Compare the2026 Acura ADXVS 2025 Mazda CX-5

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Acura ADX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Mazda CX-5 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Acura ADX 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 CX-5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the ADX deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The ADX’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The CX-5’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

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

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the ADX’s standard Hill Descent Control System allow you to creep down safely. The CX-5 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control System.

Both the ADX and the CX-5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Acura ADX achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2025 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The CX-5 has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

The ADX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CX-5’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the ADX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the CX-5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the CX-5 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Acura vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. With 27 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Acura higher than Mazda.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura 1 place higher in reliability than Mazda.

The ADX’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 3 more horsepower (190 vs. 187) than the CX-5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Acura ADX is faster than the Mazda CX-5 4 cyl.:

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

The ADX has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The ADX has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a CVT.

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

The ADX stops much shorter than the CX-5:

For better traction, the ADX A-Spec’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-5 (235/45R19 vs. 225/65R17).

The ADX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-5’s standard 65 series tires. The ADX A-Spec’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the CX-5 Carbon/Premium/Turbo’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ADX has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the CX-5.

The ADX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The CX-5 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The ADX A-Spec AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the CX-5 Turbo Signature pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The ADX A-Spec AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the CX-5 (27.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

The Acura ADX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Mazda CX-5.

The front grille of the ADX uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CX-5 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The ADX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The CX-5 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The ADX has .9 inches more front legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-5.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the ADX easier. The ADX’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27 inches, while the CX-5’s liftover is 29.4 inches.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the ADX A-Spec’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Mazda. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 9% lower rating, Mazda is ranked 10th.

The ADX A-Spec’s optional easy exit feature glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The CX-5 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

On a hot day the ADX’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the CX-5 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The ADX’s standard Keyless Access System allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Pushbutton Start standard on the CX-5 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle. Pushbutton Start is not available on the CX-5 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Premium.

The ADX’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The CX-5’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The ADX’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the CX-5 Premium/Turbo.

When the ADX is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The CX-5’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The ADX 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 is only available on the CX-5 Select/Preferred/Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo.

Both the ADX and the CX-5 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the ADX has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The CX-5 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Acura ADX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the CX-5 Carbon/Premium Plus/Turbo offers wireless charging.

The ADX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.