2022 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Mazda CX-5

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade, introduced as Hyundai's flagship SUV in 2020, replaced the Santa Fe XL. It featured a striking and elegant exterior design, shedding Hyundai's past criticisms of unimaginative designs. The Palisade's prominent grille, crisp shoulder lines, and sculpted wheel arches added visual interest, while the continuous strip of glass surfaces around the tailgate gave the impression of a floating rear roof. Inside, the Palisade boasted high-quality materials and finishes, with a horizontally arrayed screen and a beefy center console. The second row offered either a roomy bench or captain's chairs, and the third row was spacious enough for short rides for adults or kids.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5, despite its age, remained a stylish and high-quality compact crossover SUV. It looked and felt more like a small luxury SUV, with high-quality materials and impressive power from its available turbocharged engine. The CX-5 was redesigned and renamed as the CX-50, but the 2023 model still exuded quality, refinement, and sophistication. The CX-5 offered two engine options: a standard 187-horsepower four-cylinder and a 256-hp turbocharged four-cylinder. The turbocharged engine provided a thrilling driving experience, especially with premium fuel. The CX-5's updates in 2022 improved its structural rigidity, suspension dampening, and interior noise, making it feel more like an entry-level luxury vehicle.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade featured a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 gasoline engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine, with gasoline direct injection and dual variable valve timing, offered a balance of power and efficiency. The Palisade's EPA estimates were 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway/22 mpg combined for FWD models and 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway/21 mpg combined for AWD models. The Palisade's handling was enhanced by a four-wheel independent suspension and stabilizer bars, with a self-leveling suspension system on higher trims. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine options. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivered 187 hp and 186 pound-feet of torque, with an EPA rating of 26 mpg in combined driving. The 2.5 Turbo's 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine provided 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque with premium fuel, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft with regular fuel. The turbocharged engine's updates in 2022 improved the CX-5's structural rigidity, suspension dampening, and interior noise. The CX-5's AWD system and six-speed automatic transmission contributed to its sporty driving experience. The turbocharged engine's torque arrived at 2,000 rpm with regular gas and 2,500 rpm with premium fuel, providing quick acceleration.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade offered comfortable seating and ample storage throughout the cabin. The third row provided easy access and cupholders, while the second-row captain's chairs were comfortable. The front row had multiple storage compartments, including a center console and door panel bottle holders. Luggage space measured 18.0 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. The Palisade's gear selector featured a compact shift-by-wire setup, and the dual-panel sunroof improved the ambiance in the upper trims. The Limited and Calligraphy trims included luxury features like heated and ventilated seats, premium Nappa leather upholstery, and a hands-free liftgate.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5's updates in 2022 improved the front seats' comfort and support. The CX-5 offered height-adjustable seats for both the driver and front passenger, with power adjustment, heated and ventilated seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control available on higher trims. The Signature trim featured Nappa leather upholstery. However, the CX-5's technology, storage space, rear-seat room, and cargo space were less impressive. The cargo area provided 30.9 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat and 59.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The CX-5's infotainment system lacked a helpful voice recognition system and had awkward physical controls, making it less user-friendly.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade showcased Hyundai's technological advancements. The standard display audio system on S and SEL models featured an 800 x 480 resolution screen, while the Limited and Calligraphy models had a 1920 x 720 color touchscreen with a 630-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and satellite radio. The Palisade had multiple USB ports, a Qi wireless charging pad, and a 115-volt power outlet on higher trims. The Blue Link connected car system offered remote engine start and vehicle monitoring. The Limited and Calligraphy trims featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5's Mazda Connect infotainment system had a 10.25-inch display with sophisticated graphics and a logical menu structure. However, the system's physical controls were awkward to use, requiring memorization and conscious thought. The control knob often required multiple twists and pushes to execute commands, making it less user-friendly. Mazda Connect offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year trial subscription to Mazda Connected Services. The upper trims included a 10-speaker Bose premium audio system. The test vehicle had a front-facing camera and a surround-view camera system for easier parking.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade included a comprehensive list of standard and available safety features. Passive safety features included seven airbags, three-point seat belts, LATCH anchors, active head restraints, and a front crumple zone. Standard active safety features included anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5's i-Activsense driver assistance tech included most features as standard equipment, with a few exclusive to the 2.5 Turbo Signature. These included a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, rear low-speed automatic emergency braking, and Traffic Jam Assist. The i-Activsense tech operated smoothly and accurately, with an Active Driving Display showing operational status and alerts. The CX-5 also had an E911 system for automatic collision notification. The CX-5 earned five-star ratings in every NHTSA assessment and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.