Compare the2026 Mazda CX-5 VS 2026 Ford Escape

The Mazda CX-5 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Escape doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mazda CX-5 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the Ford Escape, which scored only a “Marginal” in these critical safety features.

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, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

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 4189-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	86	391
Head Peak Forces	no contact	93 G’s
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Torso Max Deflection	1.38 in	1.77 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	781 lbs.	1160 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	67	168
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.87 in	1.54 in
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.79 in	1.5 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	5 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	759 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Mazda CX-5 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Escape is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

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 14 points higher than the Escape.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 47 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 13th.

The CX-5’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 7 more horsepower (187 vs. 180) than the Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-5 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Escape with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The CX-5 has a standard locking fuel door, which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Escape. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mazda CX-5 higher (6 out of 10) than the Ford Escape (5 to 6). This means the CX-5 produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Escape every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the CX-5’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Escape:

	CX-5	Escape
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12.1 inches

The CX-5 stops shorter than the Escape:

	CX-5	Escape
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the Escape (110.7 inches vs. 106.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-5 is .8 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Escape.

The CX-5 S Premium Plus handles at .83 G’s, while the Escape ST-Line Elite AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the CX-5 S/Select has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Escape (8 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the CX-5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-5 Preferred/Premium’s minimum ground clearance is .9 inch higher than on the Escape (8.2 vs. 7.3 inches).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the CX-5 S Premium Plus is quieter than the Escape ST-Line Elite AWD:

	CX-5	Escape
At idle	38 dB	41 dB
70 MPH Cruising	67 dB	71 dB

The CX-5 has 2.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Escape (106.5 vs. 104).

The CX-5 has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Escape with its rear seat folded (66.5 vs. 65.4 cubic feet).

The CX-5’s cargo area is larger than the Escape’s in almost every dimension:

	CX-5	Escape
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	39.1”/75”	37.8”/68.5”
Max Width	57.5”	57.3”
Min Width	41.3”	41.4”
Height	33.9”	34.8”

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the CX-5 Premium Plus’ liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Escape doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

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.

On a hot day the CX-5’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Escape can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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.

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 Plus has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Escape doesn’t offer cornering lights.

When the CX-5 Preferred/Premium is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Escape’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Mazda CX-5 and Ford Escape offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The CX-5 offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Escape’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

Both the CX-5 and the Escape offer available heated front seats. The CX-5 Premium 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 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.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Mazda CX-5 retains 57.6% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 48.65% resale value of the 2026 Ford Escape after five years, which can save the Mazda’s owner up to $2957 in depreciation.

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