mazda cx5 vs luxury suvs

Fuel Economy and Performance

All three of these SUVs run on inline four-cylinder engines and the standard performances of the XC40 and NX 300 do give the CX-5 a run for its money. However, the available Dynamic Pressure Turbo engine of the CX-5 outperforms the standard engines of the competition, generating 250-horsepower to the 248-horsepower of the Volvo XC40 and the 235-horsepower generated by the Lexus NX 300's standard performance.

The standard engine of the CX-5, while less powerful, provides superior fuel economy compared to the others. Against the Lexus NX 300, the Mazda CX-5 is a better choice to have on the city streets and on the highway. The standard 186-horsepower performance of the CX-5 enables this crossover to travel an EPA-estimated 24 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, whereas the engine of the NX300 allows it to travel 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

The engine of the Volvo XC40 falls similarly short during daily commuting, traveling up to 22 mpg in the city, though its highway fuel economy remains consistent with the CX-5.

Features

As luxury crossovers, all three of these SUVs are well-equipped when it comes to safety and convenience technology. All three have smartphone pairing capabilities and a host of high-tech driver-assist features. However, the Mazda CX-5 gives shoppers a few extra conveniences to enjoy or a much lower starting price, with a standard 10.5-inch display audio screen, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and an auxiliary audio input jack. The Volvo XC40 shares the rain-sensing wipers, but has a smaller standard audio touchscreen and lacks an audio input jack. The Lexus NX 300 has the audio input jack, but also has a smaller standard touchscreen and lacks standard rain-sensing wipers.

Interior/Exterior

The Mazda CX-5 is ultimately the roomier SUV of these three, with a wider wheelbase and more interior volume for passengers and cargo. The CX-5 has up to 103.6 cubic feet of cargo volume, with 30.9 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rear sears and up to 59.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seatbacks folded in. The Volvo XC40's passenger volume is unlisted, but this luxury crossover falls drastically short in rear head and legroom, providing a more cramped experience for your backseat passengers.

The Lexus NX 300's interior is similarly cramped with a passenger volume of 71.6 cubic feet and 17.7 cubic feet of cargo volume. Folding in the back seats of the NX 300 gives this DSUV a bit more flexibility, but still only frees up to 54.6 cubic feet of cargo space. If you want to the enjoy the roomiest cargo area for your holiday shopping, the Mazda CX-5 is the way to go!