2021 CX-5 vs 2021 Terrain

2021 Mazda CX-5 vs 2021 GMC Terrain | San Juan Capistrano, CA

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 is an award-winning, chart-topping midsize crossover. Naturally, people really like it. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s automatically better than every other vehicle out there. That’s why we do comparisons like these, to help you decide which vehicle is right for you.

Here's our comparison of the 2021 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring Reserve AWD and the 2021 GMC Terrain SLT AWD. Below, you’ll find a table showing starting MSRPs, powertrain specs, and fuel economy. Underneath that, we’ll show you some reasons you may want to buy one over the other.

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2021 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring Reserve AWD

vs

2021 GMC Terrain SLT AWD

$35,385

MSRP

$34,200
2.5L turbo 4-cyl

Engine

1.5L turbo 4-cyl

250 hp / 320 lb-ft

Horsepower / Torque

170 hp /203 lb-ft

6-speed auto

Transmission

 9-speed auto
AWD

Drivetrain

 AWD
22/27/24

Fuel Economy

 25/28/26

New Midsize Crossover in San Juan Capistrano, CA

Better Powertrains

It seems to be a common theme for the 2021 CX-5: no matter the competition, the CX-5 powertrain outperforms everything else. This turbocharged 2.5L engine is available on the Carbon Edition Turbo trim and standard for the Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims. The turbocharged engine provides on-demand acceleration and plenty of power for any situation. The 2021 GMC Terrain comes with an underwhelming 1.5L turbo-four that’s noisy and underpowered.

2021 CX-5 cockpit
2021 CX-5 rear exterior

Ride Quality

One of the calling cards of GMC is luxury. And while the 2021 Terrain has a nice interior, the ride quality leaves a lot to be desired. The 2021 Terrain is plagued by vibration, low-impact shock, and jostling on anything but the smoothest of roads. It also has a problem with droning road noise. The 2021 CX-5 has none of these problems. It’s suspension easily eats up any road imperfections from all but the worst of roads. Similarly, it’s road noise is nonexistent under highway speeds. At highway speeds, the sound is isolated and non-intrusive.

2021 CX-5 side profile

For more details on the 2021 CX-5, give Capistrano Mazda a call.

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