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Mazda CX-5 vs Nissan X-TRAIL

What's the difference?

VS
Mazda CX-5
Mazda CX-5

$33,990 - $61,031

2023 price

Nissan X-TRAIL
Nissan X-TRAIL

$35,990 - $61,990

2023 price

Summary

2023 Mazda CX-5
2023 Nissan X-TRAIL
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Inline 4, 2.5L

Inline 4, 2.5L
Fuel Type
Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
7.5L/100km (combined)

7.8L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

7
Dislikes
  • Hardly cutting-edge drivetrain tech
  • Clumsy dial-operated phone mirroring
  • Fuel consumption could be better

  • Extra two seats cuts into boot space
  • Have to remove third row to get to spare tyre
  • Sound system isn't as good as some rivals
2023 Mazda CX-5 Summary

Australia loves Mazda.

We have all sorts of Mazdas. Big ones, small ones, relatively affordable ones, expensive ones, but one which stands above the rest is the CX-5.

That's because this mid-sizer does a lot of the heavy lifting for the Japanese brand, keeping it in the fight against titans like Toyota in the sales charts.

If you're ready to feel old, this second-generation version of the CX-5 with its eye-catching design is now a whopping seven years old, although it has been tweaked recently in 2022 to bring a few updates, as well as the addition of the variant we're looking at here, the Touring Active.

So, the question we're wrestling with is whether this car's continued massive popularity is still warranted.

Is this still one of the best mid-size SUVs you can buy for your family, or should you be considering more recently arrived alternatives?

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2023 Nissan X-TRAIL Summary

The Nissan X-Trail has finally seen a proper restyling – one that has made it competitive on the design front with other medium SUVs, like Australia’s darling, the Toyota RAV4 and the sporty Mazda CX-5.

Both of which are heavy-hitters in their category and the broader family car market! However, this version of the X-Trail has a rare feature for the class and that’s an additional two seats in the rear. 

Yep, it’s a seven-seater! It’s something that immediately sets it apart from most of its rivals but is it the ‘winning feature’? I’ve been testing this out with my family of three to find out for you.

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Deep dive comparison

2023 Mazda CX-5 2023 Nissan X-TRAIL

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