Compare the2025 Mazda CX-5VS 2025 Ford Bronco Sport

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The CX-5 has standard Whiplash-Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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 “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Ford Bronco Sport has not been tested.

Both the CX-5 and the Bronco Sport 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, 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, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Ford Bronco Sport:

	CX-5	Bronco Sport
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	82	140
Neck Injury Risk	23%	26%
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	29 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	37%	37%

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Ford Bronco Sport:

	CX-5	Bronco Sport
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	126 lbs.	198 lbs.
Hip Force	189 lbs.	205 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	524 lbs.	689 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	35 G’s
Hip Force	435 lbs.	512 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Bronco Sport:

	CX-5	Bronco Sport
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	155	184
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	335 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.51 in	.98 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.34 in	1.42 in
Pelvis	GOOD	POOR
Pelvis Force	848 lbs.	1383 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	22 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.42 in	1.77 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	1.34 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the CX-5’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Bronco Sport’s camshafts. If the Bronco Sport’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

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 29 points higher than the Bronco Sport.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 7 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

The CX-5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 6 more horsepower (187 vs. 181) than the Bronco Sport’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder. The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 6 more horsepower (256 vs. 250) and 43 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 277) than the Bronco Sport Badlands’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-5 4 cyl. is faster than the Ford Bronco Sport turbo 3 cyl.:

	CX-5	Bronco Sport
Zero to 60 MPH	8.2 sec	9.2 sec
Quarter Mile	16.3 sec	16.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85.4 MPH	80.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
CX-5
	AWD	Carbon/Premium Plus 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/30 hwy
		S/Select/Preferred 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy
Bronco Sport
	AWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	25 city/30 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-5 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-5 has a standard locking fuel door. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Bronco Sport. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	CX-5 Turbo	Bronco Sport
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	12.1 inches

The CX-5 stops shorter than the Bronco Sport:

	CX-5	Bronco Sport
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The CX-5 Carbon/Premium/Turbo’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Bronco Sport’s optional 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-5 Carbon/Premium/Turbo has standard 19-inch wheels. The Bronco Sport’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than on the Bronco Sport (106.2 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

The CX-5 handles at .82 G’s, while the Bronco Sport Outer Banks pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-5 Carbon Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Bronco Sport Outer Banks (27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Bronco Sport’s (36 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

Chassis

For excellent aerodynamics, the CX-5 has standard flush composite headlights. The Bronco Sport has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the CX-5 is quieter than the Bronco Sport Badlands (66 vs. 69 dB).

Passenger Space

The CX-5 has 2.7 inches more rear legroom and 1.9 inches more rear hip room than the Bronco Sport.

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

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the CX-5 Preferred/Carbon/Premium/Turbo has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Ergonomics

The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-5’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Bronco Sport’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. With the Bronco Sport Outer Banks/Badlands’ power windows, only the front windows open or 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 Bronco Sport’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Consumer Reports rated the CX-5’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Bronco Sport’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Bronco Sport’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The CX-5 Premium/Turbo’s 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.

Both the Mazda CX-5 and Ford Bronco Sport 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 Bronco Sport’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

Both the CX-5 and the Bronco Sport offer available heated front seats. The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo Premium/Turbo Signature also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Bronco Sport.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-5 and the Ford Bronco Sport, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its April 2021 issue and the Mazda CX-5 Turbo Signature won out over the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Ford Bronco Sport by 9% during 2024.

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