Compare the2026 Mazda CX-5 VS 2027 GMC Terrain

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-5 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The GMC Terrain doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 Terrain doesn’t offer knee airbags.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mazda CX-5 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the GMC Terrain, which scored only an “Acceptable” in these critical safety features.

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 Terrain 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 Terrain.

The CX-5’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Terrain doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-5 and the Terrain have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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 and available around view monitors.

The Mazda CX-5 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Terrain has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2026.

The CX-5’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Terrain’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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 41 points higher than the Terrain.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 7th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 9 places higher in reliability than GMC.

The CX-5’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 12 more horsepower (187 vs. 175) than the Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda CX-5 is faster than the GMC Terrain:

	CX-5	Terrain
Zero to 60 MPH	8 sec	8.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	23.6 sec	28.6 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.4 sec	9.4 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.9 sec	4.7 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	5.5 sec	6.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16.2 sec	16.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85 MPH	83 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the CX-5 gets better mileage than the Terrain:

			MPG
CX-5
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy
Terrain
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/28 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/28 hwy
		AT4/Denali 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/26 hwy

The CX-5 has a standard locking fuel door, which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Terrain. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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

	CX-5	Terrain
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	11.3 inches

The CX-5 stops shorter than the Terrain:

	CX-5	Terrain
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	133 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	146 feet	151 feet	Consumer Reports

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

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 Terrain doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 3.2 inches longer than on the Terrain (110.7 inches vs. 107.5 inches).

The CX-5 S Premium Plus handles at .83 G’s, while the Terrain Elevation AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-5 S Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Terrain AT4 (28.2 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CX-5 S/Select has a 2.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Terrain Elevation (8 vs. 5.8 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 1.7 inches higher than on the Terrain AT4 (8.2 vs. 6.5 inches).

The CX-5 has 1 inch more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom and 1.4 inches more rear hip room than the Terrain.

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

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Terrain with its rear seat up (33.7 vs. 29.8 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Terrain with its rear seat folded (66.5 vs. 63.5 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 Terrain’s liftover is 29.9 inches.

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

	CX-5	Terrain
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	39.1”/75”	36.1”/72.2”
Max Width	57.5”	54.7”
Min Width	41.3”	41”
Height	33.9”	32.6”

The CX-5 Preferred/Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Terrain doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-5’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Terrain’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

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 Terrain’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-5 Premium Plus has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Terrain doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Mazda CX-5 and GMC Terrain offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The CX-5 offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Terrain’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The CX-5 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Terrain.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Mazda CX-5 retains 57.6% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 50.74% resale value of the 2026 GMC Terrain after five years, which can save the Mazda’s owner up to $2529 in depreciation.

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

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the GMC Terrain by 82% during 2025.