2024 Toyota 4Runner vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured a blunt nose, long hood, and a rakish windshield, with a cabin pulled back toward the rear wheels. This styling exhibited the subtle seductiveness that had characterized Mazda’s cars and SUVs for the past decade. However, the CX-50 conveyed newfound ruggedness with blistered and boxed fender swells, lower body and wheel arch cladding, and fake front and rear skid plates. Oversized air intake and vent designs imparted performance without offending the eye.

When paired with the CX-50’s standard black grille and mirror caps and the available 20-inch wheels, these exterior design elements came together in an appealing way. Later in the model year, a new CX-50 Meridian Edition joined the lineup with exclusive wheels, all-terrain tires, splash guards, and a roof-mounted load platform that could accommodate a rooftop tent. Inside, the CX-50 displayed Mazda’s traditional mix of driver-focused design, quality materials, and polished metallic trim, though the lone off-center vent in the middle of the dash looked like an afterthought.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner was a throwback, last redesigned for the 2010 model year. Despite a few refreshes, it needed a serious makeover. Its boxy shape remained appropriate for an all-terrain vehicle, with flared fenders giving it a brawny and wide stance. The rugged personality was further enhanced by chunky and beveled shapes in the grille and liftgate, while the TRD Pro’s underbody skid plates and all-terrain tires added a more serious attitude. The beefy tubular roof rack made it look ready to tackle tough terrain.

Inside, the 4Runner showed its age with old-school styling and last-generation technology features. The analog instrument panel and the tiny eight-inch infotainment touchscreen looked outdated. The traditional gear selector and transfer case levers, along with the LED clock and temperature display, added to the nostalgic feel. The interior had quite a bit of hard plastic, but cushioned panels for elbows and grained seat upholstery approximated leather. The 4Runner’s interior was functional but clearly dated compared to modern SUVs.

Most Mazda CX-50 buyers likely chose the more affordable and fuel-efficient 2.5 S model, which had a 187 hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 186 lb-ft of torque, delivered to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Mazda believed this base-engine version would return 27 mpg in combined driving. For stronger acceleration and increased towing capacity from 2,000 pounds to 3,500 pounds, the CX-50 2.5 Turbo was the better choice. It had a turbocharged version of the standard engine, making between 227 hp and 256 hp depending on the fuel used, with torque varying between 310 lb-ft and 320 lb-ft.

The turbocharged engine provided smooth, sweet acceleration across a broad power curve, with no noticeable turbo lag. The CX-50 offered Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, though the differences between them were slight. The CX-50 felt firmer in ride quality compared to the CX-5, and there was a hint of torque steer while accelerating out of tighter turns. Despite this, the CX-50 didn’t feel like an SUV from behind the wheel, resembling a modern version of a Mazda6 station wagon with a Subaru Outback treatment. It had 8.6 inches of ground clearance, nearly matching the Subaru Forester and Outback.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner had a 4.0-liter V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. The TRD Pro model came standard with four-wheel drive (4WD) and a two-speed transfer case, while most other trims were rear-wheel drive (RWD) with 4WD available as an option. On pavement, the 4Runner felt slow, with noticeable rear-end squat during acceleration and a noisy engine. The soft suspension tuning was great for off-roading but resulted in body roll when cornering and residual bounces over ruts and bumps.

Under hard braking, the 4Runner exhibited nosedive but remained composed. The tall tire sidewalls and soft suspension helped ignore larger road imperfections, but passengers prone to motion sickness might need preventative measures on winding or bumpy roads. The 4Runner’s off-road capabilities were impressive, but its on-road performance left much to be desired.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo had power-adjustable heated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, heated side mirrors, and heated windshield wipers. The ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control were effective in keeping the cabin comfortable. The driver’s seat and front passenger’s seat were comfortable for long drives, though they could use more side bolstering. The back seat was roomy enough for adults, with rear air vents and charging ports in nearly all trims. The rear doors opened to nearly a 90-degree angle, making entry and exit easier.

Storage space in the CX-50 was adequate, though Mazda missed opportunities to include bins in the door panel armrests and a shelf across the dashboard. The available smartphone charger had its own slot under the center armrest. The power rear liftgate revealed 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space, with a long load floor but narrow space between the wheel wells. Maximum cargo space was 56.3 cubic feet, slightly less than the CX-5 due to the CX-50’s lower roofline.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner’s interior design looked old, but its layout was easy to decipher. Large climate-control dials and protruding driveline levers were easy to use, even with winter gloves. Sturdy handles ensured passengers wouldn’t be tossed about during off-road adventures. Outward visibility was excellent, with front roof pillars pushed forward for an expansive view from the driver’s seat. The front seats provided plenty of space for larger passengers, though the steering wheel didn’t telescope far enough for taller drivers. The second-row accommodations offered ample legroom and space for feet under the front seats, but headroom was limited for taller passengers.

The 4Runner had plenty of storage spaces, including small pockets in the center dashboard, medium-sized cupholders, a slot for larger smartphones, a large armrest bin, and deep door pockets. Behind the rear seats, the 4Runner could hold 47.2 cubic feet of cargo, with a maximum of 89.7 cubic feet when the rear seats were stowed. The load floor was almost flat, making it easier to live with than the Bronco’s stepped floor. The 4Runner featured a sliding glass rear window and a hitch receiver with a seven-pin harness, with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

Every 2023 Mazda CX-50 had a Mazda Connect infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Mazda Connected Services. The base 2.5 S had an 8.8-inch display, while other trims included a larger 10.25-inch display. Historically, Mazda Connect did not offer touchscreen control, requiring the use of center console buttons and knobs, steering wheel controls, or voice recognition. However, the 2023 CX-50 allowed touchscreen control of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though the screen was still located far from the driver.

The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system delivered a satisfying audio experience. The Active Driving Display, or head-up display (HUD), projected data within the driver’s line of sight, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner’s infotainment system included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the small eight-inch touchscreen was challenging to use while driving. The TRD Pro model came with a 15-speaker JBL premium audio system, but road noise and the loud engine made it difficult to fully appreciate the sound quality. Additional terrain controls in the headliner console were labeled with pictograms, requiring the owner’s manual for full understanding. The Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select systems, along with braking and locking differentials, maximized off-road traction.

Typically, Mazdas rated high for safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not performed crash tests on the new CX-50, but it was expected to excel like other Mazda models. The CX-50 had a generous standard package of driving assistance systems, with additional features available on the CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. These included Traffic Jam Assist, active blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors with reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting in, requiring manual braking.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the 2024 Toyota 4Runner four out of five stars for overall and frontal crash protection, five stars for side impacts, and three stars in rollover evaluations. The IIHS gave mixed results, with high scores for moderate frontal overlap and side protection tests, but lower scores for the small overlap frontal test. The 4Runner had a full complement of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert. The TRD Pro and Limited trims had a surround-view camera system, with front and rear parking sensors only on the Limited.