Compare the2024 Mazda CX-50VS 2024 Audi Q3

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

Safety

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With its standard Smart Brake Support, the Mazda CX-50 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Audi Q3, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	CX-50	Q3
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	-23 MPH	-8 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	-19 MPH	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	-19 MPH	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	-19 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Brights	1.5 sec	No Warning
37 MPH Low beams	-14 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.4 sec	No Warning

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 Q3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

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 Q3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-50 and the Q3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the CX-50 is much safer than the Q3:

	CX-50	Q3
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	148	288
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL

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-50 is safer than the Q3:

	CX-50	Q3
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	114	190
Neck Tension	268 lbs.	335 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Pelvis Force	982 lbs.	1406 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	47	329
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	112 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.87 in	2.01 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.71 in	1.73 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	11 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	491 lbs.	1049 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

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 Q3 is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Warranty

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-50 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 77 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.

Reliability

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 12 points higher than the Q3.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 10 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 5 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 2024 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 12 places higher in reliability than Audi.

Engine

The CX-50’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 3 more horsepower (187 vs. 184) than the Q3 40 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 28 more horsepower (256 vs. 228) and 69 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 251) than the Q3 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-50 turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Q3 45 TFSI:

	CX-50	Q3
Zero to 60 MPH	7 sec	8.5 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89.7 MPH	85.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-50 gets better mileage than the Q3:

			MPG
CX-50
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
Q3
	AWD	40 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
		45 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/28 hwy

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 Q3 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-50 stops shorter than the Q3:

	CX-50	Q3
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-50’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the Q3 (110.8 inches vs. 105.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 3.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Q3.

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus handles at .84 G’s, while the Q3 pulls only .79 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 1.6 seconds quicker than the Q3 (26.8 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-50’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Q3’s (36 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 has a 2.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q3 (8.3 vs. 5.5 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 3.1 inches higher than on the Q3 (8.6 vs. 5.5 inches).

Passenger Space

The CX-50 has 16.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Q3 (100.3 vs. 84).

The CX-50 has 1.7 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more rear headroom and 3.7 inches more rear legroom than the Q3.

Cargo Capacity

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q3 with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 23.7 cubic feet). The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q3 with its rear seat folded (56.3 vs. 48 cubic feet).

The CX-50’s cargo area is larger than the Q3’s in every dimension:

	CX-50	Q3
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	42.6”/75.4”	34”/65”
Max Width	55.6”	54”
Min Width	40.2”	39”
Height	30.2”	28”

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-50’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q3 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The CX-50’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q3’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Audi Q3 is only 1500 pounds. The CX-50 offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

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 Q3 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-50 has standard Advanced Keyless Entry and Start that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. The Audi Advanced Key costs extra on the Q3.

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 Q3 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 Q3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Q3 Premium Plus’ cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The CX-50 Turbo’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

When the CX-50 Premium/Turbo is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Q3’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the CX-50 and the Q3 offer available heated front seats. The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Q3.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo Premium keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Q3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the CX-50 Turbo Premium’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Q3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-50 and the Audi Q3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-50 outsold the Audi Q3 by over two to one during 2023.

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