Telstar v 626?

HOW FORD V MAZDA HAS CHANGED

Just one generation ago, a mid-size family flagship comparo’s Ford and Mazda players were the Telstar Ghia and 626 Super Deluxe, with velour trim the height of luxury and air-con an option. Inertia reel seatbelts were the safety high and there were certainly no turbochargers, AWD or dynamic capabilities that make the Ford Escape Vignale and Mazda CX-5 Akera Turbo more fun that any sprog-hauler has a right to be. In 1985, the carby four, front-drive Mazda and Ford players shared a chassis – so did the Ford Escape and CX-5 relative the Mazda Tribute for the first two generations – but today the unrelated Escape and CX-5 bring a welcome diversity of dynamic flavour. Which is great for SUV shoppers, considering platform sharing is no longer sneeringly referred to as ‘badge-engineering’, it’s the way of the world.