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Suzuki S-Cross vs Mazda CX-5

What's the difference?

VS
Suzuki S-Cross
Suzuki S-Cross

$29,998 - $45,490

2023 price

Mazda CX-5
Mazda CX-5

$33,990 - $61,031

2023 price

Summary

2023 Suzuki S-Cross
2023 Mazda CX-5
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 1.4L

Inline 4, 2.5L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
6.2L/100km (combined)

7.5L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • High prices
  • Dated design inside and out
  • Needs 95 RON premium unleaded

  • Hardly cutting-edge drivetrain tech
  • Clumsy dial-operated phone mirroring
  • Fuel consumption could be better
2023 Suzuki S-Cross Summary

Big news on the smaller SUV front. Suzuki has launched an “all-new” S-Cross.

But despite what some of the clever photography might have you think, this MY23 update is actually the second facelift of the decade-old original, bringing a redesigned front and rear end as well as a minor dashboard update, with little changing underneath.

A bit more than what the current Mitsubishi ASX received back in 2019 but far less than what the latest Ford Ranger espouses, then.

That all said, we came away surprised from what amounted to a reunion with a quiet old acquaintance that’s long lurked away from the crossover spotlight.

Is this year the S-Cross’ time to shine?

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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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Deep dive comparison

2023 Suzuki S-Cross 2023 Mazda CX-5

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