Mazda CX-5 vs Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 was a visual standout in its segment, thanks to its evolved Kodo design language, which Mazda referred to as "Wearable Gear." This design gave the CX-5 a sculpted and purposeful appearance, with a Signature Wing grille that seamlessly flowed into new LED headlights. The rear featured angular lighting that tied the CX-5 to Mazda's larger models, and a new "MAZDA" script badge replaced the traditional logo, giving the vehicle a premium look. However, the wheel designs were a letdown, with the base 17-inch wheels appearing small on the larger body, and even the 19-inch options lacking the intricate detailing of previous Mazda models. Inside, the CX-5 continued Mazda's tradition of high-quality interiors, with a clean dashboard design, a prominent central touchscreen, and a driver-focused cockpit. The materials used were a step up from the competition, with soft-touch surfaces and a two-tone interior option on upper trims that exuded a premium feel. Despite some hard plastic elements, the overall ambiance was more upscale sedan than mainstream crossover.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold design that could polarize opinions. Its grille, with a flat, faceless look, spanned the entire width of the front end, and the body-colored vertical strakes at each edge changed the vehicle's personality depending on the color and trim level. The side profile featured unique faceted and angular fender sculpting, while the rear view adopted a different style with rounded corners and vertical taillights reminiscent of a Range Rover. Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, with a simple horizontal dashboard layout and a stark, buttonless modern appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim offered a luxurious two-tone palette, though the labeling on the buttons was difficult to read. The seats, covered in synthetic leather and suede, were somewhat firm, but the surrounding materials were of excellent quality, with various trim surfaces available.

The 2026 Mazda CX-5's performance was a mixed bag. It was powered by a carryover SkyActiv-G 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. While these numbers were adequate on paper, the engine felt underpowered in practice, especially given the vehicle's weight of 3,856 pounds. The lack of power was noticeable during highway merging and passing maneuvers, with a 0-60 time of 9.6 seconds, the slowest in its segment. The six-speed automatic transmission was smooth but lacked the responsiveness of the eight-speed units offered by competitors. The absence of the previous generation's turbocharged engine was a disappointment, though Mazda confirmed a hybrid variant for 2027. Despite the power shortcomings, the CX-5 excelled in handling, with direct steering, well-managed body roll, and a sense of agility. Ride quality was firm yet comfortable, with improved insulation for reduced road and wind noise. However, its fuel efficiency was among the lowest in the segment, with EPA ratings of 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 combined mpg.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid offered a more powerful and refined performance. The standard Telluride was equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Hybrid variant added electric motors, increasing output to 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, mated to a six-speed transmission. The Telluride Hybrid was quiet and smooth, with seamless transitions between electric and gas power. The ride was luxuriously smooth, with the X-Pro Prestige trim offering comfort despite its off-road suspension. The Telluride was composed and controllable on winding roads, though not particularly sporty. The brake pedal effort was soft, but brake response was immediate during panic stops. The Telluride Hybrid's towing capacity was 4,500 pounds, slightly less than the standard model's 5,000 pounds.

The 2026 Mazda CX-5's dimensional growth translated into a more spacious interior. The 4.5-inch wheelbase stretch improved rear knee clearance by 2.3 inches to 33.7 inches, addressing a common criticism of the previous model. Rear headroom was a standout feature, with 40.2 inches without the sunroof, the best in its class. Front legroom matched the segment at 41.3 inches, and rear legroom was competitive at 39.1 inches. Cargo space improved to 38 cubic feet behind the second row and 70 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. However, towing capacity decreased to 1,500 pounds, trailing competitors like the Tucson and Sportage. Practical touches included a standard rearview camera, roof rails, and a hands-free power liftgate on Premium Plus trims.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid offered ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers due to low-mounted seat cushions. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim featured power-adjustable second-row seats with heating and ventilation, though they took longer to slide and tilt forward for third-row access. The middle-row seats offered significant travel fore and aft, allowing for more cargo or third-row legroom. The Telluride could hold up to 22.3 cubic feet of cargo behind the third row, with a maximum capacity of 89.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The Telluride's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds for the standard model and 4,500 pounds for the Hybrid. Interior storage included a large center bin, deployable cupholders, and a tray under the center console.

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 featured a significant infotainment upgrade with a 12.9-inch touchscreen on all trims except the Premium Plus, which received a 15.6-inch unit. The system included Google built-in, offering native Google Maps, the Google Gemini AI voice assistant, and access to the Google Play Store. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, with wireless connectivity on the Select trim and above. A 10.2-inch fully digital instrument cluster was standard, though it lacked some expected information. The removal of the physical volume knob was a drawback, with volume control moved to the touchscreen or steering wheel buttons. Higher trims added a Bose 12-speaker audio system, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a 360-degree View Monitor.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. The system included native navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and dual wireless phone chargers. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though it occasionally required a hard tap to register inputs. The climate control screen was difficult to use while driving, but physical temperature control buttons were available. The Telluride SX trim and above featured a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system, delivering powerful and clear sound.

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 offered a comprehensive standard safety suite, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, lane-keep assist, and more. The Premium Plus trim added features like an adaptive front-lighting system and a 360-degree View Monitor. While crash test results were not available at the time of writing, the outgoing model had earned high safety ratings, and expectations were high for the new model.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid included standard advanced safety features such as frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and more. Higher trims added a surround-view camera system and blind-spot cameras. The driver attention monitor had some operational issues, but the highway driving assist was effective. Crash test scores were not available at the time of writing.