Compare the2023 Mazda CX-50VS 2022 Jeep Cherokee

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-50. But it costs extra on the Cherokee.

The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus has a standard 360° Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Cherokee only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The CX-50’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-50 and the Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Jeep is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda first in overall reliability. Jeep is ranked 19th.

The CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 239) than the Cherokee’s standard 3.2 DOHC V6.

On the EPA test cycle the CX-50 gets better mileage than the Cherokee:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-50 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cherokee Limited’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo has standard 20-inch wheels. The Cherokee’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-50’s wheelbase is 4.3 inches longer than on the Cherokee (110.8 inches vs. 106.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Cherokee.

For better maneuverability, the CX-50’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Cherokee’s (36 feet vs. 37.6 feet). The CX-50’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the Cherokee 4x4 Trailhawk’s (36 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Cherokee (8.3 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the CX-50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The CX-50 has .6 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more rear headroom and 2.2 inches more rear hip room than the Cherokee.

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Cherokee with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 27.6 cubic feet). The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Cherokee with its rear seat folded (56.3 vs. 54.7 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-50 Select/Preferred/Premium/Turbo’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Cherokee doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-50’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Cherokee’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

On a hot day the CX-50’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Cherokee can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CX-50 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

When the CX-50 Premium/Turbo is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Cherokee’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The CX-50’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Cherokee offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda CX-50 offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Cherokee doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.