2022 Lexus GX vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 Black Line Special Edition was a vehicle that appealed to those who loved the sleek, black-on-black aesthetic, despite the challenges of maintaining such a finish. The Black Line treatment removed almost all chrome from the exterior, giving the SUV a menacing, all-black appearance. However, it quickly accumulated dust, making it look older and less pristine. The GX's design, with its signature spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights, was reminiscent of its predecessors, maintaining a somewhat dated look. Inside, the cabin was crafted with high-quality materials, offering the smooth refinement Lexus was known for, and it was notably quiet, with only the faint roar of the V8 engine audible.

In contrast, the 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured a more modern and rugged design. Its styling included a blunt nose, long hood, and a cabin positioned toward the rear wheels, exuding a subtle seductiveness. The CX-50 also had rugged elements like blistered fender swells and oversized air intake designs, which added to its appeal. The test vehicle, a top-of-the-line CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus, came in Zircon Sand Metallic paint and featured black leather with caramel-colored accent stitching. The interior displayed Mazda's traditional driver-focused design, with quality materials and polished metallic trim. The CX-50's cabin was comfortable and well-equipped, making it a good-looking compact crossover both inside and out.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460, with its 4.6-liter V8 engine, produced 301 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm. This powertrain, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and a full-time 4WD system, allowed the GX to tow up to 6,500 pounds. Despite its 5,126-pound curb weight, the GX managed a 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds. However, its fuel economy was a drawback, with an EPA estimate of 16 mpg in combined driving. The GX's Kinetic Dynamics Suspension System (KDSS) helped improve ride quality and stability, making it more agreeable to drive. However, the slow, heavy steering and touchy brake pedal were less appealing aspects of its performance.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered two engine options. The base 2.5 S model had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, with an estimated 27 mpg in combined driving. The 2.5 Turbo variants featured a turbocharged version of the same engine, delivering between 227 hp and 256 hp, depending on the fuel used, and torque ranging from 310 lb-ft to 320 lb-ft. The turbo engine provided smooth acceleration and a towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds. The CX-50's driving modes, including Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing, worked with G-Vectoring Control (GVC) technology to ensure natural vehicle behavior. The CX-50 felt more like a modern station wagon with a higher ride height, offering a firm yet comfortable ride quality.

The 2022 Lexus GX offered an elevated driving position with a 10-way power-adjustable seat and clear outward visibility. Its tall, narrow, and short design made it easy to maneuver in various environments. The Black Line Special Edition featured NuLuxe upholstery, black ash wood trim, and a black headliner. The front seats were heated and ventilated, while the rear seats were heated. However, the rear door openings were narrow, making entry and exit challenging. The third-row seat was cramped and reduced cargo space, with only 11.6 cubic feet available behind it. With the third-row seat folded, cargo space increased to 46.7 cubic feet, and with the second-row seat folded, it offered 64.7 cubic feet.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 provided a comfortable and well-equipped interior. The test vehicle had power-adjustable heated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats. The back seat was roomy, with rear air vents and charging ports. Storage space was adequate, though some opportunities for additional bins were missed. The CX-50 offered 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, with a long load floor but narrow space between the wheel wells. Maximum cargo space was 56.3 cubic feet, slightly less than the CX-5 due to the CX-50's lower roofline.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 featured a new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which was a significant improvement. It included standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and navigation. The GX also had a CD player and a Lexus app with smartwatch compatibility. However, the stereo controls were awkwardly placed below the off-roading controls, making them harder to use. The infotainment display offered a dual-screen view, and the voice recognition technology was quick and accurate. Lexus also made Intuitive Parking Assist standard, with optional surround-view and terrain-view cameras.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 came with a Mazda Connect infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Mazda Connected Services. The base 2.5 S had an 8.8-inch display, while other trims included a 10.25-inch display. Mazda Connect historically lacked touchscreen control, but the CX-50 allowed touchscreen use for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system provided a satisfying audio experience. The CX-50 also offered an Active Driving Display (HUD) with useful data, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2022 Lexus GX, being an older design, lacked crash-test ratings. However, it came with Lexus Safety System+, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. It also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. However, it lacked some advanced safety technologies found in competitors, such as lane-keeping assist and semi-autonomous driving systems.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 was expected to perform well in safety tests, like other Mazda models. It came with a comprehensive package of driving assistance systems, with additional features available on the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trim. These included Traffic Jam Assist, active blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting in, but overall, the safety systems worked well.