Compare the2024 Mazda CX-50VS 2023 Toyota Venza

The Mazda CX-50 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps 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 Venza doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the CX-50 and the Venza have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-50 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 135 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Venza is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

The CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 37 more horsepower (256 vs. 219) than the Venza’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda CX-50 turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Toyota Venza:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-50 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Venza doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the CX-50 Turbo and the Venza have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All CX-50 Turbos have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The CX-50 has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Venza (15.9 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the CX-50’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Venza:

The CX-50 stops much shorter than the Venza:

For better traction, the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Venza (245/45R20 vs. 225/60R18).

The CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo has standard 20-inch wheels. The Venza’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The CX-50 has 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 Venza doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-50’s wheelbase is 4.9 inches longer than on the Venza (110.8 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Venza.

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo handles at .87 G’s, while the Venza Limited pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CX-50’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the Venza LE’s (36 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The CX-50’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited’s (36 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Venza (8.3 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the CX-50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-50 Premium/Turbo’s minimum ground clearance is .4 inch higher than on the Venza (8.6 vs. 8.2 inches).

The CX-50 has .5 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more rear legroom and 6.9 inches more rear hip room than the Venza.

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Venza with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 28.8 cubic feet). The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Venza with its rear seat folded (56.3 vs. 55.1 cubic feet).

The CX-50’s cargo area is larger than the Venza’s in every dimension:

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-50’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Venza doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The CX-50 has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Venza has no towing capacity.

The CX-50 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Venza uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The CX-50’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 Venza’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the CX-50’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Venza’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The CX-50’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Venza’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-50 Turbo has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Venza doesn’t offer cornering lights.

When the CX-50 Premium/Turbo is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Venza’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The CX-50’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Venza offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the CX-50 and the Venza offer available heated front seats. The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Venza.

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