Comparison: 2020 Ford Escape vs. 2020 Mazda CX-5

2020 Ford Escape

Starting Price: $28,549 CDN

Pros

• Completely redesigned compact SUV with four powertrain options, including Hybrid & Plugin Hybrid
• Sliding 2nd-row seats with expanded passenger & cargo room
• All-new suspension delivering excellent ride quality
• Ford Co-Pilot360’s Driver Assistance Technology is standard

Cons

• Generic exterior design language
• Steering lacks feel
• No Sport or ST option

What's New For 2020

• All-new platform reduces overall weight
• More carlike styling
• The Escape Hybrid returns, but the Plug-in Hybrid model is not planned until later in 2020

Summary

The completely redesigned 2020 Ford Escape compact SUV drops weight and gains best-in-class 2nd-row passenger space. A completely retuned suspension gives the front- or all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger Escape a smooth and comfortable ride, adding to its appeal. Co-Pilot360, Ford’s suite of driver-assistance features, now comes standard across all trims.

Four engine options, including a Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid, offer buyers a variety of powertrains. Exterior design language takes on a performance-crossover-SUV spin with a sloping roofline and reimagined front fascia but tends to be on the generic side. A simple, economical, but intuitive interior full of tech pleases without fuss.

2020 Mazda CX-5

Starting Price: $27,950 CDN

Pros

• Stylish design, inside & out
• Lots of useful standard equipment
• Impressive driving dynamics
• Available turbocharged engine
• Top safety ratings

Cons

• Smaller back seat & cargo area than some competitors
• Infotainment system sometimes confusing
• Lacklustre climate-control system on hot days
• Turbo engine thirstier than NRCan estimates suggest

What's New For 2020

• More standard driving-assist & collision-avoidance technology
• Measures taken to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness
• Additional standard equipment for upper trims
• Slight increase in torque for turbocharged gas engine

Summary

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 compact SUV proves that not all compact-crossover SUVs are created equal. Priced like its mainstream competition but designed, executed and equipped like an entry-luxury model, the front- or all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger CX-5 is that rare bargain — even at sticker price.

The CX-5 comfortably seats four occupants and carries five in a pinch. It provides all the usual equipment and advanced safety features that buyers desire, combined with impressive build quality, reliability and safety ratings. Get behind the wheel, and the CX-5 displays an extraordinary talent that’s rare elsewhere in the compact SUV class. The driving experience is genuinely engaging. That’s why we think the CX-5 is a must-try.

Final Recommendation

The 2020 Ford Escape benefits from a more sophisticated infotainment system and better fuel economy. But for similar money, the 2020 Mazda CX-5 is a better choice, offering a compact SUV with more refinement that's both better to drive day-to-day and live with for the long term.