2024 Land Rover Defender vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured a blunt nose, long hood, and rakish windshield, with a cabin pulled back toward the rear wheels. Its styling exhibited the subtle seductiveness characteristic of Mazda's cars and SUVs over the past decade. However, the CX-50 also conveyed newfound ruggedness with blistered and boxed fender swells, garish lower body and wheel arch cladding, and fake front and rear skid plates. Oversized air intake and vent designs imparted performance without offending the eye.

The CX-50’s standard black grille and mirror caps, along with available 20-inch wheels, created an appealing exterior design. Later in the model year, the CX-50 Meridian Edition joined the lineup with exclusive wheels, all-terrain tires, splash guards, and a roof-mounted load platform. The interior displayed Mazda’s traditional mix of driver-focused design, quality materials, and polished metallic trim, though the off-center vent in the middle of the dash seemed like an afterthought. Overall, the new Mazda CX-50 was a good-looking compact crossover.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender combined an old-school, boxy profile with modern features like angular headlights, visually connecting it to other Land Rover vehicles. The interior felt more durable and adventure-ready compared to other Land Rovers, resembling a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco but with more soft-touch materials. The Defender was offered in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each available in various trims including S, X-Dynamic SE, X, Carpathian Edition, and Outbound.

Our test vehicle, the Defender 110 S, came with the County visual package, featuring white wheels and vintage graphics. Standard features on the S trim included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic glass roof, and a heated steering wheel. The X-Dynamic SE trim added 20-inch alloy wheels and distinctive styling touches, while the X trim included a digital rearview mirror camera and partial Windsor leather upholstery. The Carpathian Edition stood out with all-dark exterior accents, and the Outbound trim offered added cargo space by removing the third row.

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 to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Mazda estimated this base-engine version would return 27 mpg in combined driving. For stronger acceleration and increased towing capacity, the CX-50 2.5 Turbo was the better option, with a turbocharged version of the standard engine making between 227 hp and 256 hp depending on the fuel used. Torque varied between 310 lb-ft and 320 lb-ft. Mazda predicted the CX-50 2.5 Turbo would get 25 mpg in combined driving, though we averaged 23.4 mpg.

The CX-50 Turbo provided smooth acceleration across a broad power curve, with no noticeable turbo lag. Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes worked with the SUV’s G-Vectoring Control technology to ensure natural vehicle behavior. The CX-50 felt firmer in ride quality compared to the CX-5, and we detected a hint of torque steer while accelerating out of tighter turns. Despite this, the CX-50 didn’t feel like an SUV from behind the wheel, resembling a modern version of a Mazda6 station wagon with a Subaru Outback treatment. The CX-50 was capable of tackling off-roading situations, though it lacked a downhill assist control system.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered several powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300 making 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, putting out 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. There were also two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine options, the P500 and P525, making 493 hp and 518 hp respectively. All engines routed power through an eight-speed automatic to full-time active four-wheel drive. The six-cylinder and eight-cylinder powertrains allowed the Defender to tow up to 7,716 pounds, while the four-cylinder version could tow up to 5,500 pounds.

The most powerful V8 in the Defender 110 Carpathian Edition could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. The Defender’s off-road capabilities were impressive, especially models like the Defender X, which included an adaptive air suspension system and the Terrain Response 2 system. Our P400 test model had plenty of power for highway speeds and passing maneuvers, though there was a bit of a lurch off the line and when decelerating below 15 mph. Overall, the on-road ride was pleasant, with minimal body roll given the vehicle’s capabilities.

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. The ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control effectively chilled the cabin. 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. Storage space was adequate, though Mazda missed opportunities for additional bins and shelves.

The CX-50 offered 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 56.3 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The load floor was long but narrow between the wheel wells, with side bins and hooks for securing items. The available power rear liftgate made accessing the cargo area easier.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender blended luxury and functionality, with soft-touch materials, grip handles, rubberized floors, and numerous cargo compartments. The multifunctional climate control dials required an additional button press to switch between adjusting the temperature and fan speed. Seating capacity ranged from five to eight passengers depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 had an optional third row, while the Defender 130 offered three seats in the third row, bringing the seating capacity to eight. However, the third row was best suited for children.

Cargo capacity varied by model. The Defender 130 offered 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 35.8 cubic feet behind the second row, and 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 provided 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 78.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The two-door Defender 90 offered 15.6 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 58.3 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The cargo area featured hard plastic surfaces, making it practical and easy to clean.

Every 2023 Mazda CX-50 came with a Mazda Connect infotainment system, offering 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, requiring the use of center console buttons and knobs, steering wheel controls, or voice recognition. However, the 2023 CX-50 allowed touchscreen control for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system delivered a satisfying audio experience. The Active Driving Display, or head-up display (HUD), projected data within the driver’s line of sight, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came equipped with a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen. The touchscreen included navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Defender also featured Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup and home buttons on the left and right rails made the system user-friendly.

Mazda typically rated high for safety, though the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not yet performed crash tests on the new CX-50. The CX-50 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. The adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting into the gap ahead, requiring manual braking.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with an extensive list of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Other standard safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist features were a bit too touchy, but they could be deactivated.