2018 Ford Escape vs 2018 Mazda CX-5

2018 Ford Escape

2018 Mazda CX-5

Select style

S FWD

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Escape S FWD	21	29	$23,102	$23,940
Escape SE 4WD	22	28	$25,834	$27,050
Escape SE FWD	23	30	$24,544	$25,700
Escape SEL 4WD	22	28	$28,126	$29,450
Escape SEL FWD	23	30	$26,836	$28,100
Escape Titanium 4WD	20	27	$31,983	$33,490
Escape Titanium FWD	21	28	$30,693	$32,140

Select style

Grand Touring AWD

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
CX-5 Grand Touring AWD	24	30	$29,752	$30,945
CX-5 Grand Touring FWD	25	31	$28,503	$29,645
CX-5 Sport AWD	24	30	$24,985	$25,450
CX-5 Sport FWD	25	31	$23,710	$24,150
CX-5 Touring AWD	24	30	$26,734	$27,515
CX-5 Touring FWD	25	31	$25,472	$26,215

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$23,102

$29,752

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$23,940

$30,945

Monthly Payment Estimate

$399 / month

$516 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

6.7

Read Our Full Review

6.5

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The 2018 Ford Escape has the road manners of another kind of car—but don't worry, it still works well as a crossover.

As long as cargo space isn’t your main reason for buying a compact crossover, the 2018 Mazda CX-5 is an excellent, fun-to-drive choice.

TCC Likes

Tough-hatch lines
Ample cargo bin
Wonderfully taut handling

Attractive styling inside and out
Poised chassis, communicative steering
Engine changes bode well for mpg

TCC Dislikes

Busy, space-robbing dash
Firm seats, if you’re not into that
Not much SUV, if you’re into that

Frustrating infotainment setup
Light cargo volume
Short on refinement

Fuel Economy

City

21 mpg

24 mpg

Highway

29 mpg

30 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Small SUV 2WD

Small Sport Utility Vehicles 4WD

Interior Dimensions

Passenger Volume (ft³)

98.1

103.6

Front Hip Room (in)

54.8

55.2

Second Leg Room (in)

36.8

39.6

Front Head Room (in)

39.9

39.3

Second Hip Room (in)

52.4

55.3

Passenger Capacity

Front Shoulder Room (in)

57.1

Second Head Room (in)

Second Shoulder Room (in)

55.3

54.8

Front Leg Room (in)

43.1

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Rear (in)

61.6

62.8

Wheelbase (in)

105.9

106.3

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

72.4

72.5

Track Width, Front (in)

61.5

62.8

Min Ground Clearance (in)

7.9

7.6

Length, Overall (in)

178.1

179.1

Height, Overall (in)

66.3

65.3

Liftover Height (in)

29.4

Cargo Area Dimensions

Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (ft³)

67.8

59.6

Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (ft³)

34.3

30.9

Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (ft³)

34.3

30.9

Cargo Box Width @ Wheelhousings (in)

41.3

Cargo Area Width @ Beltline (in)

Cargo Box (Area) Height (in)

32.4

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 2 (in)

Brakes

Brake Type

4-Wheel Disc

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

12.8

11.7

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.9

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

15.7

15.3

Steering

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

38.8

Steering Type

Rack-Pinion

Tires

Rear Tire Size

P235/55HR17

P225/55VR19

Rear Tire Order Code

Front Tire Size

P235/55HR17

P225/55VR19

Spare Tire Size

Compact

Front Tire Order Code

Spare Tire Order Code

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

1500

2000

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

1500

2000

Maximum Trailering Capacity (lbs)

1500

2000

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

150

200

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

150

200

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

3542

3655

Wheels

Front Wheel Material

Steel

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

17 X 7.5

19 X 7

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

Rear Wheel Material

Steel

Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)

17 X 7.5

19 X 7

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

170 @ 4500

186 @ 4000

Engine Order Code

Displacement

2.5 L/152

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

168 @ 6000

187 @ 6000

Engine Type

Regular Unleaded I-4

Fuel System

Sequential MPI

Gasoline Direct Injection

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Transmission

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

3.51

4.62

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.91

1.45

Trans Type

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

All Wheel

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.00

0.71

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

2.94

3.89

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.96

2.02

Trans Order Code

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.44

1.00

Trans Description Cont.

Automatic w/OD

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.74

0.60

First Gear Ratio (:1)

4.58

3.55

Summary

Vehicle Name

Ford Escape

Mazda CX-5

Body Style

Sport Utility

Suspension

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Short And Long Arm

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Front

Strut

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Strut

Suspension Type - Rear

Short And Long Arm

Multi-Link

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

7.3

6.7

Electrical

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

100

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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