2021 Toyota Venza vs 2021 Mazda CX-5

The 2021 Toyota Venza was a sleek and stylish SUV that many critics noted bore a resemblance to a Lexus. Its design, from the grille to the elongated profile, blurred the lines between the Toyota and Lexus brands, evoking the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept. The Venza was available in three trim levels—LE, XLE, and Limited—and offered a choice of seven paint colors. Standard features included LED headlights and taillights, automatic high beams, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The interior boasted a wireless charging pad, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-inch infotainment touch screen. Higher trims added more luxurious touches like a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a Star Gaze panoramic roof.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 took a different design approach, opting for smooth, sleek lines that made it look dynamic even when stationary. The base CX-5 Sport came with automatic LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, and a rear roof spoiler. The Touring trim added leatherette seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a six-speaker audio system. The Carbon Edition featured unique styling elements like red leather seats and 19-inch black metallic wheels. The top-tier Signature trim offered premium features such as Caturra Brown Nappa leather seats and genuine wood trim, making it a strong competitor against luxury brands like Buick and Acura.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors, resulting in a combined 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid system used an electronically-controlled continuously-variable transmission (eCVT) and offered smooth, albeit noisy, acceleration. The Venza excelled in fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg combined. Its handling was confident and typical of a Toyota, making it a reliable choice for daily driving. Toyota backed its hybrid powertrain with a 10-year/150,000-mile hybrid battery warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile Hybrid System warranty.

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. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available. The most fuel-efficient version, a non-turbo FWD model, achieved 25 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined. The turbo engine provided a more spirited driving experience, especially in Sport mode, but the CX-5's stiff suspension could make the ride less comfortable. The CX-5's fuel economy was decent but not as impressive as some competitors, particularly those offering hybrid options.

The 2021 Toyota Venza was practical and well-appointed for its price point. Its interior featured premium materials, especially in the center stack, which housed capacitive buttons for climate and infotainment controls. The deep center console included resizable cup holders, a traditional stick shifter, and various control buttons. The Venza offered comfortable seating for five, with ample headroom and a spacious feel. However, its cargo space was limited to 55.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was less than some competitors but sufficient for daily use.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 provided a comfortable and stylish interior, though rear legroom was somewhat 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 straightforward climate controls. However, the larger shifter and infotainment system controls could be less intuitive 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 seats folded, which was below average for the segment. A power liftgate was available to ease access to the cargo area.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured an 8-inch infotainment system on the LE and XLE trims, while the Limited trim boasted a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Entune infotainment system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa across all trims. A Wi-Fi hot spot, a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system, and various Toyota connected services were also available. However, the system's usability was not the best, requiring multiple menu trips for simple functions.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 came standard with a 10.25-inch infotainment touch screen. While the screen size was impressive, the operating system was less so, with a design that felt outdated and controls that were not always intuitive. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, allowing users to bypass some of the system's shortcomings. The volume could be adjusted via a switch on the steering wheel or a knob in the center console, but tuning the stereo or scrolling through favorites was less straightforward.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, which included features like a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard, with an upgrade available for automatic braking. The Venza also had two full sets of LATCH connections on the rear outboard seats. The safety features performed well, though the lane-keeping assist tended to keep the SUV slightly to the right within the lane.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 offered a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and forward collision warning. Additional features like a head-up display, reverse automatic emergency braking, and a surround-view camera system were available. The CX-5 earned high safety ratings, including a Top Safety Pick+ 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.