Compare the2023 Mazda CX-5VS 2023 Toyota Venza

Safety
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
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 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:

	CX-5	Venza
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	82	152
Neck Injury Risk	23%	29.3%
Neck Stress	274 lbs.	306 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	56 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	160/307 lbs.	400/388 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	156	284
Neck Injury Risk	37%	37.4%
Neck Stress	205 lbs.	258 lbs.
Neck Compression	86 lbs.	95 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 Venza:

	CX-5	Venza
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	83
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.5 inches
Abdominal Force	126 lbs.	138 lbs.
Hip Force	189 lbs.	246 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	36 G’s
Hip Force	435 lbs.	835 lbs.

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:

	CX-5	Venza
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	7 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	848 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	307	542
Head Peak Forces	no contact	104 G’s
Neck Tension	22 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	692 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-5 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 134 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Venza is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Engine

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:

	CX-5	Venza
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	7.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	16.9 sec	20.9 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.6 sec	7.9 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94 MPH	89 MPH
Top Speed	130 MPH	118 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 Venza doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	CX-5 Turbo	Venza
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	11.1 inches

The CX-5 stops much shorter than the Venza:

	CX-5	Venza
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	133 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	144 feet	147 feet	Consumer Reports

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 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/Nightshade/Limited’s (36 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

Chassis

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

Passenger Space

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.

Cargo Capacity

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 almost every dimension:

	CX-5	Venza
Length	38”	39.2”
Max Width	57”	49.8”
Min Width	41.3”	39.7”
Height	32.4”	27.6”

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.

Towing

The CX-5 has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Venza 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 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 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.

Recommendations

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

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Toyota Venza by almost five to one during 2022.