Mazda CX 5 VS Ford Escape, my dilema, $4K and 85hp

[CX-SV]

Would you have purchased the CX-5 if it was to be your only vehicle?

Probably not, my short list (SUV) for only vehicle would include Escape 2.0L plus a few premium SUV's (including GLK 3.5 direct injected, X3).

 

[ALafya]

I don't know which Escape you are looking at, but the currently sold Escape 13' is ~$3K more expensive here (California) for the least expensive AWD model at least (1.6L Turbo SE 4WD).
Had the price gap been different, perhaps with Factory incentives, I think I'd get the Escape, mostly because the CX-5 is slightly underpowered.
Come spring 2013 and with it CX-5 Diesel (with hopefully no oil-rising diesel engine) for the same price as that Escape, given these 2 options the choice is easy: Cx-5 Diesel. If diesel issue not corrected, most likely 2013 RAV-4.

 

[Macksma]

I found the same true as ALafya, a similarly equipped Escape was about $3000 more, and then I saw it in person and really disliked the look. They are all over the place here and I've only seen two other CX-5's so far. I don't find the CX-5 under powered (I can tell it has less power than other cars I have owned, but not enough to care), it gets me on and off the freeways with no problem, and when I need that little downshift boost, I use that feature.

 

[Buger]

HI

My wife and I are cant decide between the 2 cars. I have read all the reviews on line we have test driven the Mazda twice and the Ford once, plan to take the Ford on a 2nd test drive on Saturday.
What we are comparing is the Mazda Cx5 GS FWD with the Ford Escape Se FWD with the 2l option.

The dilemma is 2 things. Price and Engine.
I can get the Ford for $4300 cheaper than the Mazda plus I get from Ford life time oil change for free.
The Engine in the Mazda is underpowered, not going to get into this as I know there are a lot of threads, but 155hp vs 240 hp is no comparison.

My wife and I are both leaning towards the Mazda, we love the looks, back up camera, I like the better resale value, the dash.
This will be my wife's car who in 4 years of driving her last car did 36Km. I will drive the car on weekends when we go out together.
We are not getting AWD on either cars as we don't go up North and good snow tires will be fine.

So what would you do, yes I know this is a Mazda forum, but over $4k saving and 85HP is a lot?

IF the Mazda had a more powerful engine, this would be a non issue, regardless of price. But I think in a years time, I will hate driving the CX-5 as I hate driving her current car (Honda Civic) as the dam thing is a sowing machine. No Guts.
My current Car is a Mazda 3 in manual which I still love driving.

When I was shopping, I was mainly looking at the manual version but the CX-5 was significantly cheaper when compared to competitors like the Escape/Rav4/CRV. What kind of deal do you have with Ford? I had my X-Plan pin for Ford vehicles which is basically good for invoice pricing. Mazda's website mentions they will allow S-plan pricing for those with X-Plan although the fine print is that it is only for certain vehicles (which didn't include high demand vehicles like the CX-5). But leverage is always useful and I basically got invoice pricing anyway.

Don't deal with the showroom salesmen though. If you know what you want, just email several dealerships in your area and deal with teh internet manager who will contact you. Buying our CX-5 was actually an enjoyable experience where multiple dealerships were politely offering me great deals in email rather than me wasting my time talking to a salesman at a dealership saying I was unreasonable.

 

[CX-SV]

Yes Buger, in the US market the Escape is around about 10% more expensive than CX-5 (although the OP is in Canada), comparing MSRP. I noticed this when I looked at loaded Escape 1.6L versus Mazda CX-5 GT w/tech pkg. The Escape's hands-free power hatch and pano roof (versus moonroof) does not justify the price difference.

 

[toronto-rider]

Well the best price I can get for the CX-5 in GS will be $29K CDN.
The Ford 2l Ecoboost in Se trim I can get for $25,300.
Test drove the Ford again this weekend and we drove the fully loaded Titanium model. My wife and I liked the leather.
So SE with 2L engine and leather package (comes with dual zone climate, and Sync as well, so not just leather) comes to $27,600

Looks like that is what we are going to get, we both like the look of the Mazda better, but the power and price of the Ford beats it, the only thing we dont have in the Ford is the back up camera. Very close decision.

 

[katmar]

Looks like that is what we are going to get, we both like the look of the Mazda better, but the power and price of the Ford beats it, the only thing we dont have in the Ford is the back up camera. Very close decision.

Did you notice a difference in handling and steering feel? Is the Ford as nimble and "tossable" as the CX-5?

 

[CX-SV]

I've driven both back to back, new Escape is tossible and capable handler. Mazda has slightly better feel and less road noise.

For the 2.0L Escape (versus CX-5) main differences will be much stronger acceleration and much lower fuel economy.

 

[CX-SV]

Well the best price I can get for the CX-5 in GS will be $29K CDN.
The Ford 2l Ecoboost in Se trim I can get for $25,300.
Test drove the Ford again this weekend and we drove the fully loaded Titanium model. My wife and I liked the leather.
So SE with 2L engine and leather package (comes with dual zone climate, and Sync as well, so not just leather) comes to $27,600

Looks like that is what we are going to get, we both like the look of the Mazda better, but the power and price of the Ford beats it, the only thing we dont have in the Ford is the back up camera. Very close decision.

Did you pick up the Escape 2.0L yet?

That pricing for the Escape in Canada is much cheaper than US, which makes it a good value.