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2019 Mazda CX-5 Takes on Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage: What's the Best SUV?

Reliable, well-designed family transportation? You're probably looking at a Korean SUV, like the Kia Sportage or Hyundai Tucson, both of which have been mildly refreshed recently. But how do they stack up against the popular and capable Mazda CX-5?
2019 Mazda CX-5 Takes on Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage: What's the Best SUV? 1 photo
Photo: YouTube screenshot/Carwow
This comparison review from Carwow looks at the trio from the perspective of the UK buyer, starting with the styling. This stuff is subjective. For example, we find that the Kia Sportage looks like an affordable Porsche Cayenne while the Hyundai now resembles a Chinese car. But Mat Watson seems to enjoy the latter more.

He does point out that the exhaust system on this GT-Line Sportage is completely fake while the Tucson only looks the part in its top trim level. Meanwhile, the Mazda CX-5 just has bigger or smaller wheels depending on how much you spend. But please pick something more exciting in the color department.

When it comes to practicality, the two Korean cars are the same, a little bit tight in the rear headroom department. There's an entire discussion around trunk space, but the three SUVs are almost the same for capacity. The discussion weirdly transitions into powertrains, as a new mild-hybrid system eats into underfloor space when you order the Korean models with a 2-liter diesel.

Strangely, this setup is less economical than the 1.6-liter turbo because the automatic gearbox on the diesel is less efficient than the DCT fitted to the T-GDI. The CX-5 is noticeably better at sipping fuel, though it has a manual and you probably wouldn't like Mazda's gasoline setup either.

Overall, the Japanese car is declared the winner. We agree that it's the more premium SUV with an excellent engine and better suspension. However, you can save a lot of money by going for the attractive Sportage, which has a better infotainment.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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