10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: 2021 Mazda CX-5 Has 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander in Tow

Is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 a good car? While the answer to that question ultimately is a subjective one, the pros and cons of Mazda’s top-selling vehicle are, shall we say, balanced. In one of Cars.com’s most popular news articles of the past week, we ticked off our laundry list of gratitude and gripes for the compact SUV, which the automaker updated for the current model year with hit-or-miss consistency.

Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Fuel Efficiency Follows Ford F-150 Follies

Working in its favor are the new CX-5’s precise handling and confident brakes, a classy cabin that defies its class, an eager-to-accelerate turbo 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a generous standard safety arsenal. Working against the 2021 model are its confounding move to a no-touch, knob-controlled  infotainment setup; ride quality that’s just a bit too firm for an SUV; unsatisfying seating comfort throughout; and noisy acceleration discourtesy of its six-speed automatic transmission.

For further context on the things we like and don’t like about the 2021 CX-5, follow the link below to our  No. 4 article of the week — and for a comprehensive critique, continue on down to No. 9, where you’ll find our full review by Cars.com reviewer Brian Normile.

As if on cue, the week’s sixth-place finisher is creeping up behind the CX-5 not only on our countdown, but also in the massively competitive compact SUV market. Cars.com reviewer Aaron Bragman’s comprehensive critique of the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander portends a competitor that could take advantage of its Mazda rival’s shortcomings. Thanks to the recent Renault-Nissan merger, the Outlander’s all-new platform now shares DNA with the Nissan Rogue, transforming the Mitsu from perennial also-ran SUV into a “sophisticated, technology-packed, desirable” one, according to our expert.

“The whole vehicle feels a class above a Toyota RAV4 or Volkswagen Tiguan,” Bragman states in his review. “Mitsubishi is gunning for the top offerings from Hyundai and Kia, and it shows with surprise-and-delight items like headlight washers (AWD models) and separate power close and lock buttons on the liftgate. The additional lock button is one you typically find only on German luxury SUVs that cost two to three times as much as an Outlander.”

Follow the link below to our No. 6 article of the week for the inside info on the 2022 Outlander.

In addition to all that, we have articles on how to apply your tax refund or stimulus check to a car purchase; the latest news on the upcoming 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup truck; advice on how to go about buying a car if you have bad credit; and much more.

Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers  couldn’t get enough of in the past week:

1. Which Cars Have Self-Driving Features for 2021?

2. Tax Refund or Stimulus Check? Here’s How to Shop Wisely for a Car

3. Electric Cars With the Longest Range

4. Is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 a Good Car? 4 Pros and 4 Cons

5. Why Do I Keep Getting Phone Calls About My Car’s Warranty Expiring and How Do I Stop Them?

6. 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Review: From Outcast to Outstanding

7. Hyundai Teases More 2022 Santa Cruz With New Video

8. Can You Get a Car Loan With Bad Credit?

9. 2021 Mazda CX-5 Review: A Decent Compact SUV With Deal-Breaking Tech

10. So You Want to Buy a Hybrid Car: 6 Things to Know

Related Video: 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander: First Drive

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.