2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 exhibited a blend of elegance and ruggedness, with its blunt nose, long hood, and rakish windshield contributing to its seductive styling. The cabin was positioned towards the rear wheels, a design choice that has been a hallmark of Mazda's vehicles for the past decade. However, the CX-50 introduced a new rugged appeal with its blistered and boxed fender swells, bold lower body 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 optional 20-inch alloy wheels, the CX-50's exterior design elements created an appealing aesthetic. 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, enhancing its adventurous persona.

In contrast, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport embraced a "modernist" and "reductive" design philosophy, emphasizing clean and simple lines. This approach might not have appealed to those seeking a flashy luxury SUV, as Land Rover offered limited options for making the Range Rover Sport stand out, such as a Firenze Red paint colour and diamond-turned 23-inch wheels. Our test vehicle, finished in Eiger Grey with silver 23-inch wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, exuded understated luxury. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, paired with aluminum and shiny black trim, created an atmosphere of refined elegance. The Range Rover Sport's design highlights included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and taillights featuring surface LED technology, all contributing to its aerodynamic prowess with a drag coefficient of 0.29.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered two engine options, catering to different preferences. The entry-level GS-L and GT trims featured a 187-horsepower 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 186 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain 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 was the choice. It boasted a turbocharged version of the standard engine, producing between 227 hp and 256 hp, depending on the fuel type. 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 turbocharged engine delivered smooth acceleration across a broad power curve, with minimal turbo lag. Mazda's Mi-Drive system offered Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, ensuring natural vehicle behaviour in various conditions. The CX-50's ride quality was slightly firmer compared to the 2022 CX-5, aligning with its adventurous character. With up to 21.8 centimetres of ground clearance, the CX-50 was capable of handling off-road situations, although it lacked a downhill assist control system.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement and driver-focused engagement. It offered a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography trim, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft. The Range Rover Sport's 395-hp inline-six provided ample power, with Land Rover claiming a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 5.7 seconds. The SUV featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and an Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, with a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms. The Range Rover Sport's adaptive damping air suspension adjusted up to 500 times per second, enhancing ride comfort and handling. However, the SUV's steering lacked involvement, and it exhibited body roll in tighter curves. Off-road, the Range Rover Sport excelled, with a maximum ground clearance of 28.2 centimetres and advanced off-road technologies like Terrain Response and All Terrain Progress Control.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 GT Turbo was well-equipped for Canadian winters, featuring 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 ensured comfort in warmer weather. The driver and front passenger seats were comfortable for long journeys, although additional side bolstering would have been beneficial. The rear seat offered ample space for adults, with rear air vents and charging ports available on most trims. The CX-50's cargo space measured 889 litres, expanding to 1,595 litres with the rear seats folded. While storage space was adequate, there were missed opportunities for additional storage solutions.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport retained the Range Rover Command Driving Position, providing a tall and airy feel for the driver. The air suspension could be programmed to kneel for easier entry and exit. The front seats were comfortable, with 20-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The rear seat, however, was less accommodating, with limited legroom and hard front seatback panels. The cargo area offered 903 litres of space, expandable to 1,500 litres with the rear seats folded. The Range Rover Sport featured a power liftgate and controls for lowering the air suspension for easier loading.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 came equipped with a Mazda Connect infotainment system featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Mazda Connected Services. The system included a 10.25-inch display, but touchscreen control was limited to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The user interface was occasionally frustrating, with centre console buttons, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition proving distracting. The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system delivered a satisfying audio experience. An Active Driving Display provided valuable information within the driver's line of sight.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio were standard. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment platform was often confusing and frustrating to use. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems with up to 29 speakers and 1,430 watts of power. A wireless smartphone charging pad was located under the infotainment screen.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), although it fell short of the Top Safety Pick+ designation due to headlight configurations and night-time pedestrian collision avoidance. The CX-50 came with a comprehensive package of driving assistance systems, including 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 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was equipped with a range of safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The SUV also featured automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system with ClearSight Ground View. Remote Park Assist was available, allowing the SUV to park itself while the driver directed it using a smartphone app. The adaptive cruise control and steering assist systems were less than satisfactory, with slow responses and poor performance in certain conditions.