2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2021 Mazda CX-5

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 eschewed the trend of aggressively styled SUVs, opting instead for a more refined and smooth exterior that radiated a sense of motion even at a standstill. This philosophy was a departure from the sharp lines and highly angular designs seen in many competitors. Despite this, Mazda’s design for the 2021 CX-5 remained stylish and cohesive throughout its various trim levels.

The base CX-5 Sport featured practical elements like automatic on/off LED headlights, 17-inch gray metallic aluminum alloy wheels, a rear roof spoiler, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Stepping up to the CX-5 Touring added rear privacy glass, leatherette seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, two rear USB ports, a six-speaker audio system, and auto-leveling LED headlights. These auto-leveling headlights were particularly useful for illuminating turns and winding roads at night, enhancing safety.

The 2021 lineup also introduced the Touring Preferred SV Package, which elevated the Touring model with luxuries like a 10-speaker Bose sound system, leather seats, a power liftgate, power moonroof, auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink, and more adjustable power seats with lumbar support and memory positioning.

The Carbon Edition catered to a specific aesthetic with Polymetal Gray paint, gloss black mirrors, and 19-inch black metallic wheels. The interior featured striking red leather seats and black honeycomb trim, complemented by red stitching on the leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

Higher trims like the CX-5 Grand Touring added dual heated mirrors, leatherette-trimmed upholstery, 19-inch silver wheels, and various LED lighting enhancements including taillights and fog lights. Additional features like a power liftgate, paddle shifters, digital gauge display, and SiriusXM offered extra convenience.

In the premium segment, the CX-5 Signature was the pinnacle, boasting Caturra Brown Nappa leather seats, genuine wood trim, a frameless rearview mirror, ambient lighting, and more. This level of detail brought the CX-5 Signature into competition with luxury brands, showing off Mazda's commitment to high-quality materials and excellent fit and finish.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee maintained an enduring design that combined rugged utility with sophisticated aesthetics. More than a decade since its initial inception, the Grand Cherokee’s look was still contemporary, aided by big wheels and flared fenders that communicated capability and poise.

The lineup ranged from affordable trims like Laredo and Limited to upscale trims like Overland and Summit, and even performance models such as the SRT and Trackhawk. The Trailhawk trim was designed specifically for serious off-roading.

Updates to the Laredo and Limited trims were minor for 2021, but Jeep added new versions like the Laredo X and the 80th Anniversary Edition. Pricing spanned a broad spectrum from around $35,000 to nearly $90,000, showcasing the diverse range of options within the lineup.

The Summit trim, in particular, aimed for luxury with a 5.7-liter V8, four-wheel drive (4WD), and additional premium touches including the Platinum Series Group, which toned down the glam with body-color mirror caps, door handles, and a platinum chrome finish. The Signature Leather-Wrapped Interior Package added high-end materials to the interior, such as premium leather, genuine wood, real aluminum, and simulated suede.

The Grand Cherokee’s cabin featured quilted seat bolsters, a thick wood-and-leather steering wheel, and partially digital instrumentation. However, despite the overall luxury feel, the aging interior design showed in outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fittings, hinting at the need for a redesign.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine choices. The base powertrain was a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and was available with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

For more spirited performance, particularly in the Carbon Edition, Grand Touring Reserve, and Signature trims, Mazda provided a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produced 250 horsepower and a robust 320 lb-ft of torque. This engine also used a six-speed automatic transmission, and AWD was standard.

Fuel efficiency for the non-turbo engine with FWD was commendable at 25 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined. The AWD configuration slightly reduced these numbers to 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. The turbocharged models were nearly as efficient, with the FWD variants reaching 23 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined, while the AWD setup offered 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined.

Driving the CX-5 was engaging, particularly with the turbo engine in Sport mode, capitalizing on Mazda's known commitment to driving pleasure. However, the stiff suspension sometimes compromised ride comfort, especially compared to both mass-market and premium rivals.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a potent 3.6-liter V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an efficient eight-speed automatic transmission, enabled impressive towing capabilities of up to 6,200 pounds. It was available in both rear-wheel drive and 4WD configurations.

For those seeking more power, the Grand Cherokee offered an optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine that produced 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. This engine used the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system and boasted a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. Despite its power, fuel efficiency was limited, with an average of 17 mpg in combined driving.

