2023 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured a blunt nose, long hood, and a rakish windshield, with a cabin pulled back toward the rear wheels. This design continued Mazda's tradition of subtle seductiveness seen in their cars and SUVs over the past decade. However, the CX-50 also introduced a rugged aesthetic with blistered and boxed fender swells, lower body and wheel arch cladding, and faux skid plates. The oversized air intake and vent designs added a performance edge without being visually offensive.

When combined with the standard black grille, mirror caps, and available 20-inch wheels, these elements created an appealing exterior. Later in the model year, the CX-50 Meridian Edition was set to join the lineup with exclusive wheels, all-terrain tires, splash guards, and a roof-mounted load platform. Inside, the top-of-the-line CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus featured black leather with caramel-colored stitching, a driver-focused design, quality materials, and polished metallic trim. Despite a few design quirks, the CX-50 was a good-looking compact crossover.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, as Hyundai’s largest SUV, had an even more commanding presence following its styling update. The new front fascia, squared-off grille, and LED accents gave the SUV a stronger look. Body-color mirrors with heated, powered, and auto-dimming features were standard across the lineup. The top Calligraphy trim stood out with premium rear accent lighting, unique grille, and wider rear spoiler, while the new XRT trim featured a dark grille, roof cross rails, and black 20-inch wheels.

The Palisade offered a new color, Robust Emerald, for Calligraphy models, replacing Rainforest. The interior of the Calligraphy-trim tester was stylish, with premium Nappa leather and a dual-pane sunroof. The base SE model came with cloth seats, while higher trims featured heated and ventilated seats in the first and second rows, and heated third-row seats. Second-row seats came in a bench configuration for SE models, with captain’s chairs available in higher trims. The Palisade’s interior was designed to accommodate up to eight passengers comfortably.

Most Mazda CX-50 buyers likely chose the more affordable and fuel-efficient 2.5 S model, which had a 187 hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 186 lb-ft of torque, delivered through a six-speed automatic transmission. Mazda estimated this base-engine version would return 27 mpg in combined driving. For those seeking stronger acceleration and increased towing capacity, the CX-50 2.5 Turbo was the better option. It featured a turbocharged version of the standard engine, producing between 227 hp and 256 hp depending on the fuel type, with torque ranging from 310 lb-ft to 320 lb-ft.

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo was predicted to get 25 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing averaged 23.4 mpg. The turbocharged engine provided smooth acceleration across a broad power curve, with minimal turbo lag. The CX-50 offered Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, though the differences between them were subtle. The CX-50 felt firmer in ride quality compared to the CX-5, and there was a hint of torque steer during tight turns. Despite this, the CX-50 handled well on various terrains, with a ground clearance of up to 8.6 inches.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade came with a single powertrain option: a 3.8-liter V6 producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This made the Palisade more powerful than several competitors, including the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas. The eight-speed automatic transmission could be controlled with paddle shifters, and AWD was a $1,900 option. The Palisade’s AWD system performed well on a muddy off-road course, though the vehicle lacked the clearance for rock-crawling.

The Palisade offered a comfortable ride and a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, with AWD models featuring a dedicated Tow Mode. Fuel economy for FWD models was 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined, while AWD models achieved 19 city, 25 highway, and 21 combined.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo came equipped with power-adjustable heated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, heated side mirrors, and heated windshield wipers. Ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control were also included. The driver’s seat and front passenger’s seat were comfortable for long drives, though they could use more side bolstering. The back seat was roomy enough for adults, with rear air vents and charging ports available in nearly all trims.

Storage space in the CX-50 was adequate, though there were missed opportunities for additional bins and shelves. The available smartphone charger was conveniently located under the center armrest. The power rear liftgate revealed 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space, with a maximum of 56.3 cubic feet when the rear seats were folded.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample space for seven or eight passengers, with 44.1 inches of legroom in the front row, 42.4 in the second, and 31.4 in the third. Passenger volume measured 155.3 cubic feet. The second-row seating featured a one-touch seat slide for easy access to the third row, and ingress/egress handles made climbing into the back easier. Cargo space totaled 18 cubic feet with all seats in place, 45.8 behind the second row, and 86.4 with the seats folded flat. A hands-free smart liftgate was standard on all but the base SE trim.

The Palisade had HVAC vents in all three rows and provided two cupholders per person. The center console included a phone holder and space for a bag. The physical buttons and knobs were laid out in a compact and intuitive manner, with automatic dual-zone climate control standard in SEL and up.

Every 2023 Mazda CX-50 came with a Mazda Connect infotainment system featuring 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 larger 10.25-inch display. Historically, Mazda Connect did not offer touchscreen control, but the 2023 CX-50 allowed touchscreen control 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, projecting data within the driver’s line of sight. Blind-spot warnings were displayed on the HUD, eliminating the need to look at side mirrors.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade upped the ante with a new 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system standard on all trims. It featured Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, HD Radio, SiriusXM, and Bluetooth connectivity. A premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system was available in SEL models and standard in Limited and Calligraphy. The Palisade also offered WiFi hotspot capability, a 4.2-inch color driver info display, or a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims.

An in-car intercom, rear-seat quiet mode, and Hyundai’s Bluelink connected vehicle system were also available. The Palisade was the first vehicle to get Digital Key 2 Touch, compatible with both Android and Apple devices, allowing owners to unlock, start, and drive the car using their smartphones.

Mazdas typically rated high for safety, and the 2023 CX-50 was expected to excel in crash tests. It came with a generous standard package of driving assistance systems, with additional features available on the CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. These included Traffic Jam Assist, active blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. However, the adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting in, requiring manual braking.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, and the 2023 model was expected to maintain high safety standards. The Palisade came with Hyundai’s Smart Sense suite of safety features, including forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, high beam assist, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were newly standard. Highway Driving Assist I was standard in lower trims, while Highway Driving Assist II was available in higher trims. The Palisade also featured a full-display digital rearview mirror and safe exit warning.