Price
Winner: 2020 Hyundai Tucson
If your decision comes down to buying the more affordable of these two crossovers, the Hyundai Tucson is the way to go. The Tucson starts at $23,550, while the Mazda CX-5 comes in at $25,190. At these prices, the Tucson comes with more standard tech features, while the CX-5 comes with more standard safety features. We’ll go into more detail on this a bit later.
Reliability
Winner: 2020 Hyundai Tucson
The 2020 Hyundai Tucson boasts good predicted reliability, which is a better than most rivals in the class. The Tucson features Hyundai’s class-leading warranty of a five-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and 10 year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
The Mazda CX-5 has average predicted reliability, and warranty coverage that’s also about average: a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Seat Comfort
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-5
In terms of actual seating space, the Hyundai Tucson and Mazda CX-5 are pretty evenly matched. Both offer spacious front seats and a rear row that adults will probably find to be somewhat on the snug side. However, the CX-5 has a clear advantage when it comes to overall seating comfort. Mazda uses nicer materials than Hyundai, contributing to a more comfortable overall look and feel. The CX-5's design also makes it easier to access the back row.
Cargo Space
Winner: 2020 Hyundai Tucson
It’s a close call, but the Hyundai Tucson edges out the Mazda CX-5 when it comes to cargo space. The Tucson’s rear cargo hold measures 31 cubic feet, and the CX-5’s comes in at 30.9 cubic feet. With the rear row folded down, the Tucson’s maximum cargo capacity comes in at just below 62 cubic feet, and the CX-5 opens up to 59.6 cubic feet. Neither of these vehicles are particularly competitive in the class in terms of cargo space, but the Tucson does have a slight advantage.
Interior Quality
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-5
The Mazda CX-5 upholds the brand’s reputation for outclassing rivals in terms of interior design and quality. The CX-5 has one of he nicest cabins in the class, and wouldn’t be out of place in an entry-level luxury model. The design is clean and modern, and the cabin is quiet and well insulated. The Tucson also has an attractive design and soothing cabin, but there are a lot of hard plastics and materials that don’t quite measure up to the Mazda’s standards.
Interior Features
Winner: 2020 Hyundai Tucson
We mentioned previously that the Hyundai Tucson provides more standard interior features in the base model than the Mazda CX-5, and that’s why it earns the win for this category. Both models feature an infotainment system with a 7-inch touch screen display and Bluetooth. However, Hyundai includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, which costs extra with the Mazda. Hyundai’s standard audio system also includes six speakers, while Mazda’s has only four. Both vehicles offer upgraded audio systems, and the Tucson can also be upgraded with an 8-inch touch screen.
Acceleration
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-5
The Mazda CX-5 is available with three engines, and the Hyundai Tucson is available with two. In terms of performance, you’re better off with the Mazda with whichever configuration you choose.
The base CX-5 comes powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that is rated for 187 horsepower. An available turbocharged four-cylinder has two horsepower ratings: 227 horsepower with regular gasoline, and 250 horsepower with premium gas. The CX-5 also offers one of the few turbocharged diesels on the market, rated for 168 horsepower and a healthy 290 pound-feet of torque. All get a six-speed automatic transmission.
The Tucson gets a choice of two four-cylinder engines, with 161 and 181 horsepower ratings. They’re fine, but not particularly impressive, and the Tucson is not nearly as fun to drive as the CX-5.
Fuel Economy
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-5
Though the various configurations of the Mazda CX-5 are just about average for compact crossovers in terms of fuel economy, they still beat out the Hyundai Tucson. The base CX-5 with front-wheel drive returns an EPA-estimated 25 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. The base Tucson with front-wheel drive comes in at 23 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.
Mazda’s optional turbo-four comes in at 22 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, though it should be noted that this is with standard all-wheel drive, which is a little less efficient than front-wheel drive. That said, this version of the CX-5 is on par with the upgraded Tucson, which yields 22 mpg city and 28 mpg highway with front-wheel drive. With all-wheel drive, the Tucson drops to 21 city and 25 highway.
