Compare the2025 Mazda CX-5VS 2025 Chevrolet Equinox

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-5 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Chevrolet Equinox doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 Equinox doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-5. But it costs extra on the Equinox.

The CX-5 Turbo Signature’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 Equinox doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-5 and the Equinox have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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 CX-5’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Equinox’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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-5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 12 more horsepower (187 vs. 175) and 1 lbs.-ft. more torque (185 vs. 184) than the Equinox FWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The CX-5’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 12 more horsepower (187 vs. 175) than the Equinox AWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 81 more horsepower (256 vs. 175) and 117 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 203) than the Equinox AWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

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

The CX-5 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the CX-5 flat and controlled during cornering. The Equinox’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The CX-5 has engine speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Equinox doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Equinox’s (36 feet vs. 37.1 feet).

The CX-5 is 3.1 inches shorter than the Equinox, making the CX-5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The CX-5 has .1 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front hip room and 3.6 inches more rear hip room than the Equinox.

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

The CX-5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Equinox’s (2000 vs. 800 pounds).

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 Equinox doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-5’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 Equinox’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

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 Equinox’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-5 Premium/Turbo has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Equinox doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The CX-5’s optional rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Equinox doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

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