Compare the2025 Kia SeltosVS 2024 Mazda CX-5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Seltos 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.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Seltos’ standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The CX-5 doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Seltos and CX-5 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Seltos S/EX/X-Line/SX has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The CX-5’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Compared to metal, the Seltos’ plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Mazda CX-5 has a metal gas tank.

Both the Seltos 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

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

	Seltos	CX-5
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Stress	237 lbs.	274 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	23 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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Seltos is safer than the Mazda CX-5:

	Seltos	CX-5
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	225	449
Hip Force	433 lbs.	435 lbs.

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

Warranty

The Seltos comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CX-5’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Seltos 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the CX-5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the CX-5 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

There are over 45 percent more Kia dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Seltos’ warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Seltos has a standard 150-amp alternator. The CX-5’s standard 100-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Seltos second among small suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The CX-5 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 69 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 29th, below the industry average.

Engine

The Seltos X-Line/SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 8 more horsepower (195 vs. 187) and 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 185) than the CX-5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Seltos 4 cyl. is faster than the Mazda CX-5 4 cyl.:

	Seltos	CX-5
Zero to 60 MPH	8.3 sec	8.7 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85.5 MPH	78.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Seltos gets better mileage than the CX-5:

			MPG
Seltos
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/34 hwy
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/31 hwy
		1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/27 hwy
CX-5
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/31 hwy
		w/out CDA and i-Stop 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Seltos uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-5 with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Kia Seltos X-Line/SX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-5.

The Seltos has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Seltos stops much shorter than the CX-5:

	Seltos	CX-5
70 to 0 MPH	160 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	136 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	133 feet	144 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Seltos AWD X-Line/SX’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-5 (235/45R18 vs. 225/65R17).

The Seltos’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-5’s standard 65 series tires. The Seltos AWD X-Line/SX’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the CX-5 Carbon/Premium/Turbo’s 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Seltos 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 Seltos SX handles at .84 G’s, while the CX-5 Turbo Signature pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Seltos S AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the CX-5 (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Seltos’ turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the CX-5’s (34.8 feet vs. 36 feet).

Chassis

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 850 pounds less than the Mazda CX-5.

The Seltos is 7.5 inches shorter than the CX-5, making the Seltos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Seltos has .3 inches more front headroom and .4 inches more front legroom than the CX-5.

Cargo Capacity

The Seltos has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-5 with its rear seat folded (62.8 vs. 59.3 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Seltos’ liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind 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.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Seltos and the CX-5 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Seltos 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.

Both the Seltos and the CX-5 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Seltos 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.

Model Availability

The Seltos is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

The Seltos will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Seltos will retain 57.1% to 64.07% of its original price after five years, while the CX-5 only retains 53.49% to 54.83%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Seltos will be $6679 to $9794 less than for the Mazda CX-5.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Seltos and the Mazda CX-5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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