2025 Dodge Durango vs 2025 Mazda CX-5

The 2025 Dodge Durango was a versatile SUV, offering a range of models from the base GT with a V6 engine and rear-wheel drive starting at around $43,000, to the high-performance SRT Hellcat with a supercharged V8 engine and all-wheel drive, priced near $100,000. The SRT Hellcat Premium model, especially with the Silver Bullet special edition package, was a standout with its Triple Nickel paint and additional features like a satin black hood and dark badges, pushing the MSRP to $115,315. The exterior enhancements gave the Durango a more aggressive look, appealing to those who preferred a bolder aesthetic.

Inside, the SRT Hellcat maintained a subdued yet premium feel with dark red Nappa leather seats and a mix of suede and leather accents. The cabin was well-constructed, though some plastic surfaces detracted from the overall luxury feel expected at this price point. The interior upgrades, including a suede headliner and forged carbon fiber trim, added to the vehicle's appeal, making it a solid choice for those seeking both performance and a touch of luxury.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 was celebrated for its elegant design, which had remained largely unchanged since 2017, proving the timelessness of its styling. Its graceful curves set it apart from the more angular designs of its competitors, giving it an understated yet sophisticated appearance that could easily be mistaken for a luxury SUV. The interior was equally impressive, featuring high-quality materials and a layout that balanced traditional analog controls with modern functionality. While it lacked the large infotainment screens of some rivals, the physical buttons and knobs offered a user-friendly experience.

The CX-5's interior was thoughtfully designed, with most surfaces covered in soft-touch materials, and a few strategically placed hard plastics. This attention to detail made it comparable to interiors from brands like Acura or Lexus, elevating its status among similarly priced crossovers. Despite its lack of cutting-edge technology, the CX-5's focus on usability and comfort made it a compelling choice for those who valued practicality and refinement over flashy features.

The 2025 Dodge Durango offered a streamlined lineup with three engine options. The GT model featured a 295-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, while the R/T boasted a 360-hp 5.7-liter V8. The SRT Hellcat, however, was the star with its 710-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8, delivering 645 pound-feet of torque. All models used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the GT offering standard rear-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive, which was standard on the R/T and SRT Hellcat. The SRT Hellcat's performance was impressive, accelerating to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, reaching a top speed of 180 mph, and towing up to 8,700 pounds. Despite its power, the Durango's fuel economy was a downside, with an EPA rating of 12/17/13 mpg in city/highway/combined driving.

The Durango SRT Hellcat was more than just a powerful engine. It featured a full-time all-wheel-drive system, electronic limited-slip rear differential, and a high-performance exhaust system. The competition-tuned adaptive damping suspension, performance steering, and Brembo brakes enhanced its driving dynamics. The 20-inch wheels with Pirelli Scorpion Zero all-season run-flat tires, and optional P-Zero performance rubber, provided excellent grip. The Durango's handling was reminiscent of a taller Charger, with firm yet comfortable road manners, creamy steering response, and immediate braking capability. It excelled in performance, offering a thrilling driving experience that few midsize SUVs could match.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 came with two engine options: a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged version delivering 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive was standard across the range. The base engine provided adequate power, accelerating to 60 mph in about 8 seconds, while the turbocharged model was quicker, reaching the same speed two seconds faster. The turbo engine offered a more confident and effortless driving experience, making it a better match for those seeking performance.

The CX-5 was not just about power; it excelled in handling, offering a sporty driving experience with minimal body roll and sure-footedness thanks to its AWD system. Its suspension provided a slightly firmer ride, but it was never harsh, even on rough surfaces. The cabin remained quiet, filtering out wind and road noise, making long journeys more comfortable. The CX-5's driving dynamics were engaging, instilling confidence in drivers and making it one of the more entertaining options in its class.

The 2025 Dodge Durango excelled in form and function, offering a spacious and comfortable interior with thoughtful features. The SRT Hellcat Premium model featured heated and ventilated front seats with Nappa leather, providing comfort and support. However, the performance seats lacked the ability to securely hold occupants during spirited driving. The heated second-row captain's chairs offered good leg support and a proper backrest angle, though they felt a bit low in the cabin. The third-row seat was accessible through a generous pass-through, providing enough room for adults and a supportive seating position.

The Durango's cargo space was impressive, with 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 43.3 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded, and a maximum of 85.1 cubic feet. The power liftgate and thoughtful storage solutions, including a large center console and rear climate controls, added to its practicality. The Durango's interior was well-equipped for family use, offering convenience and comfort for all passengers.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5's interior was praised for its design and refinement, though it fell short in terms of practicality and space compared to some rivals. While it offered sufficient headroom in the back seats, competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage provided more. The CX-5 excelled in rear legroom, surpassing the RAV4 but falling short of the Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage. Its cargo space was 30.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expandable to 58.1 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded. The cargo area was wide and flat, accommodating larger items, but competitors offered more capacity.

The CX-5's interior featured moderately sized cupholders, door pockets, and a deep center armrest bin for smaller items. Midlevel trims added a wireless charging pad, though the hard plastic surface allowed phones to slide. Despite its limitations in space, the CX-5's interior was well-designed, offering a balance of style and functionality.

The 2025 Dodge Durango was equipped with a Uconnect 5 infotainment system featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a native navigation system. It also offered SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Dodge Connect and SiriusXM Guardian subscription services, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The system supported dual-phone Bluetooth pairing, Alexa compatibility, and wireless smartphone charging. The SRT Hellcat came with an Alpine premium sound system, but the test vehicle featured a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, delivering excellent sound quality.

The Uconnect system was user-friendly, with seamless iPhone pairing and Apple CarPlay integration. The voice recognition system worked well, though it required specific commands. The SRT Hellcat included SRT Performance Pages, allowing drivers to track performance metrics like acceleration, speed, and g-forces. This feature added a fun element to the family-friendly SUV, highlighting its performance capabilities.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 featured a 10.25-inch infotainment display mounted atop the dash, controlled via a dial on the center console. This setup was reminiscent of older BMW and Audi systems, offering ease of use while driving. The dial allowed for quick selections, and the logical menus made the system intuitive. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, with wireless integration in the midrange Premium Plus trim, which also added a wireless charging pad.

While the analog gauges felt dated, the Premium Plus trim and above included a head-up display, projecting speed and other information onto the windshield. The base trim came with a four-speaker audio system, while the top Signature model featured a 10-speaker Bose premium system. Remote vehicle monitoring and control were available through a smartphone app, with a free service for the first year. The CX-5's technology offerings were practical and user-friendly, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2025 Dodge Durango's safety features were limited, reflecting its older engineering. Standard features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Optional upgrades included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and front parking sensors. The Durango earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a three-star rollover resistance rating for AWD models. The IIHS had not assessed the Durango in its newer evaluations, and its performance in the small overlap frontal-impact test was concerning.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 excelled in safety, earning five stars in all NHTSA evaluations except for rollover protection, where it received four stars. The 2024 model, identical to the 2025 version, received the IIHS' highest score of "Good" in all tests and a Top Safety Pick rating. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims added adaptive headlights, a head-up display, a surround-view camera system, and traffic jam assist. The CX-5's safety systems operated smoothly, providing peace of mind for drivers.