Compare the2025 Mazda CX-5VS 2025 Nissan Kicks

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
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 Kicks 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 Nissan Kicks has not been tested.

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

Both the CX-5 and the Kicks 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The Mazda CX-5 weighs 427 to 884 pounds more than the Nissan Kicks. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Kicks:

	CX-5	Kicks
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	155	158
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	268 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.51 in	1.02 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	245 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	848 lbs.	915 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	22 lbs.	112 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.42 in	1.5 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	1.34 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	669 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Reliability

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 Nissan 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, Nissan is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 6 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The CX-5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 46 more horsepower (187 vs. 141) and 45 lbs.-ft. more torque (185 vs. 140) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 115 more horsepower (256 vs. 141) and 180 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 140) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-5 is faster than the Nissan Kicks:

	CX-5 4 cyl.	CX-5 turbo 4 cyl.	Kicks
Zero to 60 MPH	8.2 sec	6.4 sec	10.4 sec
Quarter Mile	16.3 sec	14.9 sec	17.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85.4 MPH	93.6 MPH	79.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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 Kicks doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-5 has 3.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks’ standard fuel tank (15.3 vs. 11.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CX-5 has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks AWD’s standard fuel tank (15.3 vs. 12.4 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

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

	CX-5	CX-5 Turbo	Kicks
Front Rotors	11.7 inches	12.6 inches	11.6 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	11.9 inches	11 inches

The CX-5 stops shorter than the Kicks:

	CX-5	Kicks
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CX-5 has larger tires than the Kicks (225/65R17 vs. 215/60R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-5 has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Kicks S.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Mazda CX-5 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 Kicks 4x2 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the Kicks (106.2 inches vs. 104.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-5 is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Kicks.

The CX-5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (57% to 43%) than the Kicks’ (61% to 39%). This gives the CX-5 more stable handling and braking.

The CX-5 handles at .81 G’s, while the Kicks SR pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-5 Carbon Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Kicks SR (27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the CX-5 is quieter than the Kicks SR AWD:

	CX-5	Kicks
At idle	38 dB	39 dB
Full-Throttle	76 dB	77 dB
70 MPH Cruising	66 dB	73 dB

Passenger Space

The CX-5 has 7.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kicks (103.6 vs. 95.7).

The CX-5 has 2.8 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 5.1 inches more rear legroom, 5.2 inches more rear hip room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks.

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

The front step up height for the CX-5 is 1.4 inches lower than the Kicks (17.6” vs. 19”). The CX-5’s rear step up height is .8 inches lower than the Kicks’ (18.2” vs. 19”).

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Kicks 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 Kicks doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The CX-5 has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Kicks has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the CX-5 Preferred/Carbon/Premium/Turbo, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Kicks doesn’t offer memory seats.

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 Kicks doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Kicks’ standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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

Both the Mazda CX-5 and Nissan Kicks 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 Kicks’ 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 Kicks 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 Kicks.

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 Kicks doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The CX-5 Select/Preferred/Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo’s 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. The Kicks doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the CX-5 and the Kicks offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CX-5 Select/Preferred/Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kicks doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Compared to the Nissan Kicks, the Mazda CX-5 eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Compared to traditional radio, the Mazda CX-5’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the Kicks SV/SR.

Recommendations

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

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Nissan Kicks by 76% during 2024.

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