2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2024 Mazda CX-5

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its distinctive styling, setting it apart from other family-friendly SUVs. While its design might not have appealed to everyone, those who appreciated its aesthetics likely found other aspects of the vehicle to their liking. In Canada, the Palisade was available in two trims: Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy, priced at $57,431 and $61,031, respectively, including destination charges. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which was tested, featured luxurious touches such as an artificial suede headliner, quality upholstery, and sophisticated interior elements, making it feel like a luxury SUV.

In contrast, the 2024 Mazda CX-5 retained its design from the second-generation model introduced in 2017, which had aged well and continued to look modern and appealing. The test vehicle was in the new-for-2024 Suna trim, featuring exclusive Zircon Sand paint and Terracotta leather seats. Mazda made improvements to the fuel economy of the base engine, added wireless charging, and introduced wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to several trims. The CX-5 lineup included various trims with prices ranging from $35,476 to $48,276, offering a compact crossover that felt upscale at a mainstream price.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a 3.8-litre V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, all-wheel drive was standard, and the SUV had a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. The Palisade offered several driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, and allowed for locking the AWD system for off-road conditions. Despite its firm suspension, the Palisade provided a comfortable ride with excellent visibility and a top-down surround-view camera for city driving. It displayed unexpected athleticism on mountain roads, with predictable handling and reliable brakes. However, its real-world fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 15.0 L/100 km in Comfort mode.

The 2024 Mazda CX-5 Turbo delivered 256 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium gas, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular gas. The powertrain was more rewarding with a slower, steadier acceleration, allowing the turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine to shine. The CX-5's fuel economy was not its strong suit, with a combined rating of 9.8 L/100 km, and observed consumption of 10.3 L/100 km. The CX-5 felt tall and narrow from the driver's seat, with excellent visibility and a smooth ride thanks to re-tuned suspension and G-Vectoring Control Plus technology. It handled well on twisty roads and offered decent off-road capability with 20 centimetres of ground clearance. The CX-5 could tow up to 900 kilograms.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a comfortable interior with premium Nappa leather in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. It featured heated and ventilated front seats with memory settings, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The Palisade provided configurable storage between the front seats and ample space for second-row passengers, with captain's chairs standard on the Ultimate Calligraphy. The third row was more spacious than most rivals, with standard heating and air conditioning vents. The hands-free power tailgate was convenient but could be turned off if needed. The Palisade offered 509 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,447 litres with the seats folded.

The 2024 Mazda CX-5 featured standard heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, with comfortable and supportive seating. Leather upholstery was standard on most trims, with premium Nappa leather on the Signature trim. The CX-5 was smaller in terms of interior room but comfortable for four adults, with supportive rear seats and rear air conditioning vents. The cabin's design and quality elevated it above most mass-market rivals, with good storage space despite awkward cupholders. The CX-5 provided 871 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 1,680 litres with the seats folded.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. It supported Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Wireless charging was included in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. Hyundai's Bluelink connected services offered remote engine starting and other features. The Harman Kardon sound system provided excellent audio quality, and additional technologies included a digital rearview mirror and a semi-autonomous remote parking system.

Mazda's approach to infotainment in the 2024 CX-5 focused on traditional switchgear, with a 10.25-inch display and a console-mounted knob for navigation. While touchscreens were available for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Mazda's native voice interface was less intuitive. Mazda Connected Services offered remote engine starting and other features. The CX-5 Suna trim included a 10-speaker Bose sound system, adding to the SUV's premium feel.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a comprehensive suite of driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Highway Driving Assist was standard, providing a hands-on driving system for highway travel. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and had incomplete crash test results from the NHTSA.

The 2024 Mazda CX-5 included advanced driving assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims offered additional safety features like adaptive headlights and a driver monitoring system. The CX-5 had previously earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance rating.