Compare the2023 Mazda CX-5VS 2022 Toyota Venza

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 Venza doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the CX-5 and the Venza 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, all wheel drive, 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, available around view monitors and 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 Toyota Venza:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Venza:

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 Venza is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

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

The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 37 more horsepower (256 vs. 219) than the Venza’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda CX-5 turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Toyota Venza:

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

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

The CX-5 stops much shorter than the Venza:

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 Venza doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The CX-5 handles at .82 G’s, while the Venza Limited pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the Venza LE’s (36 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The CX-5’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Venza XLE/Limited’s (36 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-5 Carbon/Premium/Turbo has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Venza (7.9 vs. 7.68 inches), allowing the CX-5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The CX-5 is 6.5 inches shorter than the Venza, making the CX-5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The CX-5 has 5.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Venza (103.6 vs. 98.3).

The CX-5 has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front hip room, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and 10.1 inches more rear hip room than the Venza.

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Venza with its rear seat up (30.8 vs. 28.8 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Venza with its rear seat folded (59.3 vs. 55.1 cubic feet).

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

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

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

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 Venza doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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

Consumer Reports rated the CX-5’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Venza’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 Venza’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

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 Venza doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the CX-5 and the Venza 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 Venza.

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

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Toyota Venza by over seven to one during the 2021 model year.