Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Mazda CX-5

What's the difference?

A wise man* once said "Being first can sometimes feel like being wrong" and perhaps that's how it is with the 4xe, but at least Jeep Australia is giving the large SUV hybrid realm a good ol' try.

* Former CarsGuide Big Kohuna, Glen Knowles.

The company's first plug-in hybrid, the Grand Cherokee 4xe, is not perfect by anyone's standards, however, it is a definite move in the right direction.

It's a quiet and refined drive, it retains the brand's renowned 4WD capability, and even its hefty price-tag likely won't dissuade Jeep loyalists from giving it a go.

In many important and mostly pleasing ways, the third-generation CX-5 takes a confident step forward.

Bigger in the places that matter, smoother yet just as fun to drive and arguably better looking, it remains a high-quality, affordable and safe mid-sized SUV. The second-from-bottom Evolve AWD seems to be the value sweet spot.

However, the switch to a largely buttonless touchscreen interface is disappointing, as are higher entry prices, fewer model grades and no drops in fuel consumption.

Ultimately, though, the latest CX-5 reveals only half the picture, with the next and increasingly more relevant piece, the long-awaited hybrid, still up to 18 months away.

Maybe that’s the innovation that Mazda’s golden goose deserves most.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.