2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 exhibited a design that was both rugged and sophisticated. Its styling featured a blunt nose, long hood, and a rakish windshield, with the cabin positioned towards the rear wheels, embodying the subtle seductiveness typical of Mazda's vehicles over the past decade. The CX-50's newfound ruggedness was evident in 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 brought exclusive wheels, all-terrain tires, splash guards, and a roof-mounted load platform.

Inside, the CX-50's interior was a testament to Mazda's driver-focused design philosophy. The cabin featured black leather with caramel-coloured accent stitching, round analog and digital gauges, quality materials, and polished metallic trim. The vertical air vents flanked the instrument cluster, with a lone off-centre vent in the middle of the dash. Despite this, the interior was well-appointed, with a terracotta upholstery option available on higher trims. Overall, the CX-50 was a visually appealing compact crossover, both inside and out.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, available in five trim levels in Canada, was a vehicle that combined off-road prowess with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The Trailhawk trim, which we tested, featured sky blue exterior detailing and a matte-black hood decal, designed to reduce glare. Unique wheels with aggressive all-terrain tires and the Trail Rated badge signified its off-road capabilities. However, the interior fell short of expectations, with an over-reliance on plastic and gloss black surfaces that attracted dust and fingerprints. The leather and artificial suede upholstery were nice, but the overall impression was more about style than substance.

The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe's interior was not as comfortable as anticipated. The front seats were firm and flat, and the second-row seats were mounted low, lacking support. Rear legroom was tight, and the protruding plastic hooks on the front seatbacks could be uncomfortable. Cargo space was limited, with 1,067 litres behind the back seat and a maximum of 2,004 litres with the seats folded down, which was small for a midsize SUV. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Grand Cherokee 4xe's interior and cargo space were not its strong points.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered two engine options. 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. It boasted fuel consumption figures of 9.7 L/100 km in the city, 7.9 on the highway, and 8.9 combined. For those seeking more power, the CX-50 GT Turbo trim featured a turbocharged version of the same engine, producing between 227 hp and 256 hp, depending on the fuel used. Torque ranged from 310 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm on 87-octane gas to 320 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm on 93-octane fuel. The turbo engine offered a towing capacity increase from 2,000 pounds to 3,500 pounds. The CX-50's driving experience was smooth, with minimal turbo lag and a deliberate power build. Mazda's Mi-Drive modes and G-Vectoring Control ensured natural vehicle behaviour, though the differences between drive modes were subtle. The CX-50's ride quality was firm, and it handled off-road situations well, though it lacked a downhill assist control system.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe combined a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack and an 8-speed automatic transmission. This plug-in hybrid powertrain produced 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms. The Trailhawk trim featured a standard 4WD system with a two-speed transfer case, Selec-Terrain technology, and a hill descent control system. The height-adjustable air suspension provided 27.6 centimetres of ground clearance, with impressive approach, breakover, and departure angles. However, the Grand Cherokee 4xe's real-world performance fell short of expectations. The all-electric range was estimated at 42 kilometres, but the test vehicle only managed 34 kilometres before the gasoline engine engaged. Fuel economy averaged 14.6 L/100 km in hybrid mode, higher than anticipated. While the Trailhawk excelled off-road, its on-road performance was marred by an unrefined engine, uneven power delivery, and body lean in curves.

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 added comfort in warmer weather. The front seats were comfortable for long drives, though they could use more side bolstering. The back seat offered ample room for adults, with rear air vents and charging ports. The rear doors opened to nearly a 90-degree angle, facilitating easy entry and exit. Cargo space was adequate, with 889 litres behind the rear seats and a maximum of 1,595 litres with the seats folded down. The load floor was long but narrow between the wheel wells, with side bins and hooks for securing items.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Trailhawk's interior featured artificial suede and leather seats with eight-way power adjustment. The front seats included heating and ventilation, and the steering wheel and rear outboard seats were heated. However, the seats were firm and flat, and the second-row seats lacked support. Rear legroom was tight, and the front seatbacks had protruding plastic hooks. Cargo space was limited, with 1,067 litres behind the rear seats and a maximum of 2,004 litres with the seats folded down. The Grand Cherokee's interior prioritized style over practicality, with a lack of storage options and relatively little cargo space.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured a Mazda Connect infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Mazda Connected Services. A 10.25-inch display was standard in Canada. 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. The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system provided a satisfying audio experience. An Active Driving Display, or head-up display, projected data within the driver's line of sight, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Trailhawk boasted multiple screens, including a 10.3-inch digital instrumentation panel, a 10.3-inch front passenger infotainment screen, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Uconnect 5 system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, navigation, and Jeep Connect services. The Trailhawk featured an Alpine premium sound system, with a 19-speaker McIntosh audio system available on higher trims. Uconnect 5's user interface was simple, but the low-contrast graphics made it hard to read. The system's voice recognition was average, and the digital instrumentation could be customized. The Trailhawk also had a 10.3-inch infotainment screen for the front passenger, supporting Bluetooth, USB, and HDMI connectivity.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), falling 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 generous standard package of driving assistance systems, including active blind-spot monitoring, Traffic Jam Assist, front and rear parking sensors, reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The driving assistance systems generally worked well, though the adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting into the gap ahead.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe came equipped with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rain-sensing wipers, and a reversing camera with rear parking sensors. The Advanced ProTech Group II added intersection collision assist, a surround-view camera, front parking sensors, and a Night Vision system. Jeep Active Drive, a semi-autonomous driving assistance system, was available on some versions but not the Trailhawk. The NHTSA awarded the Grand Cherokee 4xe a five-star overall rating, with a four-star rating for driver protection in a frontal-impact collision. The IIHS gave the 2023 Grand Cherokee a Top Safety Pick+ rating, though this did not specifically apply to the 4xe plug-in hybrid version.