Compare the2023 Mazda CX-50VS 2023 Cadillac XT5

The Mazda CX-50 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The XT5 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-50. But it costs extra on the XT5.

The CX-50 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. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-50 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking on the Turbo Premium Plus automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers Rear Cross Traffic Alert and the XT5’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

The CX-50’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 XT5 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-50 and the XT5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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.

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-50 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XT5 last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

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-50’s reliability 22 points higher than the XT5.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Cadillac is ranked 17th.

The CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 49 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 271) than the XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

On the EPA test cycle the CX-50 gets better mileage than the XT5:

The CX-50 stops much shorter than the XT5:

For better traction, the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT5 (245/45R20 vs. 235/65R18).

The CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XT5’s optional 55 series tires.

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo handles at .87 G’s, while the XT5 AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CX-50’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the XT5’s (36 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The CX-50’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the XT5 w/20” wheels’ (36 feet vs. 39 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XT5 (8.3 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the CX-50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-50 Premium/Turbo’s minimum ground clearance is .8 inch higher than on the XT5 (8.6 vs. 7.8 inches).

The Mazda CX-50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 450 pounds less than the Cadillac XT5.

The CX-50 is 3.8 inches shorter than the XT5, making the CX-50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the CX-50 2.5 Turbo is quieter than the XT5 AWD (37 vs. 44 dB).

The CX-50 has .5 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear headroom and .8 inches more rear legroom than the XT5.

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume than the XT5 with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 30.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CX-50 easier. The CX-50’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.4 inches, while the XT5’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

The CX-50’s cargo area is larger than the XT5’s in almost every dimension:

The CX-50’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT5’s (2000 vs. 1000 pounds).

The CX-50’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 XT5’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

The CX-50 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 XT5 doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The CX-50’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 XT5’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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-50’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the XT5’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

The XT5’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The CX-50 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.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-50 and the Cadillac XT5, based on reliability, safety and performance.