Compare 2021 Ford Escape vs. 2021 mazda CX-5

Serving Toledo, OH

Small SUVs have become the popular class of the day, and there's some fierce competition between the 2021 Ford Escape and Mazda CX-5. While we can all agree that the Escape's name is catchier and easier to say out loud, there's so much more to the Escape than just a recognizable and trusted brand name. It's one of the most popular small SUVs in the world and very convincingly motors past the CX-5 this year. This is in part because of the iconic Escape build, but it's also because the CX-5 drops the ball on so many things that there's no way it was ever going to really win over many fans. Brondes Ford Toledo welcomes the Escape this year and puts it above the CX-5 for many reasons.

Performance

Mazda CX-5 fans want to talk about anything but performance here. The Escape tidily does away with the CX-5 almost immediately where it counts most: powertrain. The 250 horsepower fully loaded Escape is more powerful than the 227 horsepower top power of the CX-5. And there's really no excuse for that if you're a Mazda designer. While compact SUVs don't entirely depend on their powertrain as a primary selling point, those extra horses still count where it matters most. You want a compact that's fun to drive, not a drag to drive, and the CX-5's powertrain and especially transmission (6-speed) is underwhelming. In the meantime, the Escape grabs an 8-speed automatic and hybrid options. Game over. If you'd like to verify this for yourself, though, we recommend a test drive of the Ford Escape!

Fuel Economy

If you want a vehicle that can go and go, the Ford Escape is it. The CX-5 is clearly not it. With its mere 22-25 city MPG and 27-31 highway MPG, the CX-5 is one of the poorest SUVs for overall fuel economy. The Ford Escape gets a huge boost this year thanks to its hybrid options and tanks all the way up to 44 MPG in city driving (depending on what trim and configuration you get). It's up to 37 MPG on the highway makes the Escape one of the best choices for fuel conscience shoppers. And of course, the plug-ins are a huge boon to the Escape. Ford really focused on amping up the Escape's profile this year, and they succeeded in a triumphant way. Fuel economy is one thing. When you consider, though, that the Escape's strong powertrain option also gives you more power, you realize that the Escape is really winning big on two features Mazda shouldn't have neglected. You have a choice now. You're not stuck with a CX-5. Why Mazda neglected transmission, powertrain, and fuel economy, we don't know. But we do know it's a lucky thing for the Ford brand competitors. A test drive of the Ford Escape will let you see just how silky smooth it is on gas mileage.

Safety

Ford's excellent Ford Co-Pilot360 driver-assist program makes it a near instant choice against any other SUV on the planet. They've manned this system with features like auto emergency braking, cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam switches for quick and easy no-hands-required safety. The new parking sensors also help to boost the Escape's safety profile, making it completely safe all the way around the vehicle and giving you some really handy features when you're trying to pull the Escape into a space. Radar cruise control will also allow for steady cruising in both city driving environments and highway driving environments. The Escape stepped up its safety profile this year by bumping up standard safety equipment to earlier trims, so you no longer have to pay to get the heavy hitting driver-assist features you once did. It's all the more reason to ignore the CX-5 and grab a 2021 Ford Escape at Brondes Ford Toledo.

A test drive of the Ford Escape at Brondes ford Toledo is your ticket to unlocking all its enchantments. You can contact Brondes Ford Toledo if you'd like to really get into the mind of the Escape and see why it's such a great choice for you.

*All figures are EPA estimates. Actual mileage may vary.