Compare the2022 Kia SportageVS 2021 Mazda CX-5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Sportage’s standard Downhill Brake Control allow you to creep down safely. The CX-5 doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Compared to metal, the Sportage’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Mazda CX-5 has a metal gas tank.

Both the Sportage and the CX-5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Mazda CX-5:

	Sportage	CX-5
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Stress	151 lbs.	205 lbs.
Neck Compression	70 lbs.	86 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	33/16 lbs.	449/262 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Mazda CX-5:

	Sportage	CX-5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	104 G’s	126 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	56 G’s	65 G’s
Hip Force	465 lbs.	524 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	301	449

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Sportage is 1.4% to 2.7% less likely to roll over than the CX-5.

Warranty

The Sportage comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CX-5’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the CX-5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the CX-5 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

There are over 39 percent more Kia dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Sportage’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Sportage has a standard 140-amp alternator. The CX-5’s standard 100-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage second among compact suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The CX-5 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 48 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 22nd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 14th.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Sportage 4 cyl. is faster than the Mazda CX-5 4 cyl.:

	Sportage	CX-5
Zero to 60 MPH	8 sec	8.7 sec
Quarter Mile	16.3 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	86.4 MPH	78.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sportage uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-5 with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Sportage has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-5 FWD’s standard fuel tank (16.4 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Sportage has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-5 AWD’s standard fuel tank (16.4 vs. 15.3 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Sportage’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-5:

	Sportage	CX-5
Front Rotors	12 inches	11.7 inches

The Sportage stops much shorter than the CX-5:

	Sportage	CX-5
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	136 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	131 feet	144 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Sportage SX Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-5 (245/45R19 vs. 225/65R17).

The Sportage LX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-5 Sport/Touring’s standard 65 series tires. The Sportage SX Turbo’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the CX-5 Grand Touring/Signature/Carbon Edition’s 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Sportage has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CX-5’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage is .6 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the CX-5.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the CX-5 Signature AWD pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the CX-5 Grand Touring AWD (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sportage’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the CX-5’s (34.8 feet vs. 36 feet).

Chassis

The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 250 pounds less than the Mazda CX-5.

Passenger Space

The Sportage has .5 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more rear headroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-5.

Cargo Capacity

The Sportage has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-5 with its rear seat folded (60.1 vs. 59.6 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sportage’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

The Sportage has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The CX-5 doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Sportage and the CX-5 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Sportage is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-5 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Sportage’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The CX-5’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Sportage to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The CX-5 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Both the Sportage and the CX-5 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Sportage has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The CX-5 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Sportage (except LX) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The CX-5 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $165 less than the CX-5 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sportage is less expensive to operate than the CX-5 because typical repairs cost less on the Sportage than the CX-5, including $164 less for a starter, $119 less for fuel injection and $8 less for a fuel pump.

Recommendations

The Kia Sportage has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

	Sportage	CX-5
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	TRUE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	FALSE