Compare the2024 Mazda CX-50VS 2023 Audi Q3

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus has standard Smart Brake Support-Reverse that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Q3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

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 Q3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-50 and the Q3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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 and available around view monitors.

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-50 is safer than the Q3:

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 54 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Q3 last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2018.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-50 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 78 percent more Mazda dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-50’s warranty.

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 17 points higher than the Q3.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 18 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 6th.

The CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 28 more horsepower (256 vs. 228) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 258) than the Q3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda CX-50 turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Audi Q3:

On the EPA test cycle the CX-50 gets better mileage than the Q3:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-50 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Q3 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-50 stops shorter than the Q3:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-50’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the Q3 (110.8 inches vs. 105.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 3.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Q3.

The CX-50 handles at .81 G’s, while the Q3 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Q3 (28 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-50’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the Q3’s (36 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 has a 2.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q3 (8.3 vs. 5.5 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 3.1 inches higher than on the Q3 (8.6 vs. 5.5 inches).

The Mazda CX-50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 200 pounds less than the Audi Q3.

The CX-50 has 16.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Q3 (100.3 vs. 84).

The CX-50 has 1.7 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more rear headroom and 3.7 inches more rear legroom than the Q3.

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q3 with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 23.7 cubic feet). The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q3 with its rear seat folded (56.3 vs. 48 cubic feet).

The CX-50’s cargo area is larger than the Q3’s in every dimension:

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-50’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q3 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The CX-50’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q3’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Audi Q3 is only 1500 pounds. The CX-50 offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Q3 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-50 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q3 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the CX-50’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Q3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Q3 Premium Plus’ 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.

When the CX-50 Premium/Turbo is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Q3’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the CX-50 and the Q3 offer available heated front seats. The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Q3.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo Premium keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Q3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the CX-50 Turbo Premium’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Q3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-50 and the Audi Q3, based on reliability, safety and performance.