2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2022 Mazda CX-5

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 presented a stylish exterior that underwent several minor yet significant updates, enhancing its overall aesthetic. New LED headlights and taillights marked a notable change, with distinctive illumination aimed at addressing previous concerns about owners driving without regular lights. The vehicle featured new bumpers, a revised grille, a redesigned rear liftgate, and fresh alloy wheel designs, which, though not groundbreaking, contributed to a refined look. The top-tier Signature trim saw body-color lower exterior trim to accentuate Mazda's push towards a premium brand image.

Internally, the Mazda CX-5 remained largely unchanged in design, maintaining luxurious elements in the Signature trim like premium Nappa leather upholstery, real wood trim, and polished metallic accents. The seats were new for 2022, adding to overall comfort, a factor explored further in performance reviews.

Mazda simplified the trim levels, categorizing the CX-5 into the 2.5 S with a naturally aspirated engine and the 2.5 Turbo with a turbocharged engine. The 2.5 S was spread across six trims, with prices ranging from $25,900 to $33,950, whereas the 2.5 Turbo was available in base ($36,400) and Signature ($38,650) trims. Our test vehicle, a 2.5 Turbo with several optional features including Soul Red paint and a navigation system, totaled $39,445.

In contrast, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport embraced a "modernist" and "reductive" design philosophy, signifying a clean and simple appearance. Available in bold Firenze Red paint or subdued tones like Eiger Gray, it exuded an understated luxury. Our test vehicle featured 23-inch silver wheels, a Black Exterior Pack, and optional details like a black-painted roof, enhancing its sophisticated allure. Internally, it showcased a Deep Garnet over Ebony theme with aluminum and shiny black trim.

Land Rover offered the Range Rover Sport in SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e specs. Our SE Dynamic P400 test vehicle included advanced features like heated and ventilated seats and a Cold Climate Pack, bringing the MSRP to $98,420. Other highlights included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and innovative surface LED taillights, combined with impressive aerodynamics and a sleek, high-tech interior featuring sustainable Ultrafabrics and Windsor leather upholstery.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 offered a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque for the 2.5 S. All models came with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. Fuel economy was rated at 26 mpg combined. The 2.5 Turbo trim, running on premium gas, delivered 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular gas. The 2.5 Turbo averaged 24 mpg combined, though real-world testing saw 21.1 mpg.

The Mazda CX-5 improved structural rigidity and suspension tuning for a quieter, smoother, and sportier ride typical of Mazda vehicles. The new seats provided better comfort and support, enhancing the driving experience. The Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) offered various drive modes, adding to the SUV’s solid and refined performance.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport targeted refinement, comfort, and driver-focused engagement. The SE and SE Dynamic models featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque for the SE P360, and 395 hp and 406 lb-ft for the SE Dynamic P400. A PHEV drivetrain in the Autobiography P440e provided 434 hp and 406 lb-ft with an estimated 51 miles of electric range. Early 2023 models carried a 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8, expected to return in future SVR variants.

Our 395-hp SE Dynamic P400 test vehicle accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive. It was rated to tow 7,716 pounds and averaged 22.3 mpg during evaluation, exceeding the EPA’s 21 mpg combined estimate.

The new Range Rover Sport boasted a 35-percent increase in torsional stiffness and a standard adaptive damping air suspension for a refined ride. Dynamic driving mode and various control systems enhanced on-road handling and off-road capability. However, it struggled to match the agility of similarly priced sport SUVs from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, feeling tall and heavy in tight curves but excelling in off-road conditions with impressive ground clearance and surface wading depth.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 addressed previous comfort complaints with all-new seats providing improved support and a sportier driving position. The height-adjustable front passenger seat, leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel added to the premium feel. However, the rear seat remained snug despite heated outboard cushions and air conditioning vents. The non-touchscreen Mazda Connect infotainment system required adaptation but became easier to use over time.

Cargo space was adequate, offering 30.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 59.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, suitable when compared to luxury rivals but less impressive against mainstream crossovers.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport preserved its Command Driving Position with a tall, airy cabin. The air suspension allowed for easier entry and exit, and the front seats offered excellent comfort with 20-way power adjustments, heating, ventilation, and optional massage features. However, the rear seat was less accommodating for long-legged passengers, with narrow door openings and hard front seatback panels.

Storage within the Range Rover Sport was decent, but not especially practical, with a shallow center tray and deep but narrow armrest bin. However, cargo space was functional, providing 31.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and up to 53 cubic feet with the seats folded. Additional features included a handy straps-integrated contraption to prevent items from rolling and well-placed netted pockets.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 continued with the Mazda Connect infotainment system featuring a 10.25-inch non-touchscreen display operated through center console and steering wheel controls. Lacking natural voice recognition, the system felt less intuitive, though standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided alternative options. The 2.5 S Premium trim included a 10-speaker Bose system and SiriusXM satellite radio, offering decent audio quality.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured advanced tech with a 13.7-inch digital display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and a robust Meridian audio system with exceptional sound quality. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment system frequently proved confusing and frustrating, with issues like difficulty in deactivating features and unreliable voice assistant performance. Despite its sophistication, the tech failed to deliver the expected seamless experience.

Mazda ensured the 2022 CX-5 was well-equipped with safety features, 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 introduced adaptive headlights, a surround-view camera, parking sensors, automatic rear braking, and driver monitoring. Mazda also received a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS, highlighting its superior safety credentials.

Land Rover packed the 2023 Range Rover Sport with advanced safety systems such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Additional features included adaptive cruise control with lane centering, a driver monitoring system, and front and rear parking sensors. However, the steering assist system performed inconsistently, particularly on freeway curves, detracting from overall controllability.