Compare the2023 Mazda CX-5VS 2023 Ford Escape

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

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-5. But it costs extra on the Escape.

Both the CX-5 and the Escape 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, 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 around view monitors and 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 Escape:

	CX-5	Escape
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	82	143
Leg Forces (l/r)	160/307 lbs.	188/315 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 Escape:

	CX-5	Escape
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	197
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	126 lbs.	191 lbs.
Hip Force	189 lbs.	240 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	524 lbs.	816 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	435 lbs.	462 lbs.

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-5 is much safer than the Escape:

	CX-5	Escape
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	155	391
Head Peak Forces	no contact	93 G’s
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	.51 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.34 in	1.77 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	848 lbs.	1160 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	22 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.42 in	1.54 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	1.5 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

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

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the CX-5’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Escape’s camshafts. If the Escape’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

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 38 points higher than the Escape.

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 6 more horsepower (187 vs. 181) than the Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder. 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 Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

	CX-5	Escape
Zero to 30 MPH	3.1 sec	3.3 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.6 sec	8.9 sec
Quarter Mile	16.6 sec	16.9 sec

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-5 (250 HP engine) is faster than the Ford Escape 2.0:

	CX-5	Escape
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	6.9 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.6 MPH	89.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-5 with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the Escape 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder (24 city/30 hwy vs. 22 city/31 hwy).

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-5 stops shorter than the Escape:

	CX-5	Escape
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The CX-5 handles at .81 G’s, while the Escape AWD pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Escape (27.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the Escape’s (36 feet vs. 37.2 feet).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the CX-5 is quieter than the Escape AWD (66 vs. 70 dB).

Passenger Space

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

Cargo Capacity

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

Ergonomics

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 Escape’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens 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 Escape 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 Escape’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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

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 Escape’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

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 Escape doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the CX-5 and the Escape 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 Escape.

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 Escape doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The CX-5 has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Escape S doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the CX-5 has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Escape S doesn’t offer rear vents.

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 Escape is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

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 Escape only retains 49.35% to 49.88%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-5 is less expensive to operate than the Escape 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 Escape, including $68 less for a water pump, $1182 less for a muffler, $23 less for front brake pads, $27 less for a starter, $48 less for a fuel pump, $688 less for a timing belt/chain and $307 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its May 2020 issue and they ranked the Mazda CX-5 first. They ranked the Ford Escape AWD sixth.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Ford Escape by 10% during 2022.

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