Kia Sportage vs Mazda CX-5: bigger boot and longer warranty, or AWD and lower fuel use
The Sportage S costs less, has the bigger boot and the longer warranty, while the CX-5 Pure brings AWD, more power and a lower fuel use figure for a bit more money.
By Uzzi · 9 October 2026 · Every figure comes from each car's own page on CarSorted.
2026 Kia Sportage S FWD Petrol
$38,490
RRP excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$38,490 RRP before on-road costs
We check the maker's published price regularly and record every change here.
RRP before on-road costs, as published by the maker.
$39,990
RRP excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$39,990 RRP before on-road costs
We check the maker's published price regularly and record every change here.
RRP before on-road costs, as published by the maker.
Who the Kia Sportage suits
The Sportage S suits a buyer who wants the most boot space and warranty for the money. It lists at $38,490 (RRP excl. on-roads), has a 543L boot with the seats up and comes with a 7-year, unlimited km warranty. It's FWD rather than AWD, so it suits a buyer who doesn't need AWD.
Who the Mazda CX-5 suits
The CX-5 Pure suits a buyer who wants AWD, more power and a lower fuel use figure, and can live with a smaller boot. It lists at $39,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) and makes 132kW and 242Nm. It also tows more, at 1,800kg braked.
What decides it
1. Boot space
The Sportage has a 543L boot with the seats up, against 466L in the CX-5. That's 77L more in the Kia. Fold the seats and it's 1,829L versus 1,594L, a 235L gap in the Kia's favour.
2. Price and warranty
The Sportage S lists at $38,490 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the CX-5 Pure at $39,990 (RRP excl. on-roads), so the Kia is $1,500 less before on-roads. The Kia also has a 7-year, unlimited km warranty, against a 5-year, unlimited km warranty on the Mazda.
3. Drive, power and fuel use
The CX-5 is AWD with 132kW and 242Nm, while the Sportage is FWD with 115kW and 192Nm. That's 17kW and 50Nm more in the Mazda. The Mazda also has the lower combined fuel figure, 7.4L/100km against 8.1L/100km, a gap of 0.7L/100km.
Running costs
Both run on petrol. The CX-5 uses 7.4L/100km combined and the Sportage 8.1L/100km, with tanks of 58L and 54L. Both need a service every 12 months, but we have no capped servicing figures for either car. Warranty is 7-year, unlimited km on the Kia and 5-year, unlimited km on the Mazda, and the running-cost chart below lets you compare the two over time.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$6,076
per year to run
$68,868
total 5yr cost
$0.88
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $6,076/year to run, or $30,380 over 5 years including fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and registration.
* Estimates based on your parameters. Servicing uses each manufacturer's capped-price schedule where we have it, and tyres scale with your weekly km. A guide only, not a quote.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$5,868
per year to run
$69,331
total 5yr cost
$0.89
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $5,868/year to run, or $29,340 over 5 years including fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and registration.
* Estimates based on your parameters. Servicing uses each manufacturer's capped-price schedule where we have it, and tyres scale with your weekly km. A guide only, not a quote.
Practicality
Both are SUVs with 5 seats. They're close in size, with the Sportage 4,685mm long and the CX-5 4,690mm, though the Kia has the bigger boot. The CX-5 sits higher off the ground at 205mm versus 181mm and tows 1,800kg braked against 1,650kg, which is 150kg more. Unbraked towing is 750kg for both.
Cost to tow
The real fuel/energy cost once you hitch up. Pick a trailer and trip.
⚠ Not every limit could be checked: the manufacturer publishes no GCM for this vehicle, so this verdict rests only on the limits that are published.
Estimate only: consumption rises as range falls; real use varies with terrain, wind and load.
Will it fit in the boot?
May fitExample sizes only - measure your item before relying on this.
Volume check only (seats up)
Item box about 166L (31% of the volume). Litres don't describe shape, so this can't confirm a fit.
Kia doesn't publish boot dimensions for this car, only 543 litres. Litres can prove something won't fit, but never that a rigid item will - so the best this car can score is "May fit".
Based on the manufacturer's published boot volume.
