2023 Mazda CX-5 vs 2022 Kia EV6

The 2022 Kia EV6 was a striking vehicle, exuding a sporty and sleek design reminiscent of a Ford Mustang Mach-E. Its low and wide stance gave it a visually appealing presence, enhanced by a highback tail with a lip spoiler that doubled as a lightbar. The wheels were pushed to the far corners of the chassis, creating a body with pronounced hips, similar to the wide fenders of a Porsche 911. The EV6's headlights squinted in a V-shaped pattern, complementing the black trim below the bumper, which mimicked sealed air intakes. The car's profile was sharp and angular, with a smooth lower body, especially in the matte silver paint of the test car.

The EV6's interior was equally impressive, featuring dual 12-inch screens on a linear dash, a floating center console, and seats covered in faux suede and leather. Ambient lighting flowed around the dash, creating a futuristic atmosphere. The car's design prioritized a car-first, computer-second aesthetic, making it enjoyable to drive. The EV6's industrial design, with features like recessed lights and a hidden rear charge port, captured attention and demonstrated the importance of thoughtful car design.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5, despite its age, remained a strong contender in the compact crossover SUV segment. It was stylish and constructed with high-quality materials, giving it the feel of a small luxury SUV. The available turbocharged engine provided impressive power, and the CX-5 boasted a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. Mazda's decision to eventually replace the CX-5 with the CX-50 was part of a broader marketing strategy, similar to Infiniti's renaming of the G37 to the Q50 and Q60. The CX-5's appeal lay in its quality, refinement, and sophistication, which were evident across all versions of the vehicle.

The CX-5 offered a choice between a standard 187-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a more powerful 256-hp turbocharged four-cylinder. The turbocharged engine, especially when run on premium fuel, delivered a rewarding driving experience. Mazda's updates to the CX-5's structural rigidity, suspension dampening, and transmission responsiveness enhanced its driving dynamics, making it feel more like an entry-level luxury vehicle. The CX-5 excelled on paved roads, offering a firm, connected ride quality that aligned with Mazda's sporty brand identity.

The 2022 Kia EV6 was tested in its most powerful GT-Line e-AWD configuration, featuring dual electric motors that produced 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. With a 77-kilowatt-hour battery, this 4600-pound vehicle could accelerate to 60 mph in a claimed 4.6 seconds. The EV6's top-power GT trim, expected in fall 2022, promised 576 hp and a 0-60 time of under 3.5 seconds. The base EV6 Light, with a smaller 58 kWh battery and 167 hp motor, was less impressive. The single-motor Wind and GT-Line models offered a more acceptable 225 hp with the larger battery.

The EV6's dual-motor GT-Line provided a thrilling driving experience, with quick and effective torque distribution. The car's regenerative braking system offered over eight settings, allowing for one-pedal driving in the maximum I-Pedal setting. However, the EV6's driving range was disappointing in cold weather, achieving only 65 percent of Kia's 274-mile EPA estimate. Charging performance was better, with the EV6 accepting up to 240 kW, though real-world charging speeds were often lower due to network limitations.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 offered a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 187 hp and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The EPA rated its fuel economy at 26 mpg combined. The 2.5 Turbo variant, with a turbocharged engine, delivered 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular gas. The turbocharged engine's torque arrived at 2,000 rpm with regular gas and 2,500 rpm with premium fuel, providing a quick and enjoyable driving experience. The CX-5's updates improved its structural rigidity, suspension, and transmission, enhancing its driving dynamics and making it feel more like a luxury vehicle.

The CX-5's turbocharged engine offered a pleasant acceleration experience, though fuel economy suffered when driven aggressively. On a mountainous testing loop, the CX-5 2.5 Turbo returned 21.4 mpg, missing the expected mark by 2.6 mpg. The CX-5 excelled on paved roads, offering a firm, connected ride quality that aligned with Mazda's sporty brand identity. The vehicle's updates nearly eliminated unwanted body roll and provided a communicative driving experience.

The 2022 Kia EV6 featured innovative design elements, such as door handles that popped out when the key was near, paddle shifters, and a twisting rotary shifter. The climate controls and stereo shortcuts were combined in a thin touchscreen, which could be frustrating to use while driving. The EV6 offered generous legroom and headroom, with reclining rear seats and optional heated cushions. However, the cargo space was limited, with 24 cubic feet behind the seats and 50 cubic feet when folded. The EV6's towing capacity was 2,300 pounds, and it featured an onboard power generator for 120-volt equipment.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 received updates to its front seats for improved comfort and support. The vehicle offered power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated seats, dual-zone climate control, and Nappa leather upholstery in higher trims. However, the CX-5's technology, storage space, rear-seat room, and cargo space were less impressive. The infotainment system lacked a conversational voice recognition system, and the control knob required memorization and focus to use. The CX-5 offered 30.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 59.3 cubic feet with the seat folded down.

The 2022 Kia EV6's infotainment system was user-friendly, with dual 12-inch screens, a wireless charger, and navigation. However, it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The EV6 featured a 360-degree camera system, customizable "engine" sounds, and an augmented reality head-up display. The vehicle's tech was impressive, with features like blind-spot monitoring, fast-charging, and a 14-speaker Meridian stereo. However, Kia Connect features were disabled for Massachusetts residents due to compliance issues.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5's Mazda Connect infotainment system featured a 10.25-inch display with sophisticated graphics but was frustrating to use. The system lacked a helpful voice recognition system, and the control knob required memorization and focus. The user experience was often confusing and distracting. The CX-5 offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year trial of Mazda Connected Services. Higher trims included a 10-speaker Bose audio system and a surround-view camera system.

The 2022 Kia EV6 had no published test results from U.S. agencies, but it offered impressive safety tech, including HDA, lane-keeping, cyclist and pedestrian detection, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added features like evasive steering assist and machine learning for adaptive cruise control.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 excelled in safety, with a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. The i-Activsense tech included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The CX-5's safety features operated smoothly and accurately, though it lacked a warning for driving without headlights at night.