Compare the2022 Mazda CX-5VS 2022 Volkswagen Taos

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 Taos doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

The CX-5’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Taos.

The CX-5 Turbo Signature has a standard 360° Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Taos only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

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 Taos’ 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 Taos.

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 Taos doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-5 and the Taos 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, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

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 Taos has not been tested, yet.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-5 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Taos. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Taos ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the CX-5’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Taos’ camshafts. If the Taos’ belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CX-5’s reliability 50 points higher than the Taos.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda 23rd in initial quality. With 36 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 30th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda 14th in reliability. With 42 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda first in reliability. Volkswagen is ranked 24th.

The CX-5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 29 more horsepower (187 vs. 158) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 184) than the Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 98 more horsepower (256 vs. 158) and 136 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 184) than the Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Mazda CX-5 is faster than the Volkswagen Taos:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-5 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Taos doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-5 has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Taos FWD’s standard fuel tank (15.3 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

The CX-5 stops shorter than the Taos:

For better traction, the CX-5 has larger tires than the Taos (225/65R17 vs. 215/50R18).

For superior ride and handling, the Mazda CX-5 has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Volkswagen Taos has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The CX-5 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the CX-5 flat and controlled during cornering. The Taos 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-5 is .9 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Taos.

The CX-5 handles at .81 G’s, while the Taos SEL pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Taos SEL (27.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Taos’ (36 feet vs. 37.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Taos (7.6 vs. 6.6 inches), allowing the CX-5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-5 Turbo’s minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the Taos (7.9 vs. 6.6 inches).

The CX-5 has 4.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Taos (103.6 vs. 99.5).

The CX-5 has .9 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room and 1.7 inches more rear legroom than the Taos.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CX-5’s rear seats recline. The Taos’ rear seats don’t recline.

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume than the Taos with its rear seat up (30.8 vs. 27.9 cubic feet).

The CX-5’s cargo area is larger than the Taos’ in almost every dimension:

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Taos doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the CX-5 Preferred/Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Taos doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

The CX-5 has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Taos has no towing capacity.

When two different drivers share the CX-5 Preferred/Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Taos doesn’t offer memory seats.

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 Taos doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Taos’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-5 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Taos only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the CX-5’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Taos’ headlights, which were rated “Good.”

Both the CX-5 and the Taos offer available heated front seats. The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Taos.

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 Volkswagen Taos isn't recommended.

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