Compare the2026 Mazda CX-5VS 2026 Volkswagen Taos

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the CX-5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Taos doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Mazda CX-5 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 Taos doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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

The CX-5 Premium Plus has a standard 360° Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Taos only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The CX-5’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Taos doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-5 and the Taos have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The Mazda CX-5 weighs 419 to 655 pounds more than the Volkswagen Taos. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-5 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Taos. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Taos ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The CX-5’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Taos’ (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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 Taos’ camshafts. If the Taos’ belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 124 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 35th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 2 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The CX-5’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 13 more horsepower (187 vs. 174) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 184) than the Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

The CX-5 has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Taos FWD’s standard fuel tank (15.3 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

	CX-5	Taos
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12.3 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	10.7 inches

For better traction, the CX-5 has larger tires than the Taos (225/65R17 vs. 215/55R18).

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 Taos 4x2 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The CX-5 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the CX-5 flat and controlled during cornering. The Taos 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 5.2 inches longer than on the Taos (110.7 inches vs. 105.5 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 3.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Taos.

For greater off-road capability the CX-5 S/Select has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Taos (8 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the CX-5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-5 Preferred/Premium’s minimum ground clearance is .6 inch higher than on the Taos (8.2 vs. 7.6 inches).

The CX-5 has 7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Taos (106.5 vs. 99.5).

The CX-5 has 1.6 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 2 inches more rear legroom, 7 inches more rear hip room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Taos.

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

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Taos with its rear seat up (33.7 vs. 27.9 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Taos with its rear seat folded (66.5 vs. 65.9 cubic feet).

The CX-5’s cargo area is larger than the Taos’ in almost every dimension:

	CX-5	Taos
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	39.1”/75”	34.3”/65.2”
Max Width	57.5”	48.5”
Min Width	41.3”	40”
Height	33.9”	37”

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the CX-5 Preferred/Premium has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the CX-5 Premium Plus, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Taos doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

The CX-5 has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Taos has no towing capacity.

The CX-5 has a higher standard payload capacity than the Taos (1058 vs. 937 lbs.).

When two different drivers share the CX-5 Preferred/Premium, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Taos doesn’t offer a memory system.

The CX-5 Preferred/Premium’s standard Entry/Exit Assist 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 Taos doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The CX-5 Preferred/Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Taos doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-5 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Taos only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

When the CX-5 Preferred/Premium is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Taos’ mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Mazda CX-5 and Volkswagen Taos 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 Taos’ 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 Taos offer available heated front seats. The CX-5 Premium also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Taos.

The CX-5 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 Taos SE/SEL.

Compared to the Volkswagen Taos, the Mazda CX-5 Preferred/Premium eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its standard 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 Taos SE/SEL.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Mazda CX-5 retains 57.6% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 51.91% resale value of the 2026 Volkswagen Taos after five years, which can save the Mazda’s owner.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Volkswagen Taos by over two to one during 2025.