Compare the2026 Mazda CX-5 VS 2026 Lexus NX

The Mazda CX-5 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The NX doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The CX-5 has a standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The NX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

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

Both the CX-5 and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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 and available around view monitors.

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 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-5 is safer than the NX:

	CX-5	NX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	86	197
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	781 lbs.	915 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	67	252
Head Peak Forces	no contact	65 G’s
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	335 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.79 in	1.1 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	9 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE

There are over 2 times as many Mazda dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-5’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the CX-5 gets better fuel mileage than the NX 350 running its gasoline engine (24 city/30 hwy vs. 21 city/28 hwy).

Both the CX-5 and the NX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All CX-5s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-5 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The NX 350 AWD requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The CX-5 stops shorter than the NX:

	CX-5	NX
70 to 0 MPH	173 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	146 feet	152 feet	Consumer Reports

The CX-5 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the NX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 4.8 inches longer than on the NX (110.7 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The CX-5 S Premium Plus handles at .83 G’s, while the NX 350 AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the NX’s (36.8 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-5 S/Select has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX 350 F Sport Handling AWD (8 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the CX-5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-5 Preferred/Premium’s minimum ground clearance is .1 inch higher than on the NX (8.2 vs. 8.1 inches).

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the CX-5 S Premium Plus is quieter than the NX 350 AWD (67 vs. 70 dB).

The CX-5 has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 3.8 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (33.7 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (66.5 vs. 46.9 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 28.5 inches, while the NX’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

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

	CX-5	NX
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	39.1”/75”	37.6”/70.3”
Max Width	57.5”	54.5”
Min Width	41.3”	39.7”
Height	33.9”	29.6”

The CX-5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

The NX Luxury/450+ F Sport’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The CX-5 Premium Plus’ 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.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Lexus NX by 77% during 2025.