Both the 2021 Mazda CX-5 and Tesla Model X are popular SUVs to buy this year. Are you considering taking the leap to an electric vehicle? Tesla is leading the way with innovating EVs, but not everyone is ready for the transition.

Is Mazda CX-5 a good buy?

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 crossover SUV is available in a few different trims: Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. The Sport time starts at $25,370 and is the entry option with room for five.

This trim is offered with a 2.5L Skyactiv engine that gets 187 horsepower. The Mazda SUV is available in front-wheel drive or i-ACTIV all-wheel drive with off-road traction assist.

The front-wheel-drive option gets an estimated 25 miles per gallon in the city and 31 on the highway. For the all-wheel-drive SUV, the mileage goes down to 24 miles per gallon in the city and 30 on the highway.

Some of the features included with the CX-5 are cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and Android Auto or Apple CarPlay integration. The cargo room with the seats out is 30.9 cubic feet and 59.6 when the seats are folded. The towing capacity is 2,000 pounds.

Each of the trims has some upgraded specs too. The Grand Touring has LED daytime running lights, fog lights, and signature lighting on the headlights. It also has rear privacy glass, a power liftgate, and 19-inch wheels.

Is Tesla Model X worth the money?

The Tesla Model X Long Range version starts at $89,990. The Tesla brand speaks for itself and advertises for itself. The Model X is also offered in a Plaid version this year, but the Long Range version is technically the base model, light the Sport CX-5.

The Model X has room for seven with an optional third row. The cargo capacity is 91 cubic feet, presumably without the optional third row.

The Long Range has an all-wheel-drive dual motor that has a top speed of 155 miles per hour. It goes from 0-60 in 3.8 seconds. The range is 360 miles, about 100 miles per gallon equivalent in the city and 95 on the highway.

The towing capacity is 5,000 pounds and the X comes with automatic falcon-wing doors. Tesla claims the X has “optimized aerodynamics” which makes it the most aerodynamic production SUV.

The cost of ownership

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Edmunds offers an estimated cost of ownership tool to help determine the true cost of owning a car like CX-5. For the first year of ownership, Edmunds offers the estimate of $10,872. This includes insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, depreciation, and fuel.

Edmunds does not have the data available for the 2021 Model X. We can use those to estimate the cost for the 2021 year. For the total, Edmunds came up with $26,438 for the first year of ownership. This includes all of the same criteria, with depreciation the highest at $11,955.

This number will fluctuate based on some personal factors like your location and insurance costs. The Mazda is still a brand new car with new technology. But if you are ready to dive into the world of electric vehicles, the Tesla will be waiting with fancy-opening doors.