Compare the2023 Mazda CX-5VS 2023 Chevrolet Blazer

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
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-Rear that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a 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 that 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 standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert 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 performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-5 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Blazer has not been fully tested, yet.

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 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Chevrolet is ranked 20th.

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

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-5 gets better mileage than the Blazer:

			MPG
CX-5
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy
Blazer
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/27 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-5 stops shorter than the Blazer:

	CX-5	Blazer
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).

Chassis

The CX-5 is 11.7 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.

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.

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 $440 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 51.37% of its original price after five years, while the Blazer only retains 46.35% to 48.99%.

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 $3758 to $6714 less than for the Chevrolet Blazer.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-5 and the Chevrolet Blazer, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Chevrolet Blazer by over two to one during 2022.

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