Compare the2023 Toyota Corolla Cross HybridVS 2023 Mazda CX-5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Mazda CX-5 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Corolla Cross Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 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 Corolla Cross Hybrid and CX-5 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The CX-5’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Corolla Cross Hybrid and the CX-5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is safer than the Mazda CX-5:

	Corolla Cross Hybrid	CX-5
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Stress	243 lbs.	274 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	27%	37%
Neck Stress	165 lbs.	205 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	301/156 lbs.	449/262 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 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is safer than the Mazda CX-5:

	Corolla Cross Hybrid	CX-5
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	208
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	65 G’s
Hip Force	367 lbs.	524 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
HIC	239	449

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

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Corolla Cross Hybrid for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CX-5.

There are over 2 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s warranty.

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 Corolla Cross Hybrid’s reliability 25 points higher than the CX-5.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mazda is rated lower.

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

Engine

The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 9 more horsepower (196 vs. 187) than the CX-5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Corolla Cross Hybrid gets better mileage than the CX-5:

			MPG
Corolla Cross Hybrid
	AWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	45 city/38 hwy
CX-5
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-5 with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Mazda CX-5 (5 to 7). This means the Corolla Cross Hybrid produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CX-5 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Corolla Cross Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Corolla Cross Hybrid	CX-5
Front Rotors	12 inches	11.7 inches

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the CX-5’s (35.4 feet vs. 36 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Corolla Cross Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-5 (8 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the Corolla Cross Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s minimum ground clearance is .1 inch higher than on the CX-5 Carbon/Premium/Turbo (8 vs. 7.9 inches).

Chassis

The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 500 pounds less than the Mazda CX-5.

The Corolla Cross Hybrid is 3.3 inches shorter than the CX-5, making the Corolla Cross Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Corolla Cross Hybrid and the CX-5 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Corolla Cross Hybrid 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.

If the windows are left open on the Corolla Cross Hybrid the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the CX-5 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Corolla Cross Hybrid’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.

Both the Corolla Cross Hybrid and the CX-5 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Corolla Cross Hybrid has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The CX-5 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Corolla Cross Hybrid has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.