2023 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Mazda CX-5

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 featured new LED headlights and taillights, offering more distinctive illumination. It also had updated bumpers, a revised grille, a redesigned rear liftgate, and new alloy wheel designs. The top-of-the-line Signature trim received body-color lower exterior trim, enhancing Mazda’s premium brand aspirations. Inside, the CX-5 retained its luxurious feel with premium Nappa leather upholstery, real wood trim, and polished metallic accents. The new seats provided improved comfort, and the trim levels were restructured into the CX-5 2.5 S and CX-5 2.5 Turbo, with the latter offering a turbocharged engine.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender outsold the Land Rover Discovery significantly, thanks to its boxy design reminiscent of the old LR4. The Defender’s design was characterized by its square-jawed face, rectangular hood and doors, and abruptly chopped tail. Tasteful accents paid homage to the original 1980s Defender, including dome and faux-metal step plates on the hood, skylights along the roof sides, and a body-color square separating the side glass. The Defender was available in three body styles: 90 (short two-door), 110 (medium-length four-door), and 130 (extended-length four-door). The interior focused on function and durability, with rubbers and plastics designed to resist moisture and stains, exposed screws, and plain-looking air vents.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. It featured a revised six-speed automatic transmission for more responsive performance and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The EPA rated its fuel economy at 26 mpg in combined driving. The CX-5 2.5 Turbo, with a turbocharged engine, offered 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium gas, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular gas. It also had the revised six-speed automatic and standard AWD, with an EPA rating of 24 mpg in combined driving. The 2.5 Turbo trims and the 2.5 S Premium and Premium Plus included Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) with Normal, Sport, and Off-Road settings. The 2022 CX-5’s improved driving dynamics, increased structural rigidity, and reworked suspension tuning provided a quieter and smoother ride, making it a legitimate alternative to small entry-level luxury SUVs.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender excelled off-road, with impressive grip, wheel articulation, and clearance. Its Terrain Response 2 system adapted the powertrain and chassis to various surfaces, and the permanent four-wheel drive (4WD) ensured stability. However, on-road performance was less impressive, with excessive body roll, slow and imprecise steering, and noticeable wind noise. The V8 engine, with 518 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque, provided thrilling acceleration, while the six-cylinder engine, part of a 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain, offered 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with 296 hp and 295 lb-ft, was less powerful. The mild-hybrid inline-six achieved better fuel economy, with ratings of 18/23/20 mpg, while the V8 returned 14/19/16 mpg. Despite its on-road shortcomings, the Defender’s powerful engines and off-road capabilities made it a formidable vehicle.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 addressed previous complaints about its ride and handling with new seats that provided better support and a sportier driving position. Most trims included a height-adjustable front passenger seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The back seat remained snug but offered heated outboard cushions and air conditioning vents. The control layout, particularly the Mazda Connect infotainment system, was a source of frustration due to the lack of a touchscreen display and natural voice recognition. Storage space was adequate, with a small bin under the center armrest and wireless smartphone charging. Cargo space was 30.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 59.3 cubic feet with the back seat folded.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender offered unmatched seating configurations, with the Defender 90 seating six with a jump seat, the 110 offering an optional third row, and the 130 seating up to eight. The 130 had a panoramic moonroof and a rear moonroof, while the 90 and 110 offered a folding power fabric roof. Cargo space varied by model, with the 130 providing 77 cubic feet with the third row and second row folded, and the 110 offering 79 cubic feet with the second row folded. The Defender could be equipped with off-road or all-season tires, a metal roof rack, a console refrigerator, a heated windshield, a pressurized water rinse system, power-deployable side steps, a brush bar, and a winch.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 retained the Mazda Connect infotainment system with a 10.25-inch display, which was not touch-sensitive. The system lacked natural voice recognition, requiring the use of center console and steering wheel controls. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, text-messaging support, E911 automatic emergency notification, and Mazda Connected Services with a three-year trial subscription. The 2.5 S Premium trim and above included a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system and SiriusXM satellite radio.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender featured two touchscreen infotainment systems running Pivi Pro software. The standard 10-inch screen was wide format, while the optional 11.4-inch screen was an oversize square. Both screens were quick and easy to operate, with the larger screen offering better legibility. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a voice assistant, connected apps, navigation, heated front seats, a proximity key, and power-folding mirrors. Higher trims added features like a Meridian stereo, fog lights, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, auto high beams, cooled front seats, air suspension, a locking rear differential, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and a rearview mirror with a camera display.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 came with a comprehensive i-Activsense package, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added adaptive headlights, a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, automatic rear braking, and a driver monitoring system. The CX-5 received a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2023 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by U.S. safety organizations but received five stars in Euro NCAP crash testing. It came with six airbags, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. Optional features included a digital instrument panel, a head-up display, a 360-degree camera system, and automatic steering when reversing a trailer. However, it lacked a self-steering highway assist.