommended.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Ford EcoSport by over five to one during 2022.

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