Suzuki S-Cross vs Mazda CX-5

The Suzuki S-Cross starts from $43,490 before on-road costs, while the Mazda CX-5 opens at $39,990. That makes the Mazda CX-5 the more affordable entry point by $3,500.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $47,839 and $43,989 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Suzuki S-Cross by roughly $2,135 in fuel alone.

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

The Suzuki S-Cross features a 9-inch touchscreen paired with a 4.2-inch digital dash, while the Mazda CX-5 gets a 12.9-inch display and 10.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Suzuki S-Cross stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging and power tailgate — features our data doesn't list for the Mazda CX-5. The Mazda CX-5 counters with Apple CarPlay. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Suzuki S-Cross gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Mazda CX-5 offers cloth.

The Suzuki S-Cross uses a Petrol producing 103kW and 220Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.5 seconds.

The Mazda CX-5 responds with a Petrol making 132kW and 242Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.7 seconds.

The Mazda CX-5 has the clear power advantage at 132kW vs 103kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Mazda CX-5 is 1.8s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Suzuki S-Cross measures 4,305mm long on a 2,600mm wheelbase, 385mm shorter than the Mazda CX-5 at 4,690mm (2,815mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mazda CX-5 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 430L in the Suzuki S-Cross and 466L in the Mazda CX-5, giving the Mazda CX-5 a 36L advantage. Fold the rears and you get 1230L vs 1594L.

For towing, the Mazda CX-5 leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 300kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,682/year for the Suzuki S-Cross and $2,109/year for the Mazda CX-5. That is a $427 annual difference in favour of the Suzuki S-Cross.

Warranty: 3 years / 100,000km (Suzuki S-Cross) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mazda CX-5). The Mazda CX-5 has longer coverage.