Compare the2025 Mazda CX-50VS 2025 Genesis GV80

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Mazda CX-50 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 GV80 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

With its standard Smart Brake Support, the Mazda CX-50 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Genesis GV80, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	CX-50	GV80
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-22 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-23 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-24 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2.4 sec	1.4 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-35 MPH	-19 MPH
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.8 sec	1.1 sec

Both the CX-50 and the GV80 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mazda CX-50 is safer than the Genesis GV80:

	CX-50	GV80
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	100	328
Neck Injury Risk	23.2%	24.1%
Neck Compression	11 lbs.	25 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	222/219 lbs.	254/334 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	211	263
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	22%	34%
Neck Stress	106 lbs.	228 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	264/347 lbs.	388/497 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mazda CX-50 is safer than the Genesis GV80:

	CX-50	GV80
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	114 lbs.	335 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	67	68
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	214	290
Spine Acceleration	28 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	521 lbs.	640 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

There are over 2 times as many Mazda dealers as there are Genesis dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-50’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Genesis vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Genesis is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Genesis vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 8 places higher in reliability than Genesis.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-50 gets better mileage than the GV80:

			MPG
CX-50
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	39 city/37 hwy
		2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/31 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
GV80
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/24 hwy
		3.5 turbo V6	16 city/22 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-50 (except Turbo/Hybrid)’s fuel efficiency. The GV80 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the CX-50 Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GV80 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-50 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The GV80 2.5T requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

The CX-50 has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The GV80 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-50 stops much shorter than the GV80:

	CX-50	GV80
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	182 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	118 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The CX-50 handles at .87 G’s, while the GV80 Advanced pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GV80 Standard (26.8 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-50 Hybrid’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the GV80’s (35.4 feet vs. 39.3 feet). The CX-50’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the GV80’s (36 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 2.5 S Premium Plus has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GV80 (8.6 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the CX-50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Mazda CX-50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 to 1100 pounds less than the Genesis GV80.

The CX-50 is 8.7 inches shorter than the GV80, making the CX-50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The CX-50 has .1 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear headroom and 1.1 inches more rear legroom than the GV80.

Cargo Capacity

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume than the GV80 with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CX-50 easier. The CX-50’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.4 inches, while the GV80’s liftover is 31.7 inches.

Ergonomics

On a hot day the CX-50’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the GV80 can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

Consumer Reports rated the CX-50’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the GV80’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The CX-50’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the GV80’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-50 Turbo has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The GV80 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-50 and the Genesis GV80, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-50 outsold the Genesis GV80 by over three to one during 2024.

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