2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Mazda CX-5

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 was a smooth and stylish vehicle that stood out in a market filled with deeply-creased hoods and chiseled grilles. Its design was sleek and slippery, even when stationary, and it took the familiar Mazda aesthetic in a more refined direction. The base CX-5 Sport featured automatic LED headlights, 17-inch gray metallic wheels, a rear roof spoiler, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Higher trims like the Touring added rear privacy glass, leatherette seats, dual-zone climate control, and auto-leveling LED headlights, which were particularly useful for night driving on winding roads.

The top-tier CX-5 Signature model offered a premium experience with Caturra Brown Nappa leather seats, genuine wood trim, and a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror. The interior materials were of high quality, and the fit and finish were well-executed. The CX-5 Carbon Edition combined the Touring features with a Polymetal Gray paint job, red leather seats, and 19-inch black metallic wheels, adding a unique flair to the lineup.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, while often seen as a glorified minivan, offered a practical and stylish alternative for those needing a spacious SUV without the bulk and expense of larger models. The base Traverse LS started at $33,700, with the top-tier High Country trim reaching $53,400. All-wheel drive was available across the lineup, though its 7.5-inch ground clearance limited its off-road capabilities. For 2022, the Traverse received a light restyle with new headlights, taillights, and grille designs, along with updated wheel options and color choices.

Our test vehicle, the RS trim, featured blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels, making it one of the more visually appealing options in its segment. The interior of the RS trim included black leather upholstery with red and light gray stitching, black carpets, and gloss black trim. While the materials were a mixed bag, with some hard plastics in less desirable places, the overall design was logical and user-friendly. The Traverse's interior was spacious, with ample storage and a hidden compartment behind the infotainment screen, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine options, both paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The base engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The more powerful option was a 250-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder, delivering 320 lb-ft of torque on regular fuel, standard on the Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims. The turbo engine provided a spirited driving experience, especially in Sport mode, though the CX-5's stiff suspension could be a drawback on rough roads.

Fuel efficiency for the CX-5 varied by configuration. The most fuel-efficient model, a FWD with the non-turbo engine, achieved 25 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined. AWD models with the turbo engine were slightly less efficient, with 22 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined. While these numbers were decent, they fell short of some competitors offering hybrid variants.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came with a single engine option: a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided ample power for the Traverse's size, and the SUV had a tow rating of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Traverse offered various driving modes, including Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road, to optimize performance in different conditions.

In terms of fuel economy, the AWD Traverse achieved an EPA rating of 20 mpg combined, and our test vehicle returned 20.9 mpg on the evaluation loop. The Traverse's ride quality was generally pleasant, though it could feel soft and disconnected on undulating pavement. The V6 engine performed well in various driving conditions, and the suspension limited body roll, making the Traverse feel more athletic than some of its rivals.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5's interior design was functional and stylish, though it had some limitations. The seating position and comfort level were typical for an SUV of its size, with good headroom in both rows but limited legroom for rear passengers. The CX-5 had two full LATCH connections on the rear outboard seats and a tether connector on the middle rear seat, though they were not the easiest to use.

Cargo space in the CX-5 was below average for the segment, with 30.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 59.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This was significantly less than competitors like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. The CX-5's climate controls were straightforward and easy to use, but the larger shifter and infotainment system controls took up valuable passenger space.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse offered a spacious and practical interior, though the RS, Premier, and High Country trims only came with second-row captain's chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. The Traverse RS featured power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row Smart Slide function and long rear doors made accessing the third-row seat easier.

The Traverse's cargo space was generous, with 23 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 98.2 cubic feet. The Traverse also had a hidden storage compartment behind the infotainment screen and another under the cargo floor. However, the third-row seats could be challenging to fold down if the second-row captain's chairs were in their rearmost position.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 came standard with a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, though its operating system was not user-friendly. The screen's positioning made it difficult to reach, and the lack of knobs for tuning the stereo or scrolling through favorites was inconvenient. However, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, allowing users to bypass some of the system's shortcomings.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse offered a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the LS and LT Cloth models, while other trims received an 8-inch high-definition display. The Traverse's infotainment system included Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and access to connected services like a WiFi hotspot. Higher trims featured an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel and an integrated navigation system.

The Traverse's voice recognition system was responsive and accurate, making it easy to use. The available digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera system were helpful for maneuvering in tight spaces. However, the 8-inch touchscreen felt small compared to modern standards, and the Bose premium sound system was underwhelming.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 came with a comprehensive list 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. Optional 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.

The CX-5 earned high safety ratings, including a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Mazda backed the CX-5 with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following-distance indicator. The optional Safety Package for the Traverse LS added rear parking assist sensors, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Higher trims like the RS, Premier, and High Country featured adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and a rear pedestrian alert system. The Traverse Premier and High Country also had Chevy's vibrating Safety Alert Seat. The Traverse received top "Good" ratings in most IIHS collision tests, though it rated "Acceptable" in a new side-impact test. NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2022 Traverse at the time of writing.