Compare the2023 Fiat 500XVS 2023 Mazda CX-5

The Fiat 500X has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The CX-5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the 500X and the CX-5 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, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, front and rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The 500X comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The CX-5’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The engine in the 500X has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the CX-5 have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the 500X has a 150-amp alternator. The CX-5’s standard 100-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

The 500X’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 24 lbs.-ft. more torque (210 vs. 186) than the CX-5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the 500X gets better fuel mileage than the CX-5 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder (24 city/30 hwy vs. 22 city/27 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 500X’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The CX-5 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The 500X has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Fiat 500X, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-5.

For better stopping power the 500X’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-5:

The 500X stops much shorter than the CX-5:

The 500X AWD’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-5’s standard 65 series tires. The 500X Sport’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the CX-5 Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo’s 55 series tires.

The 500X has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CX-5’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The 500X Pop handles at .79 G’s, while the CX-5 pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The 500X Pop executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-5 (28 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

The Fiat 500X may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 550 pounds less than the Mazda CX-5.

The 500X is 1 foot shorter than the CX-5, making the 500X easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The 500X has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The CX-5 doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

The power windows standard on both the 500X and the CX-5 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the 500X is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-5 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The 500X’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the CX-5 Premium/Turbo.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 500X is less expensive to operate than the CX-5 because it costs $82 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the 500X than the CX-5, including $157 less for a muffler, $81 less for a starter, $127 less for front struts and $32 less for a timing belt/chain.