2022 Kia Sportage vs 2021 Mazda CX-5

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 eschewed the aggressive design trend seen in other SUVs and opted for a smoother, more seamless look. Even when it stood still, the CX-5 gave the impression of being in motion, exuding an elegant simplicity. The base CX-5 Sport included features like automatic LED headlights, 17-inch gray metallic alloy wheels, rear roof spoiler, and rain-sensing windshield wipers, while the Touring trim added leatherette seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and auto-leveling LED headlights that adapted to cornering. The new Touring Preferred SV Package enriched it further with a 10-speaker Bose sound system, power moonroof, leather seats, and power-adjustable seats, making it more luxurious. The Carbon Edition stood out with its Polymetal Gray paint, red leather interior, and black honeycomb trim, raising the bar for style. The Grand Touring model incorporated heated mirrors and SiriusXM, while the Grand Touring Reserve included ventilated seats and heated steering wheel. The top-tier Signature model brought in Caturra Brown Nappa leather, genuine wood trim, ambient lighting, and sophisticated 19-inch silver wheels, virtually rivalling luxury brands like Buick and Acura.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, however, exhibited a more polarizing design. While Kia's tiger-nose grille worked well on models like the Stinger and Sorento, it fell short on the Sportage, making it look like a Halloween mustache misfit. Despite this, the Sportage nailed other design elements. With its Porsche-esque four-dot running lights and VW-style rear door symmetry, it projected an aura of sophistication. The SX Turbo trim sported well-proportioned 19-inch wheels, contributing to a planted stance. Inside, the Sportage embraced Germanic cues with polished metallic accents and plain white markings on a black dashboard. The SX Turbo added extra flair with metal pedal covers and high-contrast interior colors. Buttons and knobs dominated the controls, making them user-friendly, a point of contention for those familiar with touchscreen-dominated systems.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine choices. The base engine was a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produced 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. The alternative was a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering an impressive 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission, with both manual shift and sport modes, came standard. Front-wheel drive was standard, and all-wheel drive was optional for the base engines but standard for the turbocharged units. Fuel efficiency for the non-turbo FWD engine was robust at 25 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined. The AWD model posted slightly lower but still respectable numbers. With the turbo engine, the most fuel-efficient setup yielded 23 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined with FWD, or 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined with AWD. The turbo engine provided spirited acceleration, especially in Sport mode, but the stiff suspension could be a drawback for some.

The 2022 Kia Sportage presented a more straightforward yet less exhilarating performance profile. The base engine was a 2.4-liter four-cylinder producing 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. The highlighting feature was the 240-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine available in the SX Turbo, also delivering 260 lb-ft of torque. Both engines used a six-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive as standard and an optional all-wheel-drive system with a locking center differential. While the base engine felt competent but unremarkable, the turbo engine offered an engaging drive, quickly accelerating thanks to torque peaking at a low 1,450 rpm. Equipped with larger ventilated front disc brakes and unique 19-inch wheels, the SX Turbo felt sporty but fell short of the CX-5 Turbo's refinement. The Sportage's suspension offered a smooth and compliant ride, even over rough pavement, making it a comfortable daily driver.

In terms of interior design, the 2021 Mazda CX-5 had practical but somewhat cramped rear seating. The seating position and distance to the center stack were typical for its size, with good headroom but less rear legroom compared to competitors. The CX-5 provided straightforward climate controls and a large gear shifter, which, although prominent, took up considerable space. The cargo area was relatively small for the segment, offering 30.9 cubic feet with all seats up and 59.6 cubic feet with rear seats folded down. This was significantly less compared to rivals like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4, which offered nearly 20 cubic feet more.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, though smaller on the exterior, offered a more spacious and comfortable interior. The SX Turbo trim provided perforated leather seats with contrast stitching and advanced front seat adjustments, including a 10-way power driver seat and an 8-way power front passenger seat. Rear legroom was generous, and adult passengers would find it comfortable. The Sportage excelled in interior storage but lagged behind in cargo capacity, with 30.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. This too was less than segment leaders but very close to the CX-5. The hands-free liftgate added a layer of convenience, despite occasional unwanted activation.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 came standard with a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen that, while large, was somewhat cumbersome to use. Mazda's operating system was uncluttered but felt outdated and was often inconvenient due to its knob-based control system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard features, although their integration through the touchscreen felt like a workaround.

On the other hand, the 2022 Kia Sportage featured an 8-inch touchscreen display, which felt increasingly small in a market trending towards larger screens. Nevertheless, its user interface was straightforward, with physical knobs for volume and tuning, enhancing usability. Most trims came equipped with UVO Link connected services and satellite radio, while the SX Turbo boasted additions like wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Although technologically simple, the setup was user-friendly, even if it lagged behind in sophistication and size.

Safety was a strong suit for the 2021 Mazda CX-5, which came with an extensive list of standard features including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Additional features like a head-up display, surround-view camera system, and front and rear parking sensors were available. These contributed to the CX-5 earning a Top Safety Pick+ designation from IIHS and a five-star rating from NHTSA.

Similarly, the 2022 Kia Sportage was well-equipped with standard safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims, like the SX Turbo, added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert. While both the NHTSA and IIHS rated it as a safe vehicle, only the SX Turbo's headlights met the Acceptable rating criteria necessary for an IIHS Top Safety Pick designation.