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It is worth remembering that once a part of Mazda’s shares belonged to the global concern Ford, and firms were constantly exchanging technology, receiving mutual benefits from such cooperation. However, those days are long gone - and now Mazda has set out to highlight its own character, which would distinguish the company from all other manufacturers in the world. It is even more interesting to know which car more closely matches the title of a modern crossover - Ford Kuga or Mazda CX-5. During the comparison, we will not only evaluate their consumer qualities, but also try to draw parallels between the two products of the former partners - Ford and Mazda.
Ford Kuga or Mazda CX-5 cars have equal chances to win in our comparison.
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Static look
Disputes about appearance
If you look at the front and side, the Mazda CX-5 resembles the model of the third series of a similar manufacturer in the back of a hatchback. The same body shape and roof, falling down, the same triangular frame in the last side windows, and the same grinned "smile" of the front bumper, characteristic of the latest generation Mazda cars. However, it is only necessary to slightly change the angle of view in order to understand that the CX-5 is a full-fledged crossover - you can see big wheels, increased ground clearance, as well as a different form of the hood and windshield, which rise more steeply in this car. In addition, Mazda CX-5 seems much wider and longer due to the extended wheel arches and podshtampovki passing across the entire surface of the sides.
Mazda CX-5 car вобрал всё лучшее от предыдущих поколений
Against its background, the Ford Kuga looks quite gray and inconspicuous, which is especially noticeable from behind. The fifth door has an almost vertical position, and the large lights are very similar to those with which the Mazda CX-5 is equipped, but they do not have such exciting smooth lines as the Japanese crossover. When viewed from the side, the Ford car looks much larger than the competitor, primarily due to the greater height, as well as the smooth edges of the doors and wings, deprived of deep punching. But the front Kuga looks no worse than the Mazda - lighting with sharp corners successfully complemented by a narrow grille and three air intakes in the lower bumper, having an unusual shape. True, the car also slightly resembles its “brother in the pipeline” - the Ford Mondeo wagon of the new generation, although this similarity can only be seen from afar.
The Ford Kuga car, despite its unsightly appearance, has decent technical parameters for its segment.
Go to the salon
If you compare the car with the Ford Kuga, Mazda CX-5 from the inside will seem to most motorists boring and unpresentable. However, this impression is again deceptive - the materials are of excellent quality, and the design study of the front panel does not reduce the ease of use. A distinctive feature of the Mazda CX-5 is the almost vertical center console, which leaves much more space for the driver and front passenger than similar elements on other cars that have a clearly visible slope. You won't surprise anyone with the instruments in the three deep wells, but quite the original form of the three-spoke steering wheel with a large number of buttons for controlling the multimedia system. The only thing that some people may not like in the cabin of the Mazda CX-5 is a niche for a recessed monitor, which seems to be an alien element, installed as a result of handicraft tuning.
Mazda CX-5 car, несмотря на эффектную внешность, имеет довольно невзрачный салон
Mazda wants to award the front seats with a champion title - they are so comfortable in any conditions. The optimally selected backrest profile coexists with moderate cushion tilt and moderately rigid frames, which allows you to feel confident in sharp turns and at the same time not feel the slightest discomfort in a long journey. The back row of the Mazda CX-5 is also worthy of praise - it will freely accommodate three adult men who will not feel problems with either legroom or tight shoulders, or even in the distance from the head to the roof. True, in the trunk 
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adom.ru CX-5 space is not so much - only 400 liters, but this can be partially compensated by lifting the curtain to limit the load at an angle of 45 degrees to the ceiling. In addition, the Mazda seats are very easily and quickly folded, forming a flat floor of the cargo compartment, the capacity of which is as much as 1.5 cubic meters.
Looking at the interior of the Ford Kuga, I want to take a walkie-talkie and request permission to take off - the cabin of the car is very similar to the cabin of a small aircraft. The first thing that comes into view when landing in Ford is a deep tunnel, in the depths of which is hidden the monitor of the multimedia system. Moreover, unlike the Mazda CX-5, it does not look alien at all, and is fully consistent with the overall design concept. An interesting element of the Kuga's interior is also the multifaceted deflectors of the internal airflow system, which are perfectly combined with the most beautiful instruments, decorated with blue lights and a horizontally oriented screen of the trip computer. What I want to complain about in the Ford Kuga is the use of cheap plastic, the quality of which clearly does not match its appearance and the value of the car.
Ford Kuga car interior наоборот более презентабелен в отличии от внешности автомобиля
If you choose which transport is better not for the beauty, but for the convenience of the cabin - Kuga or CX-5, then Ford definitely loses. The Kuga front seats have a no less successful backrest profile than the Mazda, but they are seriously lacking lateral support, with the result that when making maneuvers at high speed the driver begins to “float” somewhere to the side. The back sofa of the Ford Kuga is very wide, but it is shifted forward in favor of the cargo capabilities, which are very important for the crossover, which leads to inconveniences for large people. But in the trunk is almost immense space, which in physical terms is 500 liters. The fully transformed Ford Kuga cargo bay is also larger than that of the Mazda CX-5 - a positive difference of 150 liters.
