2021 Ford Escape vs 2022 Mazda CX-5

The 2021 Ford Escape, a fourth-generation model, straddled the line between SUV and hatchback. Its curved snout and sleek roofline made it resemble an engorged Focus at first glance, yet it maintained the tall ride height of a proper SUV. This design gave the Escape a less truck-like appearance compared to the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, or Toyota RAV4, but it also resulted in a more generic look than the latest Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage. For 2021, the Escape introduced new appearance packages for three of its four trim levels, including the SE Sport Appearance Package, SEL Stealth AWD Package, and Titanium Elite Package. These upgrades featured 19-inch alloy wheels, ActiveX upholstery with Miko Suede seat inserts, and leather-wrapped steering wheels.

Inside, the Escape's design choices were less cohesive. The angular instrument cluster clashed with the exterior's sleekness, and the interior materials felt low-rent. Even the top Escape Titanium model lacked standard leather upholstery, although it did offer ambient lighting. Dual-zone automatic climate control was only available starting from the SEL trim level.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5, at first glance, seemed unchanged, but it featured new LED headlights and taillights with more distinctive illumination. The CX-5 also sported new bumpers, a revised grille, a redesigned rear liftgate, and fresh alloy wheel designs. The top-of-the-line Signature trim received body-color lower exterior trim, emphasizing Mazda's premium brand aspirations. Inside, the Signature trim remained luxurious with premium Nappa leather upholstery, real wood trim, and polished metallic accents. The seats were new for 2022, offering improved comfort.

Mazda simplified its trim levels, introducing the CX-5 2.5 S and CX-5 2.5 Turbo. The 2.5 S, with a naturally aspirated engine, came in various trims, while the 2.5 Turbo, with a turbocharged engine, offered base and Signature trims. Our test vehicle, the 2.5 Turbo, included optional Soul Red paint, a navigation system, a rear bumper guard, and a package with roof rails and crossbars, totaling $39,445.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered two gasoline powertrains, as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. The base powertrain was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It came with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbo-four engine, available only with AWD, delivered 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, producing a total of 200 hp. The plug-in hybrid's larger battery pack allowed for significant electric-only driving. The hybrid was available with FWD or AWD, while the plug-in hybrid was FWD only. The Escape's chassis tuning left much to be desired, with sloppy suspension and steering making it a chore to drive. The 2.0-liter, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models could be equipped with a Class 2 Trailer Tow Package, with a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds for the 2.0-liter engine.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a revised six-speed automatic transmission for more responsive performance. All CX-5s came with standard AWD, and the EPA rated this powertrain at 26 mpg in combined driving. The CX-5 2.5 Turbo, running on premium gas, delivered 256 hp and 320 pound-feet of torque, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular gas. The EPA rated it at 24 mpg in combined driving, but our testing showed 21.1 mpg. The 2.5 Turbo trims and the 2.5 S Premium and Premium Plus featured Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) with Normal, Sport, and Off-Road settings. The 2022 CX-5 benefited from increased structural rigidity and reworked suspension tuning, resulting in a quieter, smoother, and sportier ride. The improved driving dynamics, reduced noise, and enhanced cabin quietude added credibility to Mazda's premium brand claim.

Despite its car-like styling, the 2021 Ford Escape compared well against more traditionally-styled compact SUVs in terms of interior space. First-row and second-row headroom and legroom were near the top of the segment, and the Escape featured a standard sliding rear seat that could be moved to expand legroom or cargo space. Sliding the bench seat all the way back yielded 40.7 inches of rear legroom in non-hybrid models. The battery pack placement in hybrid and plug-in hybrid models reduced some legroom. The gasoline Escape offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up, expandable to 37.5 cubic feet by sliding the rear seat forward. Folding the rear seat provided 65.4 cubic feet of cargo space. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo space.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 addressed previous complaints about its ride and handling, as well as its front seats. The new seats provided better support and a sportier driving position. All CX-5 models, except the 2.5 S base trim, included a height-adjustable front passenger seat. The 2.5 Turbo test vehicle featured leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The back seat remained snug, but heated outboard cushions and air conditioning vents improved passenger comfort. The control layout, particularly the Mazda Connect infotainment system, remained a source of frustration due to the lack of a touchscreen display and natural voice recognition. Storage space was adequate, with a small bin under the center armrest and wireless smartphone charging in a tray forward of the transmission shifter. The CX-5 offered 30.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 59.3 cubic feet with the back seat folded.

The 2021 Ford Escape used Ford's older Sync 3 infotainment system, with base Escape S models featuring a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were standard. Upgrading to the Escape SE added an 8-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Escape Titanium trim level included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. Sync 3 remained user-friendly, but the Escape lacked some standard tech features compared to competitors and missed out on wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 retained the Mazda Connect infotainment system with a 10.25-inch display, which was not touch-sensitive. Mazda believed touch interfaces caused driver distraction, and the system lacked natural voice recognition. Users had to rely on center console and steering wheel controls. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with text-messaging support, E911 automatic emergency notification, and Mazda Connected Services with a three-year trial subscription. Starting with the 2.5 S Premium trim, the CX-5 included a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system and SiriusXM satellite radio.

The 2021 Ford Escape received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with top "Good" scores in all crash tests and for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Escape a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and Evasive Steering Assist.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 came with a comprehensive i-Activsense package, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added adaptive headlights, a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, automatic rear braking, and a driver monitoring system. The CX-5 received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, a distinction few rivals could match.