2023 Dodge Durango vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 showcased a design that was both familiar and fresh. Its styling was characterized by a blunt nose, long hood, and a rakish windshield, with the cabin pulled back toward the rear wheels, exuding the subtle seductiveness typical of Mazda's vehicles over the past decade. However, the CX-50 introduced a ruggedness with its blistered and boxed fender swells, lower body and wheel arch cladding, and faux skid plates. The oversized air intake and vent designs added a performance edge without being visually offensive. When combined with the standard black grille, mirror caps, and available 20-inch alloy wheels, these elements created an appealing exterior. The introduction of the CX-50 Meridian Edition later in the model year added exclusive wheels, all-terrain tires, splash guards, and a roof-mounted load platform, enhancing its adventurous appeal.

Inside, the CX-50 continued Mazda's tradition of driver-focused design with quality materials and polished metallic trim. The interior featured black leather with caramel-coloured accent stitching, round analog and digital gauges, and a mix of controls. Vertical air vents flanked the instrument cluster, though the lone off-centre vent on the dashboard seemed like an afterthought. Despite this, the CX-50's interior was a testament to Mazda's commitment to style and functionality, offering a terracotta upholstery option on higher trims. Overall, the CX-50 was a visually striking compact crossover, both inside and out.

The 2023 Dodge Durango, entering its 12th model year without a redesign, maintained its familiar yet attractive appearance. Dodge opted for clean, car-like styling, avoiding the trend of oversized grilles. The Durango's slim design, forward-leaning headlights, and large lower air intake demonstrated that SUVs could have presence without resorting to massive grilles. At the rear, Dodge's signature "racetrack" taillights provided a distinctive look. The muscular SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat models featured unique styling elements, such as a Viper-like hood with a functional centre air inlet and heat extractors, unique wheels, and a different front fascia with a chin splitter, engine-oil cooler duct, and cold-air induction snorkel. These features were subtle yet effective in distinguishing the performance models.

The Durango offered various appearance packages, including the Blacktop Package and Hemi Orange appearance package, allowing buyers to customize their vehicles. Dodge also expanded the colour palette for 2023, adding Frostbite, Night Moves, Red Oxide, and Triple Nickel. Inside, the Durango's interior was comfortable and well-appointed, with materials suited to the price points of lower trims. The R/T Plus Package added a wrapped instrument panel, while the Citadel trim offered Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain's chairs. The SRT Hellcat test car featured bold red leather upholstery, emphasizing its performance-oriented nature.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered two engine options, catering to different preferences. The base engine, a 187 hp Skyactiv 2.5-litre four-cylinder, delivered 186 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. This engine provided commendable fuel efficiency, with consumption figures of 9.7 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 7.9 on the highway, and 8.9 combined. For those seeking more power and increased towing capacity, the CX-50 GT Turbo trim featured a turbocharged version of the standard engine. This turbo engine produced between 227 hp and 256 hp, depending on the fuel used, with torque ranging from 310 lb-ft to 320 lb-ft. The turbocharged engine offered smooth acceleration across a broad power curve, with minimal turbo lag. The CX-50's Mi-Drive system, with Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, worked seamlessly with the SUV's G-Vectoring Control technology to ensure natural vehicle behaviour in various driving conditions. The CX-50's ride quality was slightly firmer than the CX-5, aligning with its positioning as a weekend adventure vehicle. Despite its crossover nature, the CX-50 felt more like a modern Mazda6 station wagon with a Subaru Outback treatment, offering a higher ride height and up to 21.8 centimetres of ground clearance.

The 2023 Dodge Durango boasted a range of powertrains, starting with the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, standard on the SXT, GT, and Citadel trims. This engine produced 293 horsepower (295 hp with dual exhaust) and 260 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, all-wheel drive was standard, while rear-wheel drive was available in the U.S. The 5.7-litre Hemi V8, standard on the R/T and optional on the Citadel, delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, accompanied by a classic V8 rumble. The Durango SRT 392 featured a 6.4-litre naturally-aspirated Hemi V8, producing 475 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, achieving a zero to 100 km/h time of approximately 4.5 seconds. The SRT Hellcat took performance to another level with a 6.2-litre supercharged V8, generating 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, achieving a zero to 100 km/h time of roughly 3.5 seconds. The Hellcat's acceleration was exhilarating, despite the Durango's size, and the adaptive-damping suspension, Pirelli P Zero performance tires, and Brembo brakes ensured power was manageable.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 GT Turbo was well-equipped for winter with power-adjustable heated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, heated side mirrors, and heated windshield wipers. Ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control provided comfort in warmer weather. The driver and front passenger seats were comfortable for long journeys, though additional side bolstering would have been beneficial. The back seat offered ample room for adults, with rear air vents and charging ports available on most trims. The rear doors opened to nearly a 90-degree angle, facilitating easy entry and exit. While storage space was adequate, Mazda missed opportunities for additional storage bins. The available smartphone charger was conveniently located under the centre armrest. The power rear liftgate revealed 889 litres of cargo space, with a maximum of 1,595 litres when the rear seats were folded.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered seven-seat or six-seat configurations, with two front bucket seats, a three-seat second-row bench, and a two-seat third-row bench standard on SXT, GT, and R/T models. The Citadel, SRT 392, and SRT Hellcat models featured second-row captain's chairs, which were also optional on GT and R/T models. The Durango provided competitive interior space compared to other three-row midsize SUVs, with headroom and legroom comparable to rivals. However, the Durango's cargo space was less than some competitors, with 487 litres with all seats in place, 1,226 litres with the third row folded, and 2,409 litres behind the first row. Small-item storage was generous, with a large wireless charging pad and well-placed USB ports. The Durango's towing capacity was impressive, with V6 models capable of towing up to 2,812 kilograms, while Hemi V8 models could tow up to 3,946 kilograms.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Mazda Connected Services. In Canada, a 10.25-inch display was standard. Historically, Mazda Connect did not offer touchscreen control, relying on centre console buttons, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. However, the 2023 CX-50 introduced touchscreen control for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though the screen's distant placement remained a challenge. The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system provided a satisfying audio experience. The Active Driving Display, or head-up display, projected essential data within the driver's line of sight, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2023 Dodge Durango's lower trims featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, while the GT grade and above received a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity. Both versions used the Uconnect infotainment system, with the larger screen featuring the current Uconnect 5 system. The Durango's infotainment experience was comparable to newer rivals, with the larger touchscreen and Uconnect 5 offering a responsive and user-friendly interface. The SRT and SRT Hellcat models included the Performance Pages app, providing performance information on the main touchscreen. A 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available on higher trims.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 was rated as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), though it fell short of the Top Safety Pick+ designation due to some headlight configurations and less-than-stellar results in night-time pedestrian collision avoidance and the updated side crash test. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not rated the CX-50 at the time of writing. Mazda provided a comprehensive standard package of driving assistance systems, with features like active blind-spot monitoring, Traffic Jam Assist, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. However, the adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting into the gap ahead.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed results in IIHS crash tests, with top "Good" marks in the original-format moderate front overlap and side tests, but a "Marginal" score in the driver-side small overlap front test. The NHTSA gave the Durango a four-star overall safety rating, with five stars in the side crash test and four stars in the frontal crash test. AWD versions received a three-star rollover resistance rating. The Durango offered limited standard driver-assist tech, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert standard on all trims. Forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking were not standard but available on higher trims.