City ride
Dynamics and profitability
First, it is worth saying a few words about the technology SKYACTIV, with which the Mazda CX-5 was created. It is a unique concept, according to which a car should be economical, easy to drive and fast as far as its cost allows - this “technical philosophy” is used by Mazda in developing all the components of the car - body, steering, engine and transmission. The engine on the Mazda CX-5 develops 150 horsepower with a working volume of 2 liters - this figure has long been a record, but the power unit is focused more on efficiency than on active driving. Last but not least, the Start-Stop system, which automatically interrupts the fuel supply when the vehicle is completely stopped, contributes to this. Unlike analogs on cars of other brands, in the CX-5 it works very smoothly and gently, avoiding strong vibrations when you press the gas pedal and continue driving.
| Car model: | Ford Kuga | Mazda CX-5 |
| Producing country: | Germany (build - Russia) | Japan |
| Body Type: | Crossover | Crossover |
| Number of places: | 5 | 5 |
| Number of doors: | 5 | 5 |
| Engine capacity, cubic cm: | 1597 | 1997 |
| Power, l. c./about min .: | 150/5700 | 150/6000 |
| Maximum speed, km / h: | 192 | 187 |
| Acceleration to 100 km / h, from: | 10,7 | 9,8 |
| Type of drive: | Full | Full |
| CAT: | 6 automatic transmission | 6 automatic transmission |
| Fuel type: | Petrol AI-95 | Petrol AI-95 |
| Consumption per 100 km: | In the city of 10.2 / Out of town 6,3 | In the city of 8.2 / Outside the city of 5.9 |
| Length, mm: | 4524 | 4555 |
| Width, mm: | 1838 | 1840 |
| Height, mm: | 1701 | 1670 |
| Clearance, mm: | 195 | 210 |
| Tire size: | 235/55 R17 | 225/65 R17 |
| Curb weight, kg: | 1641 | 1455 |
| Full weight, kg: | 2040 | 2045 |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 60 | 58 |
But the power line Mazda as a whole does not cause much enthusiasm - not the most powerful engine is paired with an automatic transmission, allowing to achieve urban fuel consumption, not exceeding 10 liters per 100 km. The CX-5 is equipped with a traditional hydromechanical unit, which has six stages - it quickly shifts gears, but does not allow rapid accelerations. If you need to make quick maneuvers, it becomes really dangerous. When driving slowly, the car rolls, maintaining engine speeds of around 1500–1800 per minute, and reacts very sluggishly to the pressure of the gas. Suppose a “window” appears in the stream that needs to be taken quickly - the driver presses the pedal - ... and the Mazda CX-5 admits a delay of several seconds, after which it switches on the necessary downshift.
The Ford Kuga has a completely different engine, although it has a completely identical power rating. He develops it with a working volume of 1.6 liters - not without the help of turbocharging, which helps to optimize the characteristics of the fuel supply to the cylinders. Due to this, Ford behaves well at high revs, allowing for rapid changes in driving mode, but completely rents on small ones. This is especially problematic when driving in a dense stream - the car first impressively follows the vehicle in front, and then begins to accelerate sharply, gaining the necessary crankshaft speed. Of course, over time, the habit comes - and the driver begins to strictly meter the fuel supply to the Ford Kuga, but at first it is quite scary.
Test drive a Ford Kuga:
In fairness it should be said that there are no other claims to the Kuga power unit, as well as to the transmission of the crossover. The six-speed automatic very cheerfully shifts gears, and also responds correctly to a sharp pressing of the gas pedal, unlike the unit installed on the Mazda CX-5. It feels like Ford engineers were more concerned about driving pleasure than economy. And this is confirmed by the technical characteristics - the fuel consumption of the Ford Kuga in urban environments is exactly 2 liters more / 100 km. Another interesting observation is that in these manufacturers it is indicated that Ford accelerates to 100 km / h almost a second slower than a large Mazda - but it feels like everything is exactly the opposite!
Suspension and off-road ability
Going on a long journey to the Mazda CX-5 is a pleasure. The car confidently passes through all the irregularities, only occasionally shaking passengers when passing through a particularly large pit or a high “speed bump”. Deviations of the CX-5 from the selected course is not seen, as well as strong jerks of the steering wheel. That's just with the management of the Mazda CX-5 is one problem - it almost does not feel any effort and feedback that can be dangerous when performing complex maneuvers. Even an experienced driver does not always understand whether he chose the exact angle of rotation, and whether he will finish moving in space correctly.
In addition, claims can be made to the strong buildup of the Mazda CX-5 when driving long waves on asphalt, resulting from the effects of summer heat. Apparently, there are no such roadblocks in Japan, and Mazda engineers did not even try to figure out how to get rid of such a nuisance. For connecting the drive to the rear wheels in the CX-5 meets the multi-plate clutch, controlled by electronics. Thanks to its quick reactions and high ground clearance, the Mazda is moving steadily even along the sodden forest roads and sandy beaches - but you should not experiment with more serious off-roading, since there is no inter-wheel differential lock. In addition, after 10–15 minutes outside the asphalt, the Mazda CX-5 clutch begins to overheat, and you risk getting seriously stuck.
Test drive the car Mazda CX-5:
Ford Kuga is much more accurate in reactions to the steering, but you have to pay for it with an excessively high chassis stiffness that does not contribute to achieving optimum comfort. Kuga passengers often complain about serious shocks that occur at a speed of 40–60 km / h. But Ford does not allow the slightest spontaneous deviations of the steering wheel to the side, even when driving fast on cobblestones or similar coating. In comparison, the Kuga and CX-5 American brand wins in accuracy of control, and the Japanese - in comfort.
Off-roading, the Ford Kuga’s behavior is completely identical to that of the Mazda CX-5. The car copes well with small obstacles, but the risk of getting bogged down is even higher due to a 15 mm lower clearance. It also turns off when overheating and the clutch bearing the name Haldex - while it may take even less time to exceed the critical temperature. But Kuga has an advantage - when reversing on a crossover, the four-wheel drive is connected regardless of the state in which the clutch is located - it means that you can get out of the mud in almost any situation.
Parity
No matter how hard the Americans and the Japanese go in different directions, they have almost identical cars. Yes, the Ford Kuga is more beautiful inside and has a roomy trunk, and the Mazda CX-5 is more comfortable for passengers and offers the best quality materials. But in general, they both deserve the title of modern crossovers, convenient in any circumstances.
