2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 exhibited a robust yet elegant style that encapsulated the brand’s renowned subtle seductiveness. Featuring a blunt nose, long hood, and rakish windshield, the design was crafted to pull the cabin towards the rear wheels, giving it a distinctive aesthetic. Added ruggedness came through in the form of blistered and boxed fender swells and bold lower body and wheel arch cladding. Even the oversized air intakes and vent designs managed to strike a balance without being overbearing. Particularly appealing was the combination of the standard black grille, mirror caps, and optional 20-inch wheels, creating a well-rounded exterior.

Inside, the CX-50 continued Mazda’s tradition of driver-focused design. The test vehicle, adorned with black leather and caramel-colored accent stitching, featured high-quality materials and polished metallic trim. However, the off-center and relatively small middle air vent seemed an afterthought, not quite blending with the rest of the meticulous interior design. Yet, overall, the Mazda CX-50 presented a refined, attractive compact crossover.

Conversely, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport embraced a “modernist” and “reductive” design ethos, translating to a clean and simple aesthetic that might not appeal to those seeking flashier luxury. The test model, dressed in subdued Eiger Gray with silver 23-inch wheels, maintained a sophisticated appearance, enhanced further by the Black Exterior Pack. The interior, layered in Deep Garnet over Ebony with aluminum and shiny black trim, radiated a sophisticated yet understated luxury.

Key design highlights included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and revolutionary surface LED technology in the taillights, offering a sleek and technologically advanced appearance. The Range Rover Sport also boasted impressive aerodynamics with a coefficient of drag at 0.29. Despite its modern look, it subtly communicated luxury without overtly flaunting it.

Mazda’s 2023 CX-50 offered two powertrain options, primarily through its 2.5 S model lineup and the more powerful 2.5 Turbo variants. The 2.5 S contained a 187 hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that delivered 186 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain was predicted to achieve 27 mpg in combined driving. Alternatively, the 2.5 Turbo provided a more robust performance, with horsepower ranging between 227 hp and 256 hp and torque between 310 lb-ft and 320 lb-ft depending on the octane of fuel used. This model achieved an average of 23.4 mpg against Mazda’s predicted 25 mpg.

Driving the CX-50, particularly the Turbo, revealed a smooth and steady acceleration curve with no noticeable turbo lag, playing into the vehicle’s nature seamlessly in various driving modes, albeit with minimal noticeable distinctions between them. On the road, it felt more like a sporty station wagon with SUV capabilities rather than a rugged SUV. It excelled in off-road scenarios, offering almost the same ground clearance as its competitor, Subaru, even though it lacked downhill assist controls. The towing capacity of the CX-50 Turbo notably increased to 3,500 pounds, demonstrating a balanced performance for both on-road and light off-road adventures.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, in contrast, leaned towards performance with either a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine or a plug-in hybrid setup. The SE and SE Dynamic variants offered 355 hp and 395 hp, respectively, and torque figures of 369 lb-ft and 406 lb-ft. The plug-in hybrid variant pledged 434 hp, promising an electric range of up to 51 miles.

The test vehicle boasted a 395-hp engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission, delivering a validated 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds. It also managed to maintain a fuel economy of 22.3 mpg during evaluation. The Range Rover Sport’s adaptive damping air suspension and the additional driving dynamics technology provided a smooth and composed drive, even on rough terrains, though it fell short of matching the agility of its German rivals in twisty road scenarios. Furthermore, its off-road capabilities were unmatched, with features like Terrain Response and All Terrain Progress Control setting it apart.

The Mazda CX-50’s interior was built with a driver-centric focus, offering ample comfort with power-adjustable heated seats, both front and rear, and thoughtful climate controls that included a heated steering wheel and mirrors. For storage, it had sufficient, though not exceptional, options, including a non-intrusive smartphone charging location and straightforward front and rear access. The crossover provided 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space, with a maximum of 56.3 cubic feet when rear seats were folded, suitable for most family adventures.

Land Rover’s Range Rover Sport preserved the brand’s signature driving position, offering a tall and spacious cabin ambiance. The air suspension facilitated easier boarding by lowering the vehicle, a boon for shorter passengers. The interior emphasized comfort with Windsor leather, 20-way power-adjustable seating, and optional massages. However, the back seats, despite better legroom claims, remained cramped with hard front seatback panels making long journeys less pleasant.

In terms of cargo capacity, the Range Rover Sport provided 31.9 cubic feet, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. It presented practical touches like an air suspension lowering function for easy loading and a full-size spare tire, though its quirks like restrictive center console storage marred its usability slightly compared to the Mazda.

Mazda’s 2023 CX-50 came standard with a Mazda Connect infotainment system, albeit traditionally non-touchscreen. It integrated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which now offered touchscreen control, challenging Mazda’s initial stance on touchscreen distractions. The larger 10.25-inch display in higher trims made the interaction slightly more user-friendly. Also notable was the Active Driving Display, a head-up display providing a comprehensive range of data including blind-spot warnings.

In the tech-heavy Range Rover Sport, the digital interface comprised a 13.7-inch instrumentation panel and a 13.1-inch touchscreen offering haptic feedback. This system included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. Despite the intuitive design praised by Land Rover, everyday usage revealed complexity and inconsistency, especially with voice recognition which struggled with simple commands. It faced the challenge of maintaining user-friendliness amidst advanced capabilities.

The Range Rover Sport’s sound systems ranged impressive, with Meridian audio systems providing an elevated auditory experience. It also included an Active Noise Cancellation system to ensure a quiet cabin environment. However, some practicalities, such as the location of the wireless charging pad, required better design consideration to enhance user experience.

While the Mazda CX-50 had not yet been rated by IIHS during the review, its lineage suggested high safety performance. It came packed with an array of driving assistance systems, with only a few reserved for the Turbo Premium Plus trim. These included adaptive cruise control with lane-centering capabilities, active blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The systems generally worked well, though occasional sensitivity issues required manual intervention.

The Land Rover Range Rover Sport was equipped with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and a range of other advanced assistance features. Noteworthy were its adaptive cruise control and steering assist which, despite good intentions, fell short in responsiveness and reliability during real-world usage. Additionally, features like Wade Sensing and Remote Park Assist highlighted Land Rover’s focus on innovative safety-driven technology, although the execution sometimes required patience and familiarity from the driver.