2025 Mazda CX-5 vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2025 Land Rover Defender presented a rugged and customizable design, with the Defender 110 four-door model striking a balance between the stubby 90 and the visually heavy 130. Base prices ranged from $58,525 to $120,525, with the new Defender OCTA priced at $153,625. Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 X trim, featured the Extended Black Exterior Pack and off-roading technology, bringing the MSRP to $106,092. The Gondwana Stone paint, paired with orange brake calipers and 20-inch wheels, was less appealing than other color options like Pangea Green or Santorini Black. Inside, the Defender X boasted premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, with an industrial-themed cabin that emphasized quality materials over luxury.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 stood out in the small SUV class with its graceful curves and timeless design, despite not being redesigned since 2017. Its interior offered a blend of traditional and modern elements, with physical buttons and knobs complementing the lack of a massive infotainment touchscreen. While it lacked some high-tech features, the CX-5's usability was praised. Soft-touch materials dominated the cabin, with a few high-quality plastic elements. The CX-5's interior was compared to last-generation Acura or Lexus models, offering a more special feel than similarly priced crossovers from Honda or Toyota.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender's test vehicle featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, paired with a mild-hybrid system. An eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel-drive system with a low-range setting enhanced its off-roading capabilities. The Defender 130 X accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and had a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds. Its adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes made it highly capable off-road. However, on pavement, the Defender's 20-inch wheels and Pirelli tires limited its on-road agility, and its 5,685-pound curb weight affected handling. The Defender's fuel economy was lower than expected, with an observed 16.2 mpg.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged version with 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel-drive. The base engine accelerated to 60 mph in about 8 seconds, while the turbo model did so in around 6 seconds. The CX-5's sporty driving dynamics and suspension minimized body roll, making it more entertaining and confidence-inspiring than its competitors. Its firmer ride quality was noticeable but not intrusive, and the quiet cabin effectively filtered out wind and road noise.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 offered three rows of spacious seating, with 12-way power-adjustable front seats featuring heating and ventilation. The panoramic sunroof and large windows created an open and airy feel. However, the Defender's square side mirrors and poor rear visibility were drawbacks, though mitigated by the Clearsight digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera system. The Defender 130's cargo space was limited, with 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 89 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The side-hinged cargo door was heavy and awkward, but a button in the cargo area allowed for easier loading by lowering the air suspension.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5's interior design and refinement were commendable, but it lacked practicality and space compared to rivals. Rear headroom was adequate, but the Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage offered more. The CX-5 provided 30.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 58.1 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded. While the cargo area was wide and flat, competitors like the CR-V and Sportage offered more capacity. The CX-5 featured moderately sized cupholders, door pockets, and a deep center armrest bin, with a wireless charging pad available on midlevel trims.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring an 11.4-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The system's response to voice commands was slower than preferred, but its accuracy was impressive. The user experience was more intuitive than previous iterations, and the Meridian premium sound system was noteworthy. Additional features included a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system. The optional Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 came with a 10.25-inch infotainment display controlled via a dial on the center console. The dial's functionality allowed for easy operation while driving, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto could be controlled via the touchscreen or dial. Wireless phone integration was available on midrange trims, along with a wireless charging pad. The analog gauges felt dated, but a head-up display was standard on Premium Plus trims and above. The base trim featured a four-speaker audio system, while the Signature model offered a 10-speaker Bose premium system. Remote vehicle monitoring and control were available through a smartphone app.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender included several driver aids, such as automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The lane-keep assist was decisive, though it occasionally attempted to steer the vehicle into a turnout area. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at press time, as the NHTSA and IIHS typically do not test low-volume models.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests, except for rollover protection, where it received four stars. The 2024 model received the IIHS' highest score of "Good" in all tests and a Top Safety Pick rating. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Premium Plus trim added adaptive headlights, a head-up display, a surround-view camera system, and parking sensors. The Turbo Premium package included traffic jam assist, while the Turbo Signature trim added a driver attention monitor and rear automatic braking.