Compare the2023 Ford EscapeVS 2023 Mazda CX-50

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-50 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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-50 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 the CX-50 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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.

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-50 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.

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-50’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Ford Escape turbo 3 cyl. is faster than the Mazda CX-50 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the Escape gets better mileage than the CX-50:

Regardless of its engine, the Escape’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Mazda only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the CX-50 Turbo.

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-50 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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-50 (3 to 7). This means the Escape produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CX-50 every 15,000 miles.

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-50.

For better stopping power the Escape’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-50:

The Escape stops shorter than the CX-50:

For superior ride and handling, the Ford Escape has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda CX-50 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Escape has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Escape flat and controlled during cornering. The CX-50’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Ford Escape may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 400 pounds less than the Mazda CX-50.

The Escape is 5.7 inches shorter than the CX-50, making the Escape easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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-50 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Escape AWD is quieter than the CX-50 2.5 Turbo:

The Escape has 3.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-50 (104 vs. 100.3).

The Escape has .9 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom, 1.2 inches more rear hip room and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-50.

The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-50 with its rear seat up (37.5 vs. 31.4 cubic feet). The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-50 with its rear seat folded (65.4 vs. 56.3 cubic feet).

The Escape’s cargo area is larger than the CX-50’s in almost every dimension:

An optional locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Escape. The CX-50 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

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-50 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Escape offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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-50 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the Escape and the CX-50 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-50 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-50 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Both the Escape and the CX-50 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-50 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-50 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Escape is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Ford Escape outsold the Mazda CX-50 by over six to one during 2022.