2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2020 Mazda CX-5

Mazda executed the concept of premium better than its competitors with the 2020 CX-5. This 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, and the turbocharged engine received an increase in torque output. Versions with all-wheel drive 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, including the destination charge. The CX-5's "Kodo" styling themes made it look appealing, distinctive, and upscale, a feat many automakers struggled to achieve.

The interior of the CX-5, especially in Signature trim, featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, real wood, and a black headliner, giving it a luxurious look and feel. However, the Caturra Brown leather was almost indistinguishable from the otherwise black cabin, reducing the level of contrast that often makes a vehicle seem premium. Despite this, the CX-5's interior reflected style and good taste, with classy-looking gauges and elegant metallic accents around the cabin.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic status with seemingly unchanged styling through the years. Key elements like circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, exposed bolts and hinges, and protruding bumpers and fenders made it unmistakable. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could take on different looks with painted or exposed fenders, soft top or hardtop, and other individual styling touches. However, the core elements remained, making the Wrangler incapable of being confused for anything else on the road.

Getting behind the wheel of the Wrangler revealed it was not as comfortable as a car-based SUV. The upright seating position, limited legroom, and somewhat awkward seat adjustments were part of its charm for the right type of driver. Trims for the 2021 Wrangler Unlimited included Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, with several special editions available. The Sport trim was bare-bones, while the Sport S added basic creature comforts. The Sahara was more street-oriented, and the Rubicon was ideal for off-road enthusiasts. The Rubicon 392 featured a Hemi V8 and additional off-road capabilities.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with a Sport mode. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive optional. The Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims featured a turbocharged version of the engine, generating 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque with premium fuel, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft with regular fuel. The turbocharged engine came only with AWD and provided a healthy amount of power for a compact crossover SUV.

Despite its 3,825-pound curb weight, the CX-5 Signature accelerated with authority. The turbocharged engine was less efficient, rated at 24 mpg in combined driving, compared to 26 mpg combined for the naturally-aspirated engine with AWD. The CX-5 Signature averaged 22.1 mpg on the testing loop. The G-Vectoring Control Plus technology, upgraded brakes, and 19-inch wheels contributed to an engaging driving experience. However, the SUV's excessive body motions when cornering detracted from the overall driving thrill. The steering and brakes were up to the task, making the CX-5 Signature a delight in typical driving situations.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and Hemi V8 options. The standard 3.6-liter V6 produced 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Other powertrains included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant of the 3.6-liter V6, a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 producing 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. All engines routed power to one of three four-wheel-drive systems: Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac.

The Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid made 275 hp and offered up to 22 miles of electric range. The Rubicon 392 featured a 6.4-liter V8 engine producing 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turning the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. The 392 also featured beefed-up frame-rails, a 2-inch lift with Fox shock absorbers, and upgraded brakes. The dual-mode performance exhaust emitted an incredible rumble, adding to the driving experience. The Wrangler's powertrain options and off-road capabilities made it a versatile and powerful vehicle.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5's interior was more cramped than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, making it less competitive in terms of practicality and utility. However, Mazda focused on the CX-5's upscale cabin and generous list of standard equipment to de-emphasize this drawback. Every version of the CX-5 had an interior reflecting style and good taste, with classy-looking gauges and elegant metallic accents. Touring trim added dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and rear air conditioning vents. Grand Touring trim added a power height-adjustable front passenger seat, and Grand Touring Reserve equipped the SUV with ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Signature trim added Nappa leather, genuine wood trim, and more.

The CX-5 Signature's front seats were comfortable, but rear passengers might complain about legroom. Cargo space behind the rear seat measured 30.9 cubic feet, and with the rear seats folded, the maximum cargo volume was 59.6 cubic feet. A power liftgate with a programmable height limit was standard on Grand Touring trim and higher.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered multiple options for cloth tops and hardtops. The basic setup was the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, with premium black cloth and classic-looking tan soft-top options available. The Freedom top was a three-piece hardtop with removable panels, available in black or body color, with insulated panels to reduce road noise. The Sky one-touch power top, featured on the Rubicon 392, was a power-retractable canvas panel that operated at speeds up to 60 mph.

The Wrangler's cabin was all-function, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and effective in-door cargo nets. The cabin also featured drain plugs for easy cleaning. The Wrangler Unlimited provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, and up to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. However, wheel-wells and roll-bars made it harder to fit larger items.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 was equipped with a Mazda Connect infotainment system, which conveyed an upscale impression but required a period of acclimation. The Sport trim featured a 7-inch touchscreen display, which responded to touch only when the vehicle was not moving. Bluetooth, HD Radio, text messaging support, integrated internet radio apps, and E911 emergency notification were part of the system. The Touring trim added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Grand Touring trim installed an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, and a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system. The Signature trim enhanced the technology with a navigation system, a surround-view camera system, and a SiriusXM data subscription.

Interacting with Mazda Connect could be done using the touchscreen (when the vehicle was not moving), center console controls, steering wheel controls, or voice-recognition technology. However, none of these solutions were ideal. To reduce frustration, it was recommended to set up the system according to personal preferences and maximize the use of steering controls. The voice-recognition technology was not reliable, so it was best to avoid using it.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sport came with a basic 5-inch screen for operating the radio and vehicle settings. The 7-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was optional on the Sport S and standard on other trims. The sharp 8.4-inch Uconnect screen was also available. Both larger screens had crisp graphics and easy-to-read layouts, combined with intuitive radio toggles on the back of the steering wheel.

The Rubicon 392 featured a color TFT screen in the center of the instrument panel, between the traditional tachometer and speedometer. It also had a clever off-road camera, providing a clear view of the trail ahead, with its own washer-sprayer for muddy or dusty conditions.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 excelled in safety, with all advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) standard on most models. The i-Activsense package included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane-keep assist. Standard LED headlights and rain-sensing wipers added to the safety features. The only optional safety feature was adaptive headlights, standard on Grand Touring trim. 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 Jeep Wrangler lagged in modern driver-assistance features. Forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring were optional, and there was no available lane-departure warning feature. The Wrangler did come with a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading. However, the safety features were basic, especially in the base configuration.