Compare the2024 Mazda CX-50VS 2023 Audi Q5

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 Q5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Q5 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 Q5 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-50 and the Q5 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 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 54 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Q5 has not been fully tested, yet.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-50 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q5 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 24 points higher than the Q5.

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.

On the EPA test cycle the CX-50 gets better mileage than the Q5 running its gasoline engine:

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 Q5 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-50 has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q5 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (15.9 vs. 14.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Mazda CX-50 at emission levels ranging from “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) to “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Audi Q5 is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

The CX-50 stops much shorter than the Q5:

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Q5.

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo handles at .87 G’s, while the Q5 45 TFSI Premium Plus pulls only .81 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 Q5 40/45 TFSI’s (36 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The CX-50’s turning circle is 3.4 feet tighter than the Q5 55 TFSI e’s (36 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Q5 55 TFSI e (8.3 vs. 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 .4 inch higher than on the Q5 45 TFSI (8.6 vs. 8.2 inches).

The Mazda CX-50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 700 pounds less than the Audi Q5.

The CX-50 has .8 inches more front legroom and 1.8 inches more rear legroom than the Q5.

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q5 with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 25.8 cubic feet). The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q5 with its rear seat folded (56.3 vs. 54 cubic feet).

The CX-50’s cargo area is larger than the Q5’s in almost every dimension:

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 Q5 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 Q5’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-50 Turbo has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Q5 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-50 and the Audi Q5, based on reliability, safety and performance.