Compare the2025 Mazda CX-5VS 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross

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 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 Corolla Cross.

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 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 LE/XLE 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 LE/XLE offers Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

Both the CX-5 and the Corolla Cross 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, 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:

	CX-5	Corolla Cross
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:

	CX-5	Corolla Cross
	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:

	CX-5	Corolla Cross
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 standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 18 more horsepower (187 vs. 169) and 35 lbs.-ft. more torque (185 vs. 150) than the Corolla Cross’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 87 more horsepower (256 vs. 169) and 170 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 150) than the Corolla Cross’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda CX-5 is faster than the Toyota Corolla Cross:

	CX-5 4 cyl.	CX-5 turbo 4 cyl.	Corolla Cross
Zero to 60 MPH	7.9 sec	6.1 sec	9.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.4 sec	6.6 sec	9.6 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.8 sec	3.2 sec	4.7 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	5.5 sec	4.6 sec	6 sec
Quarter Mile	16.2 sec	14.7 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85 MPH	94 MPH	83 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 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-5 has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corolla Cross FWD’s standard fuel tank (15.3 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CX-5 has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corolla Cross AWD’s standard fuel tank (15.3 vs. 13.2 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

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

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

The CX-5 stops shorter than the Corolla Cross:

	CX-5	Corolla Cross
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	172 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 (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’ largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Mazda CX-5 has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Corolla Cross 4x2 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The CX-5 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the CX-5 flat and controlled during cornering. The Corolla Cross 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 2.3 inches longer than on the Corolla Cross (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 .8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Corolla Cross.

The CX-5 handles at .82 G’s, while the Corolla Cross XLE AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-5 Carbon Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Corolla Cross LE (27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The CX-5 has 15.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla Cross (103.6 vs. 88.4).

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.

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

Cargo Capacity

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Corolla Cross (29.1 vs. 25.5 cubic feet).

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

Towing

The CX-5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Corolla Cross’ (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 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 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-5 has a standard Pushbutton Start that allows you to start the engine without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Corolla Cross LE/XLE offers a Smart Key System.

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 L’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 LE/XLE’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’ 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 has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the LE/XLE.

Both the CX-5 and the Corolla Cross 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 Corolla Cross.

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 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 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Compared to the Toyota Corolla Cross, the Mazda CX-5 eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Recommendations

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

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

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