Given Mazda's current alliance with Toyota, Mazda is probably the better bet. For me, Ford is slow to acknowledge or act on production problems. It usually takes a class-action suit, after years of reports of systemic problems, before they deal with systemic defects in materials, assembly or performance. (The current class-action lawsuit is about those leaky Eco-Boost engines). 

That's my opinion. 

Ever since Mazda/Ford relationship dissolved, Mazda quality has been improving, and even more so that they've partnered up with Toyota. One of our company vehicles is a newer Ford Explorer, and can't stand it. 

Definitely the Mazda CX-9.

Mazda as a company is light years ahead of its previous ally, Ford. The CX-9 has a turbocarged engine but still could be considered a decent crossover, while the Explorer I have come to have a deep hatred for because of 1. the fact that Ford doesn't care about its customers, with mechanical issues and safety hazards and 2. because they fall apart and are cheaply made. 

As far as reliability goes: The CX-9 isn't proven yet but Mazdas in the last decade have proven to be improving in overall reliability significantly , but its a safe bet the Explorer has proved itself as a nightmare for high tech repairs. Older ones had transmission issues the EcoBoost V6 engines are horrible the electronics fall apart.

As far as quality goes, the Explorer is a joke. Mazda quality is arguably excellent. They haven't had many widespread bulletins and recalls and there aren't really many mechanical failures in them.

And there's this fairly recent lawsuit: https://www.google.com/amp/s/fordauthority.com/2020/05/ford-super-duty-fuel-pumps-are-defective-claims-new-class-action-lawsuit/amp/

Don't join the club of unhappy Ford owners suing the mothership! 

Not even a comparison,  Mazda is way better. 

The Ford is decent but the Mazda is far better.

The Mazda easily. 

Mazda