Compare the2024 Mazda CX-5VS 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid

Safety
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The CX-5 has standard Whiplash-Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The CX-5 Turbo Signature has a standard 360° Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Corolla Cross Hybrid only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The CX-5 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. Only the Corolla Cross Hybrid SE/XSE offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-5 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Corolla Cross Hybrid SE/XSE offers Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

Both the CX-5 and the Corolla Cross Hybrid 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, rearview cameras and available driver alert monitors.

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

	CX-5	Corolla Cross Hybrid
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	82	191
Neck Injury Risk	23%	33.6%
Neck Stress	274 lbs.	297 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	61 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	160/307 lbs.	324/279 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	156	330
Leg Forces (l/r)	449/262 lbs.	592/372 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 Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid:

	CX-5	Corolla Cross Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	92
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	126 lbs.	129 lbs.
Hip Force	189 lbs.	330 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	32 G’s
Hip Force	435 lbs.	623 lbs.

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

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-5 is safer than the Corolla Cross Hybrid:

	CX-5	Corolla Cross Hybrid
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	155	193
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Shoulder Deflection	.51 in	.94 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	245 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.34 in	1.38 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	POOR
Pelvis Force	848 lbs.	1539 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	892 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Engine

The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 60 more horsepower (256 vs. 196) than the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda CX-5 turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid:

	CX-5	Corolla Cross Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	7.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	16.9 sec	20.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.6 sec	7.8 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.2 sec	4.3 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4.6 sec	5.7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	15.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94 MPH	89 MPH
Top Speed	130 MPH	113 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-5 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the CX-5 (except Turbo)’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The CX-5 has 4.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (15.3 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	CX-5 Turbo	Corolla Cross Hybrid
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	11.1 inches

The CX-5 stops much shorter than the Corolla Cross Hybrid:

	CX-5	Corolla Cross Hybrid
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	182 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CX-5 has larger tires than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (225/65R17 vs. 215/65R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-5 Carbon/Premium/Turbo has standard 19-inch wheels. The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The CX-5 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Corolla Cross Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 2.3 inches longer than on the Corolla Cross Hybrid (106.2 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-5 is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

Passenger Space

The CX-5 has 8.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (103.6 vs. 94.9).

The CX-5 has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front hip room, 4.4 inches more front shoulder room, 7.6 inches more rear legroom, 11.5 inches more rear hip room and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CX-5’s rear seats recline. The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume than the Corolla Cross Hybrid with its rear seat up (30 vs. 21.5 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The CX-5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the CX-5 Preferred/Carbon/Premium/Turbo, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer memory seats.

The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo 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 Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-5’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 Corolla Cross Hybrid S’ standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent. The Corolla Cross Hybrid SE/XSE’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the CX-5’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The CX-5 has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Corolla Cross Hybrid has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the LE/XSE.

The CX-5 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE. The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The CX-5’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-5 and the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Toyota Corolla Cross by over two to one during 2023.