Compare the2022 Mazda CX-5VS 2022 Chevrolet Blazer

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The CX-5 has standard Whiplash-Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Blazer doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-5 Turbo Signature has standard Smart Brake Support-Reverse that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Blazer doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-5. But it costs extra on the Blazer.

The CX-5 has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Blazer’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-5 has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Blazer.

The CX-5 Turbo Signature’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 Blazer doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-5 and the Blazer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

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

	CX-5	Blazer
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	82	182
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	25 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	160/307 lbs.	104/435 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	156	313
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.8 inches
Neck Injury Risk	37%	43%
Neck Compression	86 lbs.	140 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 Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Chevrolet Blazer:

	CX-5	Blazer
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	93
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	126 lbs.	157 lbs.
Hip Force	189 lbs.	369 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	208	251
Hip Force	524 lbs.	673 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	435 lbs.	695 lbs.

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-5 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 76 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Blazer last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The CX-5’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Blazer’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda first in reliability. Chevrolet is ranked 17th.

Engine

The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 50 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 270) than the Blazer’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda CX-5 turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Chevrolet Blazer V6:

	CX-5	Blazer
Zero to 30 MPH	2.1 sec	2.5 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	6.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	16.9 sec	17 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	15 sec

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-5 stops shorter than the Blazer:

	CX-5	Blazer
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	169 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The CX-5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (57% to 43%) than the Blazer’s (60.1% to 39.9%). This gives the CX-5 more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Blazer’s (36 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Blazer (7.6 vs. 7.4 inches), allowing the CX-5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-5 Turbo’s minimum ground clearance is .5 inch higher than on the Blazer (7.9 vs. 7.4 inches).

Chassis

The CX-5 is 11.3 inches shorter than the Blazer, making the CX-5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The CX-5 has .4 inches more rear headroom and 1.1 inches more rear hip room than the Blazer.

The front step up height for the CX-5 is .9 inches lower than the Blazer (17.6” vs. 18.5”). The CX-5’s rear step up height is 1.2 inches lower than the Blazer’s (18.2” vs. 19.4”).

Cargo Capacity

The CX-5 has a larger cargo volume than the Blazer with its rear seat up (30.8 vs. 30.5 cubic feet).

Towing

The CX-5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Blazer’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

Ergonomics

The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo 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 Blazer doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-5’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Blazer’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

The CX-5 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 Blazer doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The CX-5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Blazer’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The CX-5’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Blazer’s headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-5 Premium/Turbo has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Blazer doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the CX-5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CX-5 will cost $395 less than the Blazer over a five-year period.

The CX-5 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the CX-5 will retain 50.99% to 52.92% of its original price after five years, while the Blazer only retains 45.48% to 48.85%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-5 is less expensive to operate than the Blazer because it costs $500 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the CX-5 than the Blazer, including $236 less for a water pump, $152 less for a muffler, $127 less for front brake pads, $190 less for a fuel pump, $776 less for a timing belt/chain and $689 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mazda CX-5 will be $6173 to $9136 less than for the Chevrolet Blazer.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Mazda CX-5 as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The CX-5 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 4 of the last 5 years. The Blazer has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Chevrolet Blazer by over two to one during the 2021 model year.