Compare the2023 Mazda CX-5VS 2022 BMW X1

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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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-5 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X1 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 X1 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Smart City Brake Support in the CX-5 as “Superior.” The X1 scores only 4 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

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 X1 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 X1.

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 X1 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The CX-5’s blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The X1 doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-5’s standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The X1 doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the CX-5 and the X1 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 driver alert 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 BMW X1:

	CX-5	X1
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	82	328
Neck Injury Risk	23%	32%
Neck Stress	274 lbs.	360 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	160/307 lbs.	257/329 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 BMW X1:

	CX-5	X1
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	143
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	126 lbs.	154 lbs.
Hip Force	189 lbs.	486 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	65 G’s	65 G’s
Hip Force	524 lbs.	637 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	435 lbs.	815 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 X1 last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2018.

Warranty

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-5 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X1. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X1 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 54 percent more Mazda dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-5’s warranty.

Reliability

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 29 points higher than the X1.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, BMW is rated lower.

Engine

The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 28 more horsepower (256 vs. 228) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 258) than the X1’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-5 turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the BMW X1:

	CX-5	X1
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	6.8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.6 MPH	90.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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 X1 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-5 stops much shorter than the X1:

	CX-5	X1
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	180 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	133 feet	134 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than on the X1 (106.2 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-5 is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than on the X1.

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the X1’s (36 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the CX-5 is quieter than the X1 xDrive28i:

	CX-5	X1
At idle	38 dB	40 dB
70 MPH Cruising	66 dB	70 dB

Passenger Space

The CX-5 has 2.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X1 (103.6 vs. 101.2).

The CX-5 has .6 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room and 2.6 inches more rear legroom than the X1.

Cargo Capacity

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X1 with its rear seat up (30.8 vs. 27.1 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X1 with its rear seat folded (59.3 vs. 58.7 cubic feet).

The CX-5’s cargo area is larger than the X1’s in almost every dimension:

	CX-5	X1
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	38”	35.1”/69”
Max Width	57”	51.5”
Min Width	41.3”	39.5”
Height	32.4”	33”

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The X1 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The CX-5 has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The X1 has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

The CX-5 offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The X1 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 X1 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The CX-5’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the X1’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

Consumer Reports rated the CX-5’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the X1’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

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 X1’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The X1’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The CX-5 Premium/Turbo’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Both the CX-5 and the X1 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 X1.

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 X1 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the CX-5 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the CX-5 with a number “1” insurance rate while the X1 is rated higher at a number “3” rate.

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 X1 only retains 47.06% to 47.87%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-5 is less expensive to operate than the X1 because it costs $73 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the CX-5 than the X1, including $554 less for a water pump, $603 less for a muffler, $91 less for front brake pads, $339 less for a starter, $199 less for fuel injection, $307 less for a fuel pump, $203 less for front struts, $920 less for a timing belt/chain and $739 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-5, based on reliability, safety and performance. The BMW X1 isn't recommended.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the BMW X1 by over 21 to one during 2022.