Ride and Handling
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-5
Mazda excels when it comes to handling, regardless of the segment. The CX-5 isn’t going to fool you into thinking you’re driving the brand’s acclaimed MX-5 Miata roadster, but it’s definitely more athletic than the majority of rival compact SUVs. The only potential downside of the tight steering and deft handling is that the ride isn’t as cushy as that of some competitors.
If you want a comfortable and soothing ride, the Tucson may be a better bet for you. It’s not particularly engaging to drive, though it’s perfectly capable of handling the road with ease.
Safety
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-5
Though both vehicles excel in crash testing, the Mazda CX-5 does a little better. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing, the CX-5 earned the top score of Good in all six crash tests, as well as the coveted Top Safety Pick+ rating. The CX-5 also received five out of five stars overall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The list of standard safety features is great for the class, and helps offset the CX-5’s slightly higher base price compared to the Tucson. You’ll get a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert, some of which are newly standard this year. More safety features are available, too.
The Tucson comes standard with automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, driver drowsiness monitoring, lane keep assist, and a rearview camera. It earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a five star overall rating from the NHTSA.
The Winner Is …
2020 Mazda CX-5
Though these compact SUVs seem pretty evenly matched on the surface, the Mazda CX-5 has the advantage in several key areas. It’s more powerful and has better handling for superior driving enjoyment. Its cabin is nicer, it has more comfortable seating, it’s more efficient (which will save you money at the gas pump), and has better crash-testing scores and more standard safety features. Overall, the Mazda CX-5 is the better choice for most shoppers in this category.
However, the Hyundai Tucson also brings a lot to the table. Its lower base price, better reliability and warranty, larger cargo capacity, and better standard infotainment system are all very desirable attributes in this competitive class. So, while the Tucson might not be the better bet for most people, it does depend on your priorities. In the end, the vehicle that's best for you comes down to your specific needs.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
If you want to learn more about these Hyundai and Mazda crossovers, check out their full reviews on our rankings page. If you think you should do a little more comparison shopping first, our complete compact SUV ranking will show you how these vehicles stack up against the competition.
If you’re ready to buy or lease your next new crossover, visit our new car financing deals and lease deals pages for the best manufacturer-backed offers available this month.
Finally, check out our U.S. News Best Price Program to find the best deal at a dealership near you. We partner with local dealers to get you guaranteed, pre-negotiated savings. Whether you're buying or leasing, shoppers who use the program save an average of more than $3,000 off their new vehicle.
2020 Hyundai Tucson vs. 2020 Mazda CX-5: Head to Head
- Price: 2020 Hyundai Tucson
- Reliability: 2020 Hyundai Tucson
- Seat Comfort: 2020 Mazda CX-5
- Cargo Space: 2020 Hyundai Tucson
- Interior Quality: 2020 Mazda CX-5
- Interior Features: 2020 Hyundai Tucson
- Acceleration: 2020 Mazda CX-5
- Fuel Economy: 2020 Mazda CX-5
- Ride and Handling: 2020 Mazda CX-5
- Safety: 2020 Mazda CX-5
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Hyundai Tucson vs. Mazda CX-5: Which Compact Crossover Is Right for You?
It seems like there’s no end in sight when it comes to the popularity of compact SUVs. These vehicles are great for small families, thanks to their versatile interiors that allow enough space for passengers and cargo, abundance of safety and tech features, and affordable base prices. If a compact crossover checks all the right boxes for you, you have plenty of choices from a wide variety of automakers.
Of course, that means you’re only at the beginning of your research. Our reviews and rankings can help you learn the basics about the most popular models in the class – two of which are the Hyundai Tucson and Mazda CX-5. On the following slides, we’ll compare these two crossovers in 10 of the categories that matter most to new car shoppers. The model that racks up the most category wins will be declared the winner. Remember that our reviews are constantly changing, because of that some of the scores you see here may not match what's currently on the vehicle's review.
Keep reading to find out if the Hyundai Tucson or Mazda CX-5 is the better choice for you.