2022 Mazda CX-30 vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 was reminiscent of a smaller CX-5, featuring an upright grille and smooth, flowing fenders. It shared its platform with the Mazda3, essentially serving as a raised version of the Mazda3 hatchback. The CX-30's raked windshield acted like a greenhouse on sunny days, potentially causing a tan on longer drives. However, the windshield's slight curve at eye level for taller drivers could distort the road view, which was distracting. Inside, the cabin was comfortable and quiet, with a solid feel to the buttons and doors. The interior design was among the best for affordable cars, blending conventional and digital displays artfully. The infotainment screen rose organically from the dashboard, but its functionality was compromised by a steep learning curve.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape adopted a more European design language, moving away from the blocky exterior of its predecessors. The 2023 refresh replaced the cartoonish grille with a more traditional front end, featuring the Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. The Escape, along with the Bronco Sport, was the smallest in Ford's SUV lineup. Despite not being rugged enough for extreme trails, the Escape was not unattractive. The top-trim ST-Line Elite test vehicle sported 19-inch wheels and body-colour mirror caps, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the diamond-stitched leather upholstery looked good but felt hard, though the seats were comfortable for long drives. The interior was dominated by plastic, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 offered a range of engine options. The base GX model featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The GS and GT models came with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Our test model, the GT, was equipped with a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, offering 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque on 87 octane fuel, and 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft on 93 octane fuel. The power was routed to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine provided decent acceleration, and the Sport mode enhanced throttle response and shift mapping. The CX-30's sporty ride was complemented by well-weighted steering and quick turn-in, though it resulted in a rough ride over potholes.

The 2023 Ford Escape differentiated itself with multiple powertrain options. The base engine was a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder, delivering 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine could be paired with either FWD or AWD. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. Despite the impressive output, the Escape was not a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and no paddle shifters. The brakes offered predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 provided up to 1,280 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 572 litres with the seats in use, which was average for the subcompact SUV segment. The GT grade featured a power rear liftgate. The front seats had a sliding centre console cover, which could get stuck under the seat when folded. The centre console offered ample space for personal items, and the front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles. The rear seats provided solid headroom, suitable for short-to-medium trips, though longer drives might be tight.

The 2023 Ford Escape was comfortable, with soft and supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel felt great to hold, and the armrests were well-positioned. The head-up display was easy to adjust for different drivers. The Escape offered up to 1,061 litres of storage behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the second row folded, which was close in size to the Chevrolet Equinox and Mazda CX-5 but fell short of leaders like the Honda CR-V. Passenger space was slightly less than competitors, but the back seat's headroom was impressive, and the front-seat backs were padded to maximize space for tall passengers.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 featured an elegant dash design, with the infotainment screen nestled into the dash. The screen lacked touch functionality and was controlled by a rotary dial and toggle buttons, inspired by luxury-car systems like BMW's iDrive. However, the lack of touch functionality made it difficult to use, especially with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Navigating between presets was cumbersome, even after learning the system.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 technology. Lower trims had an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims like the ST-Line Elite featured a 13.2-inch screen. Sync 4 was well-organized, with tiles for navigation, music, and Bluetooth pairing. The system was easy to navigate, and a wi-fi hotspot was available with a subscription. The static "Home" button made it easy to switch between applications. Although Sync 4 was occasionally slow to respond, its feature set and layout were impressive. A six-speaker sound system was standard, with a Bang & Olufsen system optional on higher trims.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 offered available driver-assistance features, though most were not standard in Canada. Available features included forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. Standard features included rain-sensing wipers, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The CX-30 earned five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, with top marks in all crash tests and a "Superior" score for driver-assistance technology.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal- and side-crash tests and four stars in the rollover test. The IIHS did not grant it a Top Safety Pick designation, noting a Marginal score in the updated side-impact test. The Escape came with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and lane-centring technology, along with a surround-view camera.