2023 Mazda CX-5 vs 2022 Volvo XC90

Volvo had come a long way from its boxy cars and wagons of the past decades. The brand maintained its family-friendly, safety-oriented image while moving upscale, nearing the luxury class. After Ford sold Volvo to China's Zhejiang Geely Holding in 2010, the company underwent a significant transformation, developing new vehicle platforms from scratch. The original XC90, launched in 2003, received updates until 2015. The 2016 model marked the debut of the current XC90, Volvo's flagship SUV, built on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform.

The 2022 XC90 had a striking stance and profile, with a body that seemed ready to launch forward. Its long, sleek roofline managed to contain the large greenhouse without appearing bulky. Pronounced wheel arches and a snub nose added to its athletic look. The interior, described as "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury," featured natural wood and metal trim, with exquisite details like a sliding wood tambor cover and a clear crystal gear selector handle. Volvo offered both Nappa leather and a "tailored wool blend" upholstery, with the latter being a more sustainable option.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5, despite its age, remained a strong contender in the compact crossover SUV segment. It looked and felt more like a small luxury SUV, thanks to its stylish design and high-quality materials. The available turbocharged engine provided impressive power, and the CX-5 boasted a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Mazda had redesigned and renamed the CX-5 as the CX-50, but the 2023 model still offered a refined and sophisticated experience across all trim levels.

The CX-5's engine options included a standard 187-horsepower four-cylinder and a more powerful 256-hp turbocharged four-cylinder. The latter, available in the 2.5 Turbo and 2.5 Turbo Signature trims, delivered a rewarding driving experience. The CX-5's updates for the 2022 model year included increased structural rigidity, improved suspension dampening, reduced interior noise, and a revised automatic transmission. These changes made the CX-5 feel more like an entry-level luxury vehicle, with a firm, connected, and communicative ride quality.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrain options. The T5 models featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 models had a supercharged and turbocharged version of the same engine, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 models combined a supercharged/turbocharged gasoline engine with an electric motor, producing a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. The T5 models were front-wheel drive (FWD) with available all-wheel drive (AWD), while the T6 and T8 models were AWD only. All XC90 models used a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission.

The XC90's fuel economy varied by model. The T5 FWD achieved 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined, while the T5 AWD managed 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway/23 mpg combined. The T6 AWD was rated at 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. The T8 had a combined rating of 27 mpg on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range. The extended-range variant offered 26 mpg combined, 66 MPGe, and an EV range of up to 36 miles. Charging the battery from empty to full took about five hours at 240 volts (Level 2). The XC90 handled well for a large SUV, with minimal body roll and controlled driving dynamics. The T8 Inscription extended range model provided spirited acceleration, thanks to the electric motor's early torque delivery.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine options. The base 2.5 S model featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 187 hp and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The EPA rated this powertrain at 26 mpg in combined driving. The 2.5 Turbo models had a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular fuel. This engine also paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD, with an EPA rating of 24 mpg in combined driving.

The CX-5's turbocharged engine provided a satisfying driving experience, with torque arriving at 2,000 rpm on regular gas and 2,500 rpm on premium fuel. The 2022 updates, including increased structural rigidity and improved suspension dampening, made the CX-5 feel more solid and reduced impact harshness. The CX-5 excelled on twisting, turning roads, with minimal body roll and a firm, connected ride quality. The six-speed automatic transmission offered snappy shifting, and the steering and brakes were responsive. However, the turbocharged engine's fuel economy fell short during testing, with the CX-5 2.5 Turbo returning 21.4 mpg in combined driving.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 came in six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with either captain's chairs or three-across seating in the second row. The third row was suitable for children but lacked legroom and thigh support for adults. The XC90 offered 15.9 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The XC90 could tow between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, depending on the configuration and powertrain. The interior featured ample storage space, comfortable seating, and a spacious cabin, enhanced by the standard laminated panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed well during a heat wave, providing a comfortable environment.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 received updates for the 2022 model year, including modified front seats for improved comfort and support. All versions had a height-adjustable driver's seat, and all but the base 2.5 S included a height-adjustable front passenger's seat. Higher trims offered power adjustment for both front seats, heated front and rear seats, ventilated front seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Signature trim featured Nappa leather upholstery, adding a luxurious touch. However, the CX-5's technology, storage space, rear-seat room, and cargo space were less impressive. The CX-5 provided 30.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 59.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, which was less than many mainstream rivals but more than some entry-luxury models.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which offered tablet-like functionality with familiar smartphone gestures. However, the system in the test car was glitchy and slow to respond. The system worked better with Apple CarPlay, and the XC90 also supported Android Auto. The nine-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen was mounted in the center stack, close to the driver's line of sight. A 12.3-inch digital instrument panel provided easy configuration and crisp graphics. The $1,650 Advanced package included a head-up display, a 360-degree surround view camera system, and an advanced air cleaner. The XC90 came with standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound, with a $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins upgrade available. The XC90 also included two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5's Mazda Connect infotainment system featured a 10.25-inch display with sophisticated graphics and a logical menu structure. However, the system's physical controls on the center console were awkward to use and required memorization. The control knob often required a series of twists and pushes to execute commands, making the process distracting. The system's user experience was frustrating, with issues like the SiriusXM channel list defaulting to the bottom of the list. Mazda Connect did not offer a helpful voice recognition system, unlike some competitors. The CX-5 included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a three-year trial subscription to Mazda Connected Services, and a 10-speaker Bose premium audio system in upper trims. The test vehicle also had a front-facing camera and a surround-view camera system.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 continued the brand's commitment to safety, with a long list of features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, rain-sensing wipers, slippery road alert, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, oncoming lane mitigation, and road-sign recognition. Volvo's Pilot Assist system combined several safety features to keep the car in its lane and at a set speed with minimal driver intervention. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 offered a comprehensive suite of driver assistance technologies under the i-Activsense banner. Most features were standard, with a few exclusive to the 2.5 Turbo Signature trim, including a surround-view camera system, 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 in the three most expensive trims. The CX-5 also had an E911 system for automatic collision notification. However, the CX-5 lacked a warning message for driving at night without headlights. The CX-5 received five-star ratings in every NHTSA assessment and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.