Compare the2024 Dodge HornetVS 2024 Mazda CX-5

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 Hornet 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 Dodge Hornet 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 Hornet and the CX-5 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.

There are over 4 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Hornet’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Hornet has a standard 160-amp alternator. The CX-5’s standard 100-amp alternator and largest (GT Reserve/Signature) 150-amp alternator aren’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 63 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 25th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge above average in long-term dependability. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mazda is rated lower.

The Hornet GT’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 81 more horsepower (268 vs. 187) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 185) than the CX-5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Hornet GT’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 12 more horsepower (268 vs. 256) than the CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Hornet R/T’s standard 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 32 more horsepower (288 vs. 256) and 63 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 320) than the CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Hornet is faster than the Mazda CX-5:

On the EPA test cycle the Hornet running on electricity gets better mileage than the CX-5:

On the EPA test cycle the Hornet running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the CX-5:

The Hornet R/T can travel with zero emissions for 33 miles. The CX-5 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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

Regardless of its engine, the Hornet’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The CX-5 Turbo doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Hornet has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Dodge Hornet higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Mazda CX-5 (5 to 7). This means the Hornet produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CX-5 every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Dodge Hornet, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-5.

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

The Hornet stops much shorter than the CX-5:

For better traction, the Hornet’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-5 (235/40R20 vs. 225/65R17).

The Hornet GT’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-5’s standard 65 series tires. The Hornet’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the CX-5 Carbon/Premium/Turbo’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Hornet offers optional 20-inch wheels. The CX-5’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Hornet has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CX-5’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Hornet offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The CX-5’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Hornet R/T handles at .84 G’s, while the CX-5 pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Hornet R/T executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the CX-5 (26.5 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Hornet GT has a greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-5 Carbon/Premium/Turbo (8.1 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Hornet to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Hornet’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Hornet uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The CX-5 uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The power windows standard on both the Hornet and the CX-5 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Hornet 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 Hornet the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the CX-5 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Hornet’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The CX-5’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Hornet’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.

The Hornet has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the CX-5 Select/Preferred/Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo.

Both the Hornet and the CX-5 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Hornet 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 Hornet’s optional ParkSense Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The CX-5 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.