2020 Mazda CX-5 vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

Mazda executed the concept of premium better than its competitors with the 2020 CX-5. The model year saw more standard equipment, revised instrumentation, and control markings to enhance the cabin's appearance. Modifications were made to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness. The turbocharged engine received an increase in torque output, and AWD versions gained a new off-road traction assistance feature. Prices ranged from $25,190 to $37,155, with the test vehicle in Signature trim costing $38,680. The CX-5's "Kodo" styling themes made it look appealing, distinctive, and upscale. The interior, especially in Signature trim, featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, real wood, and a black headliner, giving it a luxurious feel. However, the Caturra Brown leather was almost indistinguishable from the black cabin, lessening the level of contrast.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse relied heavily on styling details to give individual trim levels their own identities. The exterior was generic SUV with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille. The RS model had blacked-out trim, while the High Country model featured chrome. The Traverse shared a basic platform with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Cadillac XT6 but aimed for a more blue-collar feel. The interior had restrained styling, with the standout feature being an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof. Materials in the RS tester seemed fairly good but not quite worthy of the $50,000 MSRP. The Traverse's analog instruments, supplemented by a small LCD screen, were functional but might seem dated to tech-savvy buyers.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with a Sport mode. FWD was standard, with AWD optional. The Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims featured a turbocharged version of the engine, generating 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular. The turbocharged engine, though powerful, was less efficient, rated at 24 mpg combined. The CX-5 Signature was engaging to drive, thanks to G-Vectoring Control Plus technology, but excessive body motions and a high center of gravity detracted from the driving experience. The steering and brakes were up to the task, making the CX-5 a delight in typical driving situations.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 powertrain didn't feel particularly strong off the line but provided ample power for highway merging and overtaking. The Traverse impressed with its highway road manners, combining a quiet cabin and bump-absorbing suspension with good body control and precise steering. However, it lacked agility on twistier roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation. The Traverse had off-road and tow/haul drive modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5's interior was more cramped than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. However, it featured a more upscale cabin with a generous list of standard equipment. Touring trim added dual-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats, while Grand Touring trim included a power height-adjustable front passenger seat. The Signature trim featured Nappa leather, genuine wood trim, and more. The front seats were comfortable, but rear passengers might complain about legroom. Cargo space measured 30.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 59.6 cubic feet with the back seat folded.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, with above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. Heated front seats were standard on the RS trim, with ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse had a significant advantage in cargo space, with 23.0 cubic feet with all three rows in place, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate was optional on the LT Cloth trim and standard on higher trims. The Traverse was fairly stingy on interior storage options, typical of midsize three-row crossovers.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 featured a Mazda Connect infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen on Sport trim, which responded to touch only when the vehicle wasn't moving. The Touring trim added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Grand Touring trim included an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, and a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system. Signature trim added a navigation system, a surround-view camera system, and a SiriusXM data subscription. The system could be frustrating to use, with awkwardly placed controls and voice-recognition technology that frequently failed to provide feedback.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse's standard infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The Traverse retained analog controls for audio volume and climate control, which were appreciated. The Traverse also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Chevy provided 2 USB ports for each row as standard equipment, with wireless phone charging standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 featured a comprehensive suite of standard advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) under the i-Activsense banner, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane-keep assist. The CX-5 earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with high marks in individual testing parameters.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, it received "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests and five stars in side-impact crash tests. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with many features only available as optional extras.