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Kia Sportage vs Mazda CX-5: reliability compared

From 2012 to 2026, owners filed an average of 163 complaints per model year about the Kia Sportage and 166 about the Mazda CX-5.

Side by side

Kia SportageMazda CX-5
Model years compared2012-20262012-2026
Owner complaints2,4452,483
Complaints per model year163166
Recalls198
Years to avoid201220132017201420162018
Best years201920212022201520202022
Most common problemEngineEngine
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy24-42 mpg combined (2026)26 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2012 Kia Sportage: 3922012 Mazda CX-5: 120122013 Kia Sportage: 3812013 Mazda CX-5: 1942014 Kia Sportage: 1252014 Mazda CX-5: 37720142015 Kia Sportage: 1462015 Mazda CX-5: 1332016 Kia Sportage: 1342016 Mazda CX-5: 51220162017 Kia Sportage: 4042017 Mazda CX-5: 1502018 Kia Sportage: 1662018 Mazda CX-5: 35620182019 Kia Sportage: 712019 Mazda CX-5: 2732020 Kia Sportage: 1692020 Mazda CX-5: 11020202021 Kia Sportage: 542021 Mazda CX-5: 1502022 Kia Sportage: 472022 Mazda CX-5: 6520222023 Kia Sportage: 1952023 Mazda CX-5: 672024 Kia Sportage: 752024 Mazda CX-5: 4720242025 Kia Sportage: 552025 Mazda CX-5: 292026 Kia Sportage: 312026 Mazda CX-5: 192026
Kia SportageMazda CX-5

Problems compared

SportageCX-5
Engine1,432615
Electrical316465
Brakes241252
Transmission162285
Fuel system119142
Driver assistance97157
Lights42226
Visibility78217

Questions about the Kia Sportage vs Mazda CX-5

Which is more reliable, the Kia Sportage or the Mazda CX-5?

Between 2012 and 2026, the Kia Sportage has 3 years to avoid and the Mazda CX-5 3. Both are about equally consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Kia Sportage drew fewer complaints per model year (163 vs 166), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Kia Sportage or the Mazda CX-5?

From 2012 to 2026, the Kia Sportage was covered by 19 recalls and the Mazda CX-5 by 8.

What years of the Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5 should you avoid?

Kia Sportage: 2012, 2013 and 2017. Mazda CX-5: 2014, 2016 and 2018.

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