Cost to tow
The real fuel/energy cost once you hitch up. Pick a trailer and trip.
⚠ Not every limit could be checked: the manufacturer publishes no GCM for this vehicle, so this verdict rests only on the limits that are published.
Estimate only: consumption rises as range falls; real use varies with terrain, wind and load.
Will it fit in the boot?
May fitExample sizes only - measure your item before relying on this.
Volume check only (seats up)
Item box about 166L (36% of the volume). Litres don't describe shape, so this can't confirm a fit.
Mazda doesn't publish boot dimensions for this car, only 466 litres. Litres can prove something won't fit, but never that a rigid item will - so the best this car can score is "May fit".
Based on the manufacturer's published boot volume.
How quick is it?
How quick is it?
No manufacturer 0-100 time is held for this car, so it isn't ranked.
How quick is it?
0-100 times as published and held in our records. Counts cover on-sale cars with a figure and refresh daily.
Safety
Both carry a 5-star ANCAP rating. The Sportage's rating dates from 2022, while the CX-5's is more recent, from 2025.
The figures side by side
| Kia Sportage | Mazda CX-5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $38,490 (RRP excl. on-roads) | $39,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) |
| Powertrain | ICE | ICE |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Drive | FWD | AWD |
| Transmission | Automatic | Automatic |
| Power | 115kW | 132kW |
| Torque | 192Nm | 242Nm |
| 0-100km/h | No data | 8.7 seconds |
| Fuel use (combined) | 8.1L/100km | 7.4L/100km |
| Fuel tank | 54L | 58L |
| Body | SUV | SUV |
| Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Boot (seats up) | 543L | 466L |
| Boot (seats folded) | 1,829L | 1,594L |
| Length | 4,685mm | 4,690mm |
| Width | 1,865mm | 1,860mm |
| Height | 1,665mm | 1,695mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,755mm | 2,815mm |
| Ground clearance | 181mm | 205mm |
| Turning circle | 11.4m | 11.2m |
| Kerb weight | 1,610kg | 1,720kg |
| Towing (braked) | 1,650kg | 1,800kg |
| Towing (unbraked) | 750kg | 750kg |
| Payload | 490kg | 517kg |
| ANCAP rating | 5-star (2022) | 5-star (2025) |
| Warranty | 7-year | 5-year |
| Warranty distance | unlimited km | unlimited km |
| Service interval | 12 months | 12 months |
The verdict
The Sportage gives you more boot and warranty for less money, while the CX-5 asks a bit more for AWD, extra power, lower fuel use and higher towing.
Pick the Kia Sportage if
You want the bigger boot, the longer warranty and the lower price, and FWD covers the driving you do.
Pick the Mazda CX-5 if
You want AWD, more power, a lower fuel use figure or the higher braked towing capacity, and can live with a smaller boot.
Put them side by side yourself
Every figure, feature and running cost for both, in our live comparison table.
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- Kia Sportage S FWD Petrol
- Mazda CX-5 G25 Pure AWD
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Questions buyers ask
Is the Kia Sportage cheaper than the Mazda CX-5?
In these versions, yes. The Sportage S FWD Petrol lists at $38,490 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the CX-5 Pure AWD at $39,990 (RRP excl. on-roads), a gap of $1,500 before on-roads.
Which has the bigger boot, the Sportage or the CX-5?
The Sportage. Its boot is 543L with the seats up, against 466L in the CX-5.
Which uses less fuel, the Kia Sportage or Mazda CX-5?
On the combined figures, the CX-5 Pure uses 7.4L/100km and the Sportage S uses 8.1L/100km.
Is the Mazda CX-5 AWD and the Kia Sportage FWD?
In the versions compared here, yes. The CX-5 Pure is AWD and the Sportage S Petrol is FWD.
Which has the longer warranty?
The Kia has a 7-year, unlimited km warranty. The Mazda has a 5-year, unlimited km warranty.
More on these cars
- 2026 Kia Sportage S FWD Petrol: full specs and priceEvery Kia Sportage gradeAll Kia models
- 2026 Mazda CX-5 G25 Pure AWD: full specs and priceEvery Mazda CX-5 gradeAll Mazda models