2023 Mazda CX-5 vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2023 Mazda CX-5, despite its age, remained a strong contender in the compact crossover SUV market. It was known for its stylish design and high-quality materials, giving it the feel of a small luxury SUV. The available turbocharged engine provided impressive power, and it boasted a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. However, its small back seat, cramped cargo area, and frustrating infotainment system were potential drawbacks. Mazda had plans to transition the CX-5 to the CX-50, hoping to retain its loyal customer base.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander, built on the TNGA-K platform, was a true crossover with a spacious interior. It was larger than its competitors, offering more cargo space and comfort. The design was inspired by rugged vehicles, with a blockier style compared to the smaller Highlander. Toyota offered three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with varying levels of luxury and features. The Grand Highlander was praised for its quality materials and comfortable road-trip capabilities.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine options. The base model featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The turbocharged version delivered 256 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel, or 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet on regular fuel. The turbo engine's performance was enhanced by structural and suspension improvements, making the CX-5 feel more like an entry-level luxury vehicle.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander provided three engine options. The 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine produced 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 2.5-litre hybrid option offered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain delivered 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All models came with AWD, and the Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander was noted for its solid brakes and adequate acceleration, though its steering feel was somewhat disconnected.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 featured improved front seats for comfort and support, with power adjustments available on higher trims. It offered heated and ventilated seats, dual-zone climate control, and Nappa leather upholstery on the Signature trim. However, the CX-5's interior space was limited, with smaller storage areas and a cramped back seat. Cargo space measured 871 litres behind the rear seat and 1,680 litres with the seats folded.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its rivals, with a length of over 5 metres and a 2,950 mm wheelbase. It offered 2,761 litres of total cargo capacity, with 1,640 litres behind the second row and 583 litres with all seats up. The Grand Highlander provided ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in all rows, making it comfortable for adults even in the third row.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5's infotainment system, Mazda Connect, featured a 10.25-inch display but was criticized for its lack of a voice recognition system and awkward physical controls. It required memorization and focus to operate, which could be distracting. Despite this, it offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Bose audio system on upper trims. The test vehicle included a front-facing camera and a surround-view camera system.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering an intelligent assistant via a connected-services subscription. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, and an 11-speaker JBL stereo on higher trims. The system was a significant improvement over Toyota's previous interface, though some features required additional subscriptions.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 excelled in safety, with a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. It featured the i-Activsense suite, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. However, it lacked a warning for driving without headlights at night, which was a noted issue.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested, but it came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard. This included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Platinum grade offered additional features like traffic jam assist and a head-up display.