Compare the2025 Mazda CX-50VS 2025 Mercedes GLB

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the CX-50 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The GLB doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 GLB doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mazda CX-50 achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Mercedes GLB has not been tested.

The CX-50 has standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The GLB doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus has standard Smart Brake Support-Reverse that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The GLB doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-50. But it costs extra on the GLB.

The CX-50’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the GLB.

Both the CX-50 and the GLB 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Mazda CX-50 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The GLB has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-50 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLB. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the GLB ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 40 percent more Mazda dealers than there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the CX-50’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CX-50’s reliability 17 points higher than the GLB.

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 Mercedes 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, Mercedes is rated below average.

The CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 35 more horsepower (256 vs. 221) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 258) than the GLB’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

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

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 GLB doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

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 GLB requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

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 GLB doesn’t offer a CVT.

The CX-50 stops much shorter than the GLB:

For better traction, the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLB (245/45R20 vs. 235/55R18).

The CX-50 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the GLB; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the GLB don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GLB.

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus handles at .84 G’s, while the GLB 250 4MATIC pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GLB 250 4MATIC (26.8 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-50 Hybrid’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the GLB’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet). The CX-50’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the GLB’s (36 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 2.5 S Premium Plus has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GLB (8.6 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the CX-50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The CX-50 has .6 inches more front legroom and 1.7 inches more rear legroom than the GLB.

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume than the GLB with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 12.4 cubic feet).

The CX-50’s cargo area is larger than the GLB’s in almost every dimension:

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-50’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The GLB doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The CX-50 has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The GLB has no towing capacity.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-50 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLB only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the CX-50 has standard extendable sun visors. The GLB doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the CX-50 and the GLB offer available heated front seats. The CX-50 Turbo also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the GLB.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The GLB doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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

The Mazda CX-50 outsold the Mercedes GLB by almost five to one during 2024.