2025 Buick Enclave vs 2025 Mazda CX-5

The 2025 Buick Enclave presented a bold and modern design, reminiscent of the Envista with its sharp lines and angular grille. Its exterior was less cluttered than its predecessor, featuring a flatter roof and slightly sharpened wheel arches. Standard 20-inch wheels on the base trim and unique 22-inch wheels on the Avenir trim added to its upscale appearance. Inside, the Enclave offered a premium feel with a floating center console and a large curved display, creating an airy, futuristic ambiance. The Sport Touring trim featured perforated leatherette seats with contrast piping, enhancing the interior's elegance. However, the limited availability of a panoramic sunroof was a drawback, especially for a near-luxury SUV.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 stood out in the small SUV class with its graceful curves and timeless design, making it appear more luxurious than its price suggested. Despite not being redesigned since 2017, its styling remained impressive. The interior boasted high-quality materials and a blend of analog and digital elements, favoring usability over flashy tech. Physical buttons and knobs provided ease of use, and the cabin was adorned with soft-touch materials, giving it a refined feel. While it lacked some modern digital displays, the CX-5's design and functionality were well-received.

The 2025 Buick Enclave was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission with options for front-wheel or all-wheel drive, the latter costing an additional $2,000. Fuel economy was slightly reduced with AWD, dropping from 23 to 21 mpg combined. The Enclave could tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. Active Noise Cancellation was standard for road noise, but engine noise cancellation was only standard on the top trim. The Enclave's large size and loose steering at low speeds made it feel more like a full-size vehicle, which might not appeal to those prioritizing driving dynamics.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine choices: a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 horsepower and a turbocharged version with 256 horsepower. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and AWD was standard. The turbo model accelerated to 60 mph in about 6 seconds, making it one of the quicker options in its class. The CX-5 excelled in handling, with minimal body roll and a sporty feel, providing confidence in evasive maneuvers. Its firmer ride quality was noticeable but not intrusive, and the cabin remained quiet, filtering out wind and road noise effectively.

The 2025 Buick Enclave featured eight-way power adjustability for the driver's seat and six-way for the front passenger. It accommodated up to seven passengers with second-row captain's chairs. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, while the Avenir trim added heated second-row seats and front seat ventilation. Tri-zone climate control allowed middle-row passengers to adjust their temperature. The Enclave offered a power-folding third-row seat and GM’s AutoSense liftgate, providing 22.9 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats up, expanding to 97.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5's interior was stylish but less spacious than some rivals. It offered adequate headroom and rear legroom, though competitors like the Honda CR-V provided more space. The CX-5 had 30.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 58.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. A power liftgate was standard on most trims. For smaller items, the front seats featured cupholders, door pockets, and a center armrest bin. Midlevel trims included a wireless charging pad, though the surface was less grippy.

The 2025 Buick Enclave showcased a 30-inch ultrawide touchscreen integrating the infotainment display and digital gauge cluster. While seamless, Apple CarPlay interrupted the display's cohesiveness. A 12-speaker Bose audio system was standard, with a 16-speaker system on the Avenir trim. Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, along with Google Built-In and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. Each row had two USB ports for wired charging.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 featured a 10.25-inch infotainment display controlled via a center console dial. The system was intuitive, with logical menus and easy operation while driving. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto could be controlled via touchscreen or dial, with wireless capability on midrange trims. The base trim had a four-speaker audio system, while the Signature model offered a 10-speaker Bose system. A head-up display was standard on higher trims, projecting essential information onto the windshield.

The 2025 Buick Enclave included advanced safety features such as blind-zone steering assist, intersection automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. HD Surround Vision with selectable camera views and adaptive cruise control were standard. Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free driving technology, was available on all trims for an additional cost. The 2024 Enclave received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and mixed results from the IIHS.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 earned five stars from the NHTSA in most evaluations and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for the 2024 model. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims added adaptive headlights, a surround-view camera, and traffic jam assist. The Turbo Signature trim featured a driver attention monitor and rear automatic braking.