Compare the2024 Mazda CX-50VS 2024 Chevrolet Blazer

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 Blazer doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 Blazer doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-50. But it costs extra on the Blazer.

The CX-50 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Blazer’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-50 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking on the Turbo Premium Plus automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Blazer and the Blazer’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

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 Blazer doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-50 and the Blazer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

The Mazda CX-50 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Blazer has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The CX-50’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Blazer’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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 32 points higher than the Blazer.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 13 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

The CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 50 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 270) than the Blazer’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

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

The CX-50 has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Blazer. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

For better stopping power the CX-50’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Blazer:

The CX-50 stops shorter than the Blazer:

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus handles at .84 G’s, while the Blazer RS 4x4 pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Blazer RS 4x4 (26.8 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-50’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Blazer’s (36 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Blazer LT (8.3 vs. 7.5 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 1 inch higher than on the Blazer RS/Premier (8.6 vs. 7.6 inches).

The Mazda CX-50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 400 pounds less than the Chevrolet Blazer.

The CX-50 is 6 inches shorter than the Blazer, making the CX-50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The CX-50 has .7 inches more front legroom and .2 inches more rear legroom than the Blazer.

The CX-50 has a larger cargo volume than the Blazer with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 30.5 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CX-50 easier. The CX-50’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.4 inches, while the Blazer’s liftover is 30.3 inches.

The CX-50’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Blazer’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

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 Blazer doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-50’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Blazer’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

The CX-50’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 Blazer’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Blazer doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The CX-50 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the CX-50 will retain 53.88% to 56.04% of its original price after five years, while the Blazer only retains 49.39% to 53.18%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mazda CX-50 will be $3111 to $7384 less than for the Chevrolet Blazer.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-50, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Chevrolet Blazer isn't recommended.