2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2021 Mazda CX-5

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 was designed with a distinct departure from the heavily sculpted and aggressively styled SUVs that dominated the market. Mazda opted for smooth, flowing lines that gave the CX-5 a sleek and sophisticated appearance, even when stationary. It wasn't flashy, but it took Mazda's design language in a stylish and understated direction.

Externally, the differences between trim levels were minimal. The base Sport model came equipped with features such as automatic on/off LED headlights, 17-inch gray metallic aluminum alloy wheels, a rear roof spoiler, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. As buyers moved up to the Touring trim, they received enhancements including rear privacy glass, leatherette seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, and auto-leveling LED headlights that improved visibility during cornering.

The Touring Preferred SV Package added luxuries like a 10-speaker Bose sound system, leather seats, a power liftgate, and a power moonroof, among other features. The Carbon Edition, a new offering for 2021, added exclusive design elements such as Polymetal Gray paint, gloss black door mirrors, and 19-inch black metallic aluminum alloy wheels, paired with a sumptuous interior featuring red leather seats and black honeycomb trim.

The Grand Touring trim built on the Touring model with additional amenities including dual heated mirrors, leatherette-trimmed upholstery, 19-inch brilliant silver aluminum alloy wheels, and a power liftgate. The Grand Touring Reserve added ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and automatic folding door mirrors. The Signature trim, the pinnacle of the range, exuded a premium feel with Caturra Brown Nappa leather seats, genuine wood trim, and 19-inch silver aluminum alloy wheels. The interior materials were exceptional, and the fit and finish were superior, making it feel more luxurious than many of its rivals.

Conversely, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L introduced a fresh design that wasn't based on the existing Grand Cherokee. The new seven-passenger model featured more cargo volume and a third-row seat. It resembled a smaller version of the upcoming Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, boasting the iconic seven-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches, and familiar lighting arrangements that made it unmistakably Jeep.

Offered in Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims, the Grand Cherokee L's exterior design was universally appealing across trims. The top Summit trim, which our test vehicle came in, featured luxurious touches like quilted and perforated leather, real wood trim, and a McIntosh 19-speaker premium audio system. However, some interior materials fell short of expectations for its price point. Overall, the redesigned interior was a significant improvement over the outgoing model.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 came with two capable engines. The base engine, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, produced 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission. Available in either FWD or AWD, this engine offered a fuel-efficient performance with up to 31 mpg on the highway.

For those seeking more spirited driving, the turbocharged variant of the 2.5-liter engine, found in the Carbon Edition and above trims, delivered 250 horsepower and a robust 320 lb-ft of torque. With AWD as standard on these higher trims, the turbo engine provided a dynamic driving experience, particularly in Sport mode. However, the stiffer suspension, while aiding handling, sometimes compromised ride comfort.

In contrast, every 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine generating 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Buyers could choose between RWD and three 4WD systems, which included fuel-saving technology. The V6 offered a towing capacity of up to 6,200 pounds and returned an EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined.

For more power, a 5.7-liter V8 engine was available on higher trims like the Overland and Summit. Producing 357 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, the V8 raised the towing capacity to 7,200 pounds, though it was less fuel efficient with 17 mpg combined. Our test model, equipped with the V6 and 4WD, demonstrated brisk acceleration, albeit with noticeable engine noise under load. The eight-speed automatic was generally smooth, though it sometimes hesitated to downshift in Auto mode.

Jeep's Quadra-Lift air suspension provided up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance in its highest setting, making the Grand Cherokee L adept at off-roading. The available Selec-Terrain system offered various driving modes, including Snow, Mud/Sand, and Rock. Despite its impressive off-road credentials, the Grand Cherokee L managed a smooth ride on pavement, with responsive steering and a relatively quiet cabin, except during hard acceleration or high air conditioning usage.

The Mazda CX-5 accommodated families comfortably in most respects. The seating position, distance to the center stack, and seat comfort were typical for an SUV of its size. However, taller passengers in the rear seats often found legroom lacking, especially when taller individuals sat in the front.

The CX-5 featured straightforward climate controls, adding to its user-friendly nature. The traditional shifter took up considerable space, which some newer SUVs had managed to reclaim with more compact electronic systems. Cargo capacity was a notable drawback; the CX-5 offered 30.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 59.6 cubic feet with the seats folded, falling short compared to competitors like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4.

Comfort and practicality were strengths of the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, particularly in the Summit trim. This model boasted heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats with 12-way power adjustments, a heated steering wheel, and four-zone automatic climate control with vents for all three rows.

The Grand Cherokee L's second-row captain’s chairs provided ample legroom and comfort, and the seats could tilt and slide forward with child safety seats installed, allowing easy access to the third row. The third-row seats were spacious enough for adults, with large windows offering a pleasant view.

Storage space in the Grand Cherokee L was adequate, with a storage console between the second-row captain’s chairs and a useful bin under the cargo area's load floor. It offered 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 46.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a substantial 84.6 cubic feet with all rear seats down.

In the 2021 Mazda CX-5, every model came with a 10.25-inch infotainment touch screen. Despite its impressive size, the operating system was less intuitive and visually appealing, relying heavily on a central control knob that some drivers found awkward. However, the inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard somewhat mitigated these shortcomings, allowing drivers to bypass the native system for their smartphones.

Jeep's Uconnect 5 infotainment system in the Grand Cherokee L represented a significant leap forward. Available with 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreens, Uconnect 5 offered faster response times and an improved user interface. Our test vehicle featured the larger screen, which integrated well into the dashboard.

Highlights included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Voice recognition worked reliably, though with a few quirks. The 19-speaker McIntosh audio system offered excellent sound quality, though its branding clashed with the interior design.

Additional tech features included a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, a night vision system, and a Fam Cam rear-seat monitoring system. A head-up display with visibility compatible with polarized sunglasses was also available, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 provided a comprehensive suite of safety features. Standard equipment included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, lane keep assist, and a rearview camera. Optional safety upgrades encompassed a head-up display, reverse automatic emergency braking, driver attention monitoring, a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, and traffic sign recognition, though the latter was occasionally slow to update.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L introduced several advanced safety features, including Active Driving Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance. The system was competent but not flawless, with some artificial steering corrections noted during use.

Intersection Collision Assist was another advanced feature, detecting threats from cross traffic and applying brakes if necessary. Other safety technologies included Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist, steering the SUV into parking spaces.

At the time of writing, crash-test ratings for the Grand Cherokee L were unavailable. However, it was expected to perform better than its predecessor, given the updated structure and technology.