2023 Mazda CX-5 vs Volvo XC60

What's the difference?

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?

Have you been tempted to hop into a fully electric SUV? With fuel prices the way they are, it’s understandable. But what if you’re not ready for the jump? What if you want the convenience of combustion with the ability to drive emissions free day-to-day?

A plug-in hybrid might be for you, and Volvo’s freshly updated XC60 offers a lot of appealing features in its electrified form.

It has to be more than just another plug-in hybrid, though, since the luxury mid-size SUV segment is one of the most competitive for this type of technology.

Does the new and improved XC60 Recharge have what it takes? Read on to find out.