Compare the2023 Mazda CX-5VS 2023 Hyundai Kona N

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
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 Kona N 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 uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Kona N doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The CX-5 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kona N doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

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 Kona N only offers a rear monitor.

Both the CX-5 and the Kona N 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available driver alert monitors.

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 2022, a rating granted to only 93 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Kona N has not been tested, yet.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. With 5 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Hyundai.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda first in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 6th.

Engine

The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 31 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 289) than the Kona N’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
CX-5
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy
Kona N
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy

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 Kona N doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The Kona N requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The CX-5 has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kona N (15.3 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mazda CX-5 higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Hyundai Kona N (3). This means the CX-5 produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Kona N every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-5 stops shorter than the Kona N:

	CX-5	Kona N
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	168 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

The CX-5 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Kona N; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 3.8 inches longer than on the Kona N (106.2 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

The CX-5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (57% to 43%) than the Kona N’s (63.9% to 36.1%). This gives the CX-5 more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Kona N’s (36 feet vs. 38.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Kona N (7.6 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the CX-5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-5 Carbon/Premium/Turbo’s minimum ground clearance is 1.1 inches higher than on the Kona N (7.9 vs. 6.8 inches).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the CX-5 is quieter than the Kona N:

	CX-5	Kona N
At idle	38 dB	46 dB
Full-Throttle	76 dB	79 dB
70 MPH Cruising	66 dB	73 dB

Passenger Space

The CX-5 has 9.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kona N (103.6 vs. 94.1).

The CX-5 has .1 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front hip room, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 4.4 inches more rear legroom, 3.1 inches more rear hip room and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona N.

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

Cargo Capacity

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kona N with its rear seat up (30.8 vs. 19.2 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kona N with its rear seat folded (59.3 vs. 45.8 cubic feet).

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

	CX-5	Kona N
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	38”	28.6”/61”
Max Width	57”	48”
Min Width	41.3”	40”
Height	32.4”	30”

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

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

Towing

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

Ergonomics

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 Kona N 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 Kona N doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-5’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Kona N has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The CX-5’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Kona N’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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

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 Kona N’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 Kona N doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the CX-5 and the Kona N 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 Kona N.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Kona N doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Kona N doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The CX-5 Select/Preferred/Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Kona N doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the CX-5 and the Kona N offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CX-5 Select/Preferred/Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kona N doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the CX-5 has a standard Radar Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Kona N doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Recommendations

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 Kona N has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.