Compare the2025 Kia SportageVS 2025 Mazda CX-50

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

Both the Sportage and the CX-50 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, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Sportage 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.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 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.

There are over 46 percent more Kia dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Sportage’s warranty.

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

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 Sportage’s reliability 20 points higher than the CX-50.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 69 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 29th, below the industry average.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sportage 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.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Sportage higher (7 out of 10) than the Mazda CX-50 (4 to 6). This means the Sportage produces up to 13.2 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CX-50 every 15,000 miles.

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

The Sportage stops shorter than the CX-50:

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

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

The Sportage X-Pro Prestige handles at .84 G’s, while the CX-50 Hybrid Premium Plus pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

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

The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 350 pounds less than the Mazda CX-50.

The front grille of the Sportage 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.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Sportage X-Pro Prestige is quieter than the CX-50:

The Sportage has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 1.5 inches more rear legroom, 1.3 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-50.

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

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-50 with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 31.4 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-50 with its rear seat folded (74.1 vs. 56.3 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sportage’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.

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CX-50’s (2500 vs. 2000 pounds).

While the CX-50 Hybrid can only tow 1500, any Sportage can tow a minimum of 2500 pounds.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sportage 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 Sportage SX/Prestige/X-Pro’s standard Easy Access Function 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 Sportage and the CX-50 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Sportage 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.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Sportage X-Pro to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The CX-50 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Sportage 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 Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $700 less than the CX-50 over a five-year period.

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage third among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The CX-50 isn’t in the top three.

The Kia Sportage outsold the Mazda CX-50 by almost two to one during 2024.