GMC Terrain vs Mazda CX-50

The 2022 GMC Terrain received updates to its front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level featured a bolder grille design, black 17-inch alloy wheels with sport-terrain tires, and AT4 badges. GMC equipped the Terrain AT4 with a steel skid plate under the front end to protect vital mechanical components, anticipating that some owners might test its off-road capabilities. The test vehicle came with Ebony Twilight metallic paint, a black leather interior, and several packages, bringing the MSRP to $41,810. Despite the high price, the interior materials and execution did not meet expectations, with pushbutton transmission controls and a narrow storage tray being notable drawbacks.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 showcased a blunt nose, long hood, and a cabin pulled back toward the rear wheels, exuding a subtle seductiveness typical of Mazda's design. The CX-50 also conveyed ruggedness with blistered fender swells, lower body cladding, and fake skid plates. The exterior design elements, including a black grille and mirror caps, and available 20-inch wheels, came together appealingly. The CX-50 offered two engine options: a 187-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a turbocharged version producing up to 256 hp. The test vehicle, a top-of-the-line CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus, had an MSRP of $43,170 and featured a black leather interior with caramel-colored accent stitching. The interior displayed Mazda's traditional mix of driver-focused design, quality materials, and polished metallic trim.

The 2022 GMC Terrain was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. The engine's torque was available between 2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm, but the 170 hp only arrived at 5,600 rpm. The nine-speed automatic transmission did a decent job of keeping the Terrain in the torque band once rolling. The Terrain AT4 could switch between FWD and AWD modes, with an Off-Road mode and Hill Descent Control system available. However, the AT4's 7.9 inches of ground clearance and sport-terrain tires limited its off-road capabilities. The Terrain AT4's powertrain met fuel economy expectations, achieving 26.2 mpg on the evaluation loop.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered two engine options: a 187 hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a turbocharged version producing up to 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. The turbo engine's power varied depending on the fuel type, with 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on 87-octane gas. The CX-50 2.5 Turbo had a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, compared to the 2,000 pounds of the base engine. The turbocharged engine provided smooth acceleration across a broad power curve, with no noticeable turbo lag. The CX-50 featured Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, with G-Vectoring Control technology ensuring natural vehicle behavior. The CX-50's ride quality was firmer than the CX-5, and it offered up to 8.6 inches of ground clearance. The CX-50 2.5 Turbo averaged 23.4 mpg in combined driving.

The 2022 GMC Terrain's interior was roomy for a compact crossover, with numerous comfort-enhancing features and storage solutions. The AT4 trim included power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air-conditioning vents. The back seat was spacious, offering proper support and plenty of legroom. Cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, expanding to 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The front passenger seat could also be folded down for longer items.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50's interior featured 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 and front passenger seats 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. The CX-50 offered 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, expanding to 56.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The load floor was long but narrow between the wheel wells, with side bins and hooks for securing items.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two infotainment systems: a 7-inch touchscreen for SLE trim and an 8-inch touchscreen for SLT, AT4, and Denali trims. Both systems included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar. The larger screen added connected navigation, improved voice recognition, and a Bose premium sound system. The voice recognition system was excellent, accurately responding to various prompts. The Tech Package option included a head-up display, front and rear park assist sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The Tire Fill Alert system and remote engine starting were also useful features.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured a Mazda Connect infotainment system with 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 10.25-inch display. Mazda Connect historically lacked touchscreen control, relying on center console buttons, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. However, the 2023 CX-50 offered touchscreen control for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system provided a satisfying audio experience. The Active Driving Display (head-up display) projected data within the driver's line of sight, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2022 GMC Terrain came standard with the GMC Pro Safety Package, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following distance indicator. The GMC Pro Safety Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, rear parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat. The IIHS awarded the Terrain mostly "Good" crash-test scores, with a "Marginal" rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain's crashworthiness at the time of the review.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 was expected to rate high for safety, similar to other Mazda models. The CX-50 included a generous standard package of driving assistance systems, with additional features available on the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trim. These included Traffic Jam Assist, active blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors with reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The driving assistance systems generally worked well, though the adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting into the gap ahead.