Compare the2023 Mazda CX-5VS 2022 Toyota C-HR

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
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 C-HR 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 C-HR 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 C-HR 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 C-HR only offers a rear monitor.

Both the CX-5 and the C-HR 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.

The Mazda CX-5 weighs 428 to 567 pounds more than the Toyota C-HR. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Toyota C-HR:

	CX-5	C-HR
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	82	163
Neck Injury Risk	23%	27%
Neck Stress	274 lbs.	312 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	24 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	160/307 lbs.	383/344 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.8 inches
Neck Injury Risk	37%	41%
Neck Stress	205 lbs.	238 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 Toyota C-HR:

	CX-5	C-HR
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	126 lbs.	126 lbs.
Hip Force	189 lbs.	419 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	208	333
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	435 lbs.	714 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 C-HR last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

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 21 points higher than the C-HR.

Engine

The CX-5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 43 more horsepower (187 vs. 144) and 47 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 139) than the C-HR’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 112 more horsepower (256 vs. 144) and 181 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 139) than the C-HR’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda CX-5 is faster than the Toyota C-HR:

	CX-5 4 cyl.	CX-5 turbo 4 cyl.	C-HR
Zero to 60 MPH	7.9 sec	6.1 sec	11 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	23.6 sec	16.9 sec	33.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.4 sec	6.6 sec	11.8 sec
Quarter Mile	16.2 sec	14.7 sec	18.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85 MPH	94 MPH	79 MPH
Top Speed	124 MPH	130 MPH	115 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 C-HR 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 C-HR (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 Toyota C-HR (3). This means the CX-5 produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the C-HR every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	CX-5 Turbo	C-HR
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	11.1 inches

The CX-5 stops much shorter than the C-HR:

	CX-5	C-HR
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	137 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	144 feet	147 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-5 Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo has standard 19-inch wheels. The C-HR’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The CX-5 has engine speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The C-HR doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 2.3 inches longer than on the C-HR (106.2 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-5 is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the C-HR.

The CX-5 handles at .82 G’s, while the C-HR Limited pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

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

Passenger Space

The CX-5 has 17.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the C-HR (103.6 vs. 86).

The CX-5 has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 2.5 inches more front hip room, 8.1 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 7.9 inches more rear legroom, 7.3 inches more rear hip room and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the C-HR.

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

Cargo Capacity

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the C-HR with its rear seat up (30.8 vs. 19.1 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the C-HR with its rear seat folded (59.3 vs. 37 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CX-5 easier. The CX-5’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.4 inches, while the C-HR’s liftover is 31 inches.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The C-HR 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 C-HR doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

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

Servicing Ease

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the CX-5 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, air filter replacement and tire rotation based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Toyota doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the C-HR.

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 C-HR doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 C-HR 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 C-HR doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The C-HR’s standard power locks don’t automatically lock the doors. The CX-5’s standard doors lock when a certain speed is reached. This is an important feature for occupant safety. Locked doors are proven to open less often in collisions, and they are also effective in preventing crime at traffic lights.

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 C-HR’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Both the CX-5 and the C-HR 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 C-HR.

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 C-HR 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 C-HR doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The CX-5 has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The C-HR doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

Both the CX-5 and the C-HR 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 C-HR doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda CX-5 Turbo has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. The C-HR doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

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 $880 to $1815 less than the C-HR over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mazda CX-5 will be $1987 to $14854 less than for the Toyota C-HR.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-5 and the Toyota C-HR, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Toyota C-HR by over 12 to one during 2022.