The Grand Cherokee featured varying levels of 4WD capability across its trims. The Summit trim came with Quadra-Lift air suspension and the Quadra-Trac II system, offering terrain management settings and the ability to raise or lower the ride height. This made the Grand Cherokee exceptionally competent off-road, while also ensuring a comfortable ride on highways.

Daily driving of the Grand Cherokee revealed it to be responsive and fairly quiet. The V8 added character with its satisfying rumble, albeit at the cost of increased fuel consumption. Despite its off-road credentials, the Grand Cherokee managed tight urban maneuvers well, thanks to its tight turning radius.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 was designed with family comfort and utility in mind. Front row access to the center stack and seating positions were typical of a compact SUV, ensuring convenience for everyday use. Headroom was adequate in both rows, but back seat legroom was compromised, especially for taller passengers.

The CX-5’s rear seats had LATCH connections for car seats, though their usability was average. The climate controls were straightforward and intuitive, appealing to those who preferred simplicity over tech-heavy solutions. Critics found the large shifter in the center console to be an outdated design choice, taking up more space than necessary compared to more modern alternatives.

Interior storage was sufficient but limited by the design. The Mazda CX-5 was notably less spacious in cargo capacity than many of its competitors. It offered 30.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, and 59.6 cubic feet with them down. This fell short compared to rivals like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4, which offered significantly more cargo room.

Contrastingly, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit was geared towards luxurious comfort, featuring plush seats with an opulent leather-wrapped interior. Both front seats provided eight-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. However, controls for these functions were embedded within the Uconnect infotainment system, requiring more attention than traditional buttons would.

Rear seat comfort was commendable, although taller passengers might find legroom a bit tight. The optional rear-seat entertainment system could make the rear feel cramped, but the large windows, panoramic sunroof, and light upholstery alleviated the confined sensation. The Grand Cherokee’s rear seat featured heating elements and rear air vents, contributing to rear passenger comfort.

Interior storage was moderately sufficient, but the entertainment system’s hardware consumed valuable space in the center console. However, robust grocery bag hooks on the seatbacks were a practical touch. The Grand Cherokee provided 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded down—figures that were somewhat modest for a midsize SUV.

Mazda equipped the 2021 CX-5 with a 10.25-inch infotainment screen across all trims. While the screen size was impressive, the operating system lagged behind contemporary standards. The layout was straightforward but lacked modern, intuitive design elements. The lack of tuning knobs or easy access buttons for the stereo was noted as a drawback, making the system harder to use, especially for those who preferred physical controls.

However, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mitigated some of these issues, allowing users to integrate their smartphones for easier control over music and navigation. This workaround was essential, given the less user-friendly infotainment system.

Jeep’s Uconnect 4C with Nav system in the 2021 Grand Cherokee was praised for its user experience. Despite the new Uconnect 5 system on the horizon, the existing setup remained highly functional. It offered fast response times, clear graphics, and primary stereo controls, making it user-friendly and efficient.

The system included features like navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Amazon Alexa integration allowed convenient remote functions like starting the car from inside your home. Additionally, SiriusXM services and voice recognition technology provided a comprehensive and intuitive tech suite.

The Grand Cherokee offered a nine-speaker Alpine audio system or an impressive 19-speaker Harman Kardon system, the latter delivering robust sound quality throughout the cabin. Unlike the tech-savvy nature of modern SUVs, the Grand Cherokee’s appeal partly lay in its "tech lite" approach, focusing on essential features executed well without an overload of digital interfaces.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features including 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. Additional optional safety features included 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.

These safety features helped the CX-5 achieve high safety ratings, earning a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The CX-5 boasted Good scores in all crash tests, further establishing its credentials as a safe vehicle option.

In comparison, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee presented a mixed bag in terms of safety. While the NHTSA gave the 4WD version a five-star overall rating, the 2WD variant received a lower four-star rating due to a three-star rollover resistance score. More critically, the IIHS awarded the Grand Cherokee Marginal and Poor ratings in small-overlap frontal-impact tests, highlighting concerns over its crashworthiness in specific scenarios.

The Grand Cherokee’s standard and optional safety features, however, were comprehensive. The ProTech II Package included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. These features worked well and contributed to its overall safety profile. Jeep also provided helpful driving aids like a backup camera with guidance lines, parking sensors, and a ParkSense parking assistance system.