Compare the2023 Mazda CX-5VS 2023 Ford Edge

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Towing
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 Edge doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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 Edge doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 Edge only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the CX-5 and the Edge 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available driver alert monitors.

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 Edge:

	CX-5	Edge
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	82	212
Leg Forces (l/r)	160/307 lbs.	165/596 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 Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Ford Edge:

	CX-5	Edge
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	84
Chest Movement	.5 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	126 lbs.	190 lbs.
Hip Force	189 lbs.	192 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	524 lbs.	635 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	16 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	38 G’s

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

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 Edge last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Reliability

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 optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 6 more horsepower (256 vs. 250) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 280) than the Edge’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda CX-5 4 cyl. is faster than the Ford Edge turbo 4 cyl.:

	CX-5	Edge
Zero to 60 MPH	7.9 sec	8.3 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.4 sec	9 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.8 sec	4.3 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
CX-5
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy
Edge
	AWD	2.7 turbo V6	19 city/25 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 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 Edge doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-5 stops much shorter than the Edge:

	CX-5	Edge
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	187 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The CX-5 handles at .82 G’s, while the Edge Titanium pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Edge Titanium (27.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Edge’s (36 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

Chassis

The Mazda CX-5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 650 pounds less than the Ford Edge.

The CX-5 is 8.7 inches shorter than the Edge, making the CX-5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the CX-5 is quieter than the Edge Titanium (38 vs. 40 dB).

Towing

The CX-5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Edge’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

Ergonomics

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 Edge doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Edge’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 Edge 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 Edge’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The CX-5’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Edge’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the CX-5 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the CX-5 with a number “1” insurance rate while the Edge is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-5 is less expensive to operate than the Edge because it costs $146 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the CX-5 than the Edge, including $61 less for a water pump, $370 less for a muffler, $63 less for front brake pads, $63 less for a fuel pump, $31 less for front struts, $620 less for a timing belt/chain and $451 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mazda CX-5 will be $1361 to $8822 less than for the Ford Edge.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-5 and the Ford Edge, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Ford Edge by 77% during 2022.