Compare the2023 Ford EscapeVS 2023 Mazda CX-5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Mazda CX-5 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Ford Escape has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The CX-5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Escape has standard Post-Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Escape and CX-5 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Escape (except Base) offers optional Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The CX-5’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Escape and the CX-5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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

	Escape	CX-5
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22.5%	23%
Neck Stress	185 lbs.	274 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	23 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	102	156
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	36.3%	37%
Neck Stress	181 lbs.	205 lbs.
Neck Compression	58 lbs.	86 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	220/169 lbs.	449/262 lbs.

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 Ford Escape is safer than the Mazda CX-5:

	Escape	CX-5
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	97	208
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	65 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches
HIC	344	449
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	32 G’s

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

Warranty

There are almost 6 times as many Ford dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape’s warranty.

Reliability

The Escape has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated lower.

Engine

The Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 63 more horsepower (250 vs. 187) and 94 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 186) than the CX-5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Escape turbo 3 cyl. is faster than the Mazda CX-5 4 cyl.:

	Escape	CX-5
Zero to 60 MPH	8.4 sec	8.7 sec
Quarter Mile	16.6 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	84.5 MPH	78.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Escape gets better mileage than the CX-5:

			MPG
Escape
	FWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	27 city/34 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/32 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy
CX-5
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Escape’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The CX-5 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Escape has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Escape higher (7 out of 10) than the Mazda CX-5 (5 to 7). This means the Escape produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CX-5 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Escape, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-5.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Escape	CX-5	CX-5 Turbo
Front Rotors	13 inches	11.7 inches	12.6 inches

The Escape stops much shorter than the CX-5:

	Escape	CX-5
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	136 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	144 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Escape has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CX-5’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Escape AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the CX-5 Turbo Signature pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Escape AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-5 (27.7 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Chassis

The Ford Escape may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 450 pounds less than the Mazda CX-5.

The front grille of the Escape uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CX-5 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Escape AWD is quieter than the CX-5 Turbo Signature (37 vs. 38 dB).

Passenger Space

The Escape has .3 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-5.

Cargo Capacity

The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-5 with its rear seat up (37.5 vs. 30.8 cubic feet). The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-5 with its rear seat folded (65.4 vs. 59.3 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Escape easier. The Escape’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.1 inches, while the CX-5’s liftover is 29.4 inches.

The Escape’s cargo area is larger than the CX-5’s in almost every dimension:

	Escape	CX-5
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.8”/68.5”	38”
Max Width	57.3”	57”
Min Width	41.4”	41.3”
Height	34.8”	32.4”

An optional locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Escape. The CX-5 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Mazda CX-5 is limited to 2000 pounds. The Escape offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Escape uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The CX-5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Escape (except Base)’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The CX-5 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the Escape and the CX-5 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Escape is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-5 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Escape’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Escape Base). The CX-5 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Both the Escape and the CX-5 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Escape offers optional rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The CX-5 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Escape Elite/Platinum’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The CX-5 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Escape is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Escape is less expensive to operate than the CX-5 because typical repairs cost less on the Escape than the CX-5, including $166 less for fuel injection and $13 less for front struts.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Escape will be $659 to $4914 less than for the Mazda CX-5.