2021 Mazda CX-5 vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a throwback in design, relying heavily on styling details to differentiate its trim levels. Its exterior was a generic SUV look with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. However, it lacked the personality of competitors like the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. The Traverse's restrained styling emphasized cosmetic elements keyed to different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country. The interior mirrored the exterior's restrained styling, with an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof as a standout feature. Materials in the higher-level RS model were decent but not quite worthy of its $50,000 MSRP.

In contrast, the 2021 Mazda CX-5 took a different design direction with a smooth, sleek appearance that looked dynamic even when stationary. The base CX-5 Sport featured automatic LED headlights, 17-inch wheels, and a rear roof spoiler. The Touring model added rear privacy glass, leatherette seats, and dual-zone climate control. The Carbon Edition combined Touring features with a unique Polymetal Gray paint job and red leather seats. The Grand Touring model included dual heated mirrors and a power liftgate, while the Grand Touring Reserve added ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel. The top-tier Signature model featured premium materials like Caturra Brown Nappa leather seats and genuine wood trim, rivaling luxury brands.

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. Despite the impressive specs, the Traverse didn't feel as powerful as expected, though it provided sufficient power for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic performed well overall but occasionally had rough shifts. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and comfortable ride. However, it lacked agility on twisty roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation and didn't fully utilize its torque vectoring capabilities. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound towing capacity, average for the segment.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine options. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produced 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, available on higher trims, delivered 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. The CX-5 with FWD and the base engine achieved 25 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined. The turbocharged engine with AWD achieved 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined. The turbo engine provided spirited performance, especially in Sport mode, but the CX-5's stiff suspension affected ride comfort. The AWD system kept the vehicle planted, but the seats lacked bolstering for spirited driving.

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 model, with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, offering 23.0 cubic feet with all seats 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. However, interior storage options were limited, typical of midsize three-row crossovers.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 provided a comfortable and stylish interior, though rear legroom was limited. The seating position and distance to the center stack were typical for an SUV of its size. The CX-5 had two full LATCH connections on the rear outboard seats and a tether connector on the middle seat. Climate controls were straightforward and easy to use. The larger shifter took up passenger space, and the infotainment controls were not ideally positioned for shorter drivers. The CX-5 offered 30.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 59.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, below average for the segment. A power liftgate was available.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a standard 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 8-inch screen in the Traverse RS was user-friendly, with large smartphone-like icons and analog controls for audio and climate. The Traverse also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Each row had two USB ports, but wireless phone charging was only standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 featured a standard 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. While the screen size was impressive, the operating system was not user-friendly, and the information presented was not modern. The lack of knobs for tuning the stereo or scrolling through favorites was inconvenient, though volume control was available via the steering wheel or center console. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, providing a workaround for the infotainment system's shortcomings.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention. However, it received "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH 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 features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist available only on higher trims.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 came with a long list of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning. Optional features included a head-up display, reverse automatic emergency braking, and a surround-view camera system. The CX-5 earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. Mazda backed the CX-5 with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.