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Mazda CX-5 vs Toyota Corolla

What's the difference?

VS
Mazda CX-5
Mazda CX-5

$29,888 - $60,328

2024 price

Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla

$29,270 - $40,450

2025 price

Summary

2024 Mazda CX-5
2025 Toyota Corolla
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 2.5L

Inline 4, 1.8L
Fuel Type
Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol/Electric
Fuel Efficiency
8.2L/100km (combined)

4.0L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Feels compact inside
  • Individual storage on the thin side
  • Thirsty engine

  • Cabin not as practical as rivals
  • Tiny boot volume
  • Ageing interior
2024 Mazda CX-5 Summary

This week I’m family testing the new Mazda CX-5 Akera G35 and the top-grade model is well-equipped. But it faces stiff competition in the mid-sized SUV market with rivals like the Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage and the ever-popular Toyota RAV4.

How do you remain competitive in one of the most popular SUV classes? My family of three is finding out for you!

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2025 Toyota Corolla Summary

Up until 2024 when its title was nabbed by the Tesla Model Y, the humble Toyota Corolla has been the world’s best-selling car for quite some time. 

A reputation for reliability, affordability, efficiency and in its current guise, being fun to drive, the Corolla has seen off all comers to retain the title of the most popular small car on Earth.

The current twelfth-generation Corolla is now seven years into its life cycle having landed in mid-2018. In that time scores of buyers have moved across into small SUVs, and the Corolla’s competitor set has shrunk dramatically as car brands pull out of the small passenger car segment.

But as we gear up for the next-gen Corolla, is the existing one still worth considering against some newer rivals? And should you look at this instead of a small SUV?

I lived with the mid-range Corolla SX hatchback for a week to find out.

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Deep dive comparison

2024 Mazda CX-5 2025 Toyota Corolla

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