2023 Lincoln Navigator vs 2023 Mazda CX-5

The 2023 Mazda CX-5, despite its age, continued to be a strong contender in the compact crossover SUV market. It was known for its stylish design and high-quality materials, giving it the appearance and feel of a small luxury SUV. The CX-5 offered a turbocharged engine option that delivered impressive power, and it boasted a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, its small back seat, limited cargo space, and frustrating infotainment system were potential drawbacks for some buyers. Mazda's decision to eventually replace the CX-5 with the CX-50 was part of a broader marketing strategy, similar to what Infiniti did with its G37 sedan and coupe.

In contrast, the 2023 Lincoln Navigator was a full-size luxury SUV that exuded comfort and utility. It featured a spacious interior with three rows of seating and an available extended body style for even more cargo space. The Navigator's cabin was equipped with high-quality materials, including leather upholstery and real wood trim. The test vehicle came with the Monochromatic Package, adding black 22-inch wheels and body-colour trim. Despite its luxurious features, the Navigator's ride quality was criticized for being truck-like over smaller bumps and floating over larger ones. The SUV's size also posed challenges in urban environments, such as parking garages and drive-thru lines.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine options. The base model featured a Skyactiv-G 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). It had a fuel economy rating of 9.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The more powerful 2.5-litre turbocharged engine delivered 256 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular gas. This engine also used the six-speed automatic and AWD, with a fuel economy rating of 9.8 L/100 km. The turbocharged engine provided a thrilling driving experience, with responsive handling and a firm ride quality.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, generating 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 4WD drivetrain. The Navigator had a fuel economy rating of 13.2 L/100 km in combined driving, but during testing, it averaged 15.0 L/100 km. The SUV offered five driving modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions. The adaptive damping suspension with Road Preview aimed to improve ride quality, but the Navigator's ride was criticized for being rough over smaller bumps and floaty over larger ones. The Excite mode improved handling but negatively impacted fuel efficiency.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 received updates to its front seats for improved comfort and support. It offered a range of features, including power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Signature trim added luxurious Nappa leather upholstery. However, the CX-5's interior space was limited, with cramped rear seats and a smaller cargo area compared to competitors. It provided 871 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats and 1,680 litres with the seats folded down.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator excelled in functionality, offering spacious seating in all three rows and an available extended body style for increased cargo capacity. The test vehicle featured Lincoln's 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The second-row captain's chairs provided a pass-through to the third row, which offered ample headroom and legroom. Storage space was generous throughout the cabin, and the Navigator L model provided significantly more cargo space. The Navigator's interior was equipped with high-quality materials, but the front seats' numerous adjustments could be overwhelming.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5's Mazda Connect infotainment system featured a 10.25-inch display with sophisticated graphics. However, it lacked a helpful voice recognition system, and the physical controls on the centre console were awkward to use. The system required memorization and conscious effort to operate, making it distracting. Despite these issues, Mazda Connect offered features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year trial subscription to Mazda Connected Services. The test vehicle also had a front-facing camera and a surround-view camera system.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and an available widescreen head-up display. The Sync 4 infotainment system included Bluetooth, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a navigation system with enhanced voice recognition. The digital assistant performed well, understanding commands accurately. The test vehicle also had a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System. Lincoln Play installed touchscreens for rear-seat passengers, but they were not used by the teenagers in the test vehicle.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance and safety features under the i-Activsense banner. Most of these features were standard, except for a few exclusive to the 2.5 Turbo Signature trim, such as a surround-view camera system and Traffic Jam Assist. The CX-5 received top safety ratings, including a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick ranking from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator came with a long list of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) as part of the Co-Pilot360 suite. It included features like automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitoring. The Navigator also offered BlueCruise, a hands-free driving assist system for designated highways. However, BlueCruise struggled with curves and construction zones, requiring driver intervention. The Navigator received a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.