2023 Nissan Kicks vs. 2023 Mazda CX 5

May 10th, 2023 by AutoCenters Nissan

“Small SUV” used to be an oxymoron. But as SUV sales have surged over the years, many automakers have started to manufacture SUVs that come in a wide range of sizes. This includes SUVs that would definitely fall into the “small” category, with many of them being just slightly bigger than the sedans that these same automakers sell. The 2023 Nissan Kicks and the 2023 Mazda CX-5 both fit this description. They’re each an excellent option for those interested in driving around in SUVs that are on the smaller side.

If you’re someone who’d like to invest in a small SUV, you should take the time to compare the 2023 Nissan Kicks with the 2023 Mazda CX-5. It’ll help you decide which one you’d like to drive home today. Learn more about how these small SUVs stack up against one another below.

Size

We just spent a bunch of time talking about how “small” both the 2023 Nissan Kicks and the 2023 Mazda CX-5 are. But just how small are they? Well, the 2023 Kicks is about 169 inches long, 69 inches wide, and 63 inches tall. The 2023 CX-5, meanwhile, is 180 inches long, 72 inches wide, and 66 inches tall. This gives the CX-5 a slight edge in the size department, but whether that’s a good or bad thing will ultimately be left up to you to decide.

Exterior

The 2023 Nissan Kicks has a fun, sporty design that makes it look like it would be a real joy to drive. While it’s compact, it includes an oversized grille and a lot of well-positioned curves that give it a ton of personality.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 also has a sporty design that makes it appear as though it’s ready to handle whatever twists and turns might come its way. But it also has some practicality baked into it that makes it a little less likely to stand out on the road. The 2023 Kicks gets the slight edge here.

Engine

Because the 2023 Nissan Kicks and the 2023 Mazda CX-5 are both smaller SUVs, they don’t have super powerful engines tucked underneath their hoods. But that should be okay with you, seeing as how their engines are both more than capable of helping you zip around in them with ease.

The 2023 Kicks comes with a four-cylinder engine that can produce up to 122 horsepower, while the 2023 CX-5 has a standard four-cylinder engine that can produce up to 187 horsepower. But the CX-5 is also available with an optional turbocharged engine that can produce up to 256 horsepower.

Fuel Economy

The knock on all SUVs has always been that they’re not great on gas. But that isn’t going to be an issue with the 2023 Nissan Kicks or the 2023 Mazda CX-5. The 2023 Kicks can get up to 31 miles per gallon in the city and 36 miles per gallon on the highway, which makes it one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs around.

It outdoes the 2023 CX-5 in the fuel economy department, though it should be noted that the CX-5 still gets up to 24 miles per gallon in the city and 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

Interior

As we alluded to earlier, the 2023 Mazda CX-5 is bigger than the 2023 Nissan Kicks. But you won’t necessarily be able to tell once you climb inside each of them, seeing as how they both offer roomier interiors than you might imagine. The 2023 CX-5 offers 104 cubic feet of passenger volume and up to 31 cubic feet of cargo volume. The 2023 Kicks, on the other hand, includes 94 cubic feet of passenger volume and up to 25 cubic feet of cargo volume. Those are all respectable numbers for small SUVs.

As far as the styling of the interiors of these two small SUVs goes, the 2023 CX-5 has a more luxurious and upscale feel to it, while the 2023 Kicks is more practical and purposeful. But even still, the 2023 Kicks doesn’t lean too heavily on any design trends that might make it seem out of style in a few years. It has a grown-up appearance to it that’ll keep it looking stylish for years to come.

Tech

Neither Nissan nor Mazda cut any corners when incorporating tech into their small SUVs. The 2023 Nissan Kicks has a standard 7.0-inch touch screen with the option to upgrade to an 8.0-inch touch screen in some of the higher trims. It also includes a capable six-speaker audio system along with the ability to upgrade to a Bose stereo system. The 2023 Mazda CX-5 features a larger 10.3-inch infotainment display with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This might make the tech in the CX-5 more attractive to some people, but not by much.

Safety

If you’re going to be driving around in a small SUV, safety will be a concern. But you won’t have to worry too much when you’re in either a 2023 Nissan Kicks or a 2023 Mazda CX-5. The 2023 Kicks has standard safety features, such as automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane departure warning. The 2023 CX-5 has those two same safety features, as well as a standard adaptive cruise control feature.

Price

At this point, you might have the 2023 Mazda CX-5 eking out a closely contested matchup with the 2023 Nissan Kicks. But your opinion is likely going to swing back in the other direction when you hear about the price tags on the 2023 Nissan Kicks vs. the 2023 Mazda CX-5. The 2023 CX-5 starts at $26,700, while the 2023 Kicks starts at just $20,440. That should give the overall edge to the 2023 Kicks, all things considered.