Compare the2025 Hyundai TucsonVS 2025 Mazda CX-50

With its standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, the Hyundai Tucson is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Mazda CX-50, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Tucson’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The CX-50 doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tucson has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus offers Rear Cross Traffic Braking.

Both the Tucson and the CX-50 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Tucson comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CX-50’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Tucson 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the CX-50. 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-50 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Tucson’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the CX-50’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tucson for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CX-50.

There are over 55 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Tucson’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Tucson has a 150-amp alternator. The CX-50’s standard 100-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Tucson third among compact suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The CX-50 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 Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 70 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 29th, below the industry average.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Tucson uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-50 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.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Hyundai Tucson, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-50.

The Tucson stops shorter than the CX-50:

For better traction, the Tucson has larger standard tires than the CX-50 (235/65R17 vs. 225/65R17).

For superior ride and handling, the Hyundai Tucson 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 Mazda CX-50 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Tucson has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Tucson flat and controlled during cornering. The CX-50’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Tucson’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The CX-50 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Tucson Limited AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the CX-50 pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Tucson Limited AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-50 (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Tucson has a greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-50 Hybrid Preferred (8.3 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the Tucson to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Hyundai Tucson may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 300 pounds less than the Mazda CX-50.

The Tucson is 3.1 inches shorter than the CX-50, making the Tucson easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Tucson uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CX-50 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Tucson has 7.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-50 (108.2 vs. 100.3).

The Tucson has 1 inch more front headroom, .9 inches more front hip room, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 1.5 inches more rear legroom, 1.8 inches more rear hip room and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-50.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Tucson’s rear seats recline. The CX-50’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-50 with its rear seat up (38.7 vs. 31.4 cubic feet). The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-50 with its rear seat folded (74.8 vs. 56.3 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Tucson’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

While the CX-50 Hybrid can only tow 1500, any Tucson can tow a minimum of 2000 pounds.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Tucson uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The CX-50 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Tucson Limited’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The CX-50 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the Tucson and the CX-50 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Tucson is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-50 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Tucson Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The CX-50 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Tucson is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Tucson owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Tucson will cost $620 less than the CX-50 over a five-year period.

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

The Hyundai Tucson outsold the Mazda CX-50 by almost five to one during 2023.