Compare the2025 Mazda CX-5VS 2024 Dodge Hornet

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 CX-5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Hornet doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the CX-5 and the Hornet 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.

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-5’s reliability 23 points higher than the Hornet.

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 Dodge vehicles. With 69 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Dodge.

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 Dodge 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, Dodge is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 14 places higher in reliability than Dodge.

The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 25 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 295) than the Hornet GT’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

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

The CX-5 has 4.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Hornet R/T’s standard fuel tank (15.3 vs. 11.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CX-5 has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Hornet GT’s standard fuel tank (15.3 vs. 13.5 gallons).

The CX-5 stops much shorter than the Hornet:

For better traction, the CX-5 has larger tires than the Hornet (225/65R17 vs. 215/60R17).

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 Hornet doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer than on the Hornet (106.2 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

The CX-5 handles at .81 G’s, while the Hornet GT pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the Hornet R/T’s (36 feet vs. 37.9 feet). The CX-5’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Hornet GT’s (36 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-5 has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Hornet R/T (7.6 vs. 6.1 inches), allowing the CX-5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the CX-5 is quieter than the Hornet GT:

The CX-5 has 5.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Hornet (103.6 vs. 98).

The CX-5 has .9 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom and 1.8 inches more rear hip room than the Hornet.

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

The front step up height for the CX-5 is 2.2 inches lower than the Hornet (17.6” vs. 19.8”). The CX-5’s rear step up height is 1.5 inches lower than the Hornet’s (18.2” vs. 19.7”).

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Hornet with its rear seat up (29.1 vs. 27 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Hornet with its rear seat folded (59.3 vs. 54.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CX-5 easier. The CX-5’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.4 inches, while the Hornet’s liftover is 31.8 inches.

The CX-5’s cargo area is larger than the Hornet’s in every dimension:

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

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-5 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Hornet only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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

The Hornet’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The CX-5 Premium/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.

Both the CX-5 and the Hornet offer available heated front seats. The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo Premium/Turbo Signature also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Hornet.

Insurance will cost less for the CX-5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CX-5 will cost $775 less than the Hornet over a five-year period.

The CX-5 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the CX-5 will retain 53.49% to 54.83% of its original price after five years, while the Hornet only retains 51.34% to 51.35%.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-5, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Dodge Hornet isn't recommended.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Dodge Hornet by almost 17 to one during 2023.