Is the Mazda CX-5 more reliable than the Buick Envision?

Yes, the CX-5 has a clear edge. It holds an excellent standing against good for the Envision, costs less to repair each year, and visits the shop less often. Its main risk is cracked cylinder heads, which are expensive when they fail.

Which has more recalls, the CX-5 or the Envision?

The CX-5 has more, with 11 recalls across 9 model years against 6 for the Envision. Its raw complaint count is also higher, 986 against 131, but it has sold in larger volume. Per 10,000 sold, the gap is small: 5.6 versus 4.9.

Which is cheaper to repair, the CX-5 or the Envision?

The CX-5 is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data estimates $447 a year for it and $573 for the Envision, which is about $630 over five years. The CX-5 also averages 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year against 0.4.

What is the biggest problem with the Mazda CX-5?

Cracked cylinder heads. They leak oil onto the hot exhaust side, which causes a burning smell, white smoke, or oil on the ground, often with no warning light. Failures cluster between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles, and repair quotes reach $8,000. Some owners call it a fire risk.

Does the Buick Envision have brake problems?

Yes. Owners report brakes that apply hard on their own with no obstacle, and a Service Brake Assist warning followed by a very firm or sinking pedal. One diagnosed case was a failed brake vacuum pump. Dealers often cannot find a fault unless the warning stays on.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Buick Envision vs Mazda CX-5: Reliability Compared

Buick Envision

Good

More Reliable

Mazda CX-5

Excellent

Reliability favors the Mazda CX-5 over the Buick Envision, thanks to cheaper upkeep and fewer shop visits. Cracked cylinder heads are the CX-5's costly flaw. The Envision has fewer recalls and a slightly lower complaint rate per car sold, but it costs more to keep running and ranks a step lower.

How Do the Buick Envision and Mazda CX-5 Generations Compare?

Most used shoppers will land in the CX-5's second generation, which ran from the 2017 through 2025 model years and received a facelift for 2022. That facelift year is among the model's strongest, while 2018 and 2019 are the weak spots. A third generation began with the 2026 model year. It is the only year so far, so it has had little time to collect complaints. The Envision's first generation ran 2016 through 2020, with a facelift in 2019. Its second generation began in 2021, and a refresh followed for 2024. Its weakest years, 2021 and 2022, are the first cars of that second generation.

Verdict

The Mazda CX-5 is more reliable than the Buick Envision, scoring 83/100 vs 77/100.

Reliability favors the CX-5, and the edge is clear. Its standing is excellent against good for the Envision, its yearly repair cost is lower, and it makes fewer unscheduled shop visits. The catch is severity. When a CX-5 engine fails, a cracked cylinder head repair can be quoted at $8,000. The Envision has fewer recalls and a slightly lower complaint rate per car sold, but those points do not outweigh its higher running costs and more frequent shop visits.

Key Differences

1Mazda CX-5 costs $126 less per year to repair
2Mazda CX-5 scores 6 points higher in reliability
3Buick Envision has 5 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

2Buick Envision

—

3Mazda CX-5

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencySafety Rating

Buick Envision vs Mazda CX-5: Which Is More Reliable?

Buick Envision vs Mazda CX-5 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Buick Envision	Mazda CX-5
Reliability Score	77/100	83/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	6	11
Complaints per 10k Sold	4.9	5.6
Annual Repair Cost	$573/yr	$447/yr
Repair Frequency	0.4/yr	0.3/yr
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	2 (1 tied)	6 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Envision and Mazda CX-5?

Cracked cylinder heads define the CX-5. They leak oil onto the hot exhaust side, often with a burning smell, white smoke, and no warning light until oil runs low. Ghost-touch screen inputs and smart brake radar faults add to the list. The Envision's complaints are fewer and more scattered: brakes that apply hard on their own, a Service Brake Assist warning followed by a sinking pedal, steering lockup tied to engine stop/start, and oil loss near the first oil change. The CX-5 has crash-linked complaints in all five listed areas, including 9 in service brakes. For the Envision, only power train lists a crash-linked count.

Buick Envision vs Mazda CX-5 common problem areas comparison
Component	Buick Envision	Mazda CX-5
ENGINE	0.4Very Low	1.5Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.9Very Low	0.7Very Low
POWER TRAIN	0.6Very Low	0.6Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.4Very Low	0.7Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.5Very Low	0.3Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.3Very Low	0.2Very Low
STEERING	0.3Very Low	0.1Very Low
TIRES	0.2Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	0.2Very Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.2Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.2Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	0.1Very Low	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.1Very Low	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.1Very Low
SEATS	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Buick Envision or Mazda CX-5?

Independent repair-cost data puts the CX-5 at $447 a year and the Envision at $573. Over five years, that gap comes to about $630. The CX-5 also makes fewer unscheduled shop visits, 0.3 a year against 0.4. Only the CX-5 has a major-repair figure: 8% of its repairs are major. Averages hide the tail, though. A cracked CX-5 cylinder head can be quoted at $8,000, which would erase years of savings.

How Does Buick Envision vs Mazda CX-5 Reliability Compare by Year?

Buick Envision vs Mazda CX-5 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Buick Envision	Mazda CX-5	Edge
2026	77/1001R / 0C	94/1000R / 0C	Mazda CX-5
2025	82/1000R / 7C	82/1003R / 25C	Tie
2024	76/1001R / 10C	84/1001R / 53C	Mazda CX-5
2023	76/1001R / 22C	81/1002R / 96C	Mazda CX-5
2022	75/1001R / 23C	87/1000R / 50C	Mazda CX-5
2021	74/1002R / 23C	83/1000R / 129C	Mazda CX-5
2020	78/1000R / 10C	86/1000R / 94C	Mazda CX-5
2019	78/1000R / 23C	75/1002R / 229C	Buick Envision
2018	78/1000R / 13C	71/1003R / 310C	Buick Envision

Best years to cross-shop: The 2020 Buick Envision scored 78/100 and the 2022 Mazda CX-5 scored 87/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Buick Envision vs the Mazda CX-5?

Pick the CX-5 if you want lower running costs and fewer trips to the shop. Target 2022, the facelift year and one of its strongest, and avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest. Ask for proof of any cylinder head repair and look for oil leaks, since failures cluster between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles. Test the touchscreen for phantom inputs on the drive. Pick the Envision if you want a midsize body and can accept higher repair bills. A 2018 is among its strongest years, while 2021 and 2022 are its weakest and worth skipping. The 2025 looks clean, but it has had little time to collect complaints, so treat that as unproven. Check the oil level at purchase and ask for service records on brake warnings, since dealers often cannot find the Service Brake Assist fault unless it stays on.

Buick Envision vs Mazda CX-5: Common Questions

Is the Mazda CX-5 more reliable than the Buick Envision?: Yes, the CX-5 has a clear edge. It holds an excellent standing against good for the Envision, costs less to repair each year, and visits the shop less often. Its main risk is cracked cylinder heads, which are expensive when they fail.
Which has more recalls, the CX-5 or the Envision?: The CX-5 has more, with 11 recalls across 9 model years against 6 for the Envision. Its raw complaint count is also higher, 986 against 131, but it has sold in larger volume. Per 10,000 sold, the gap is small: 5.6 versus 4.9.
Which is cheaper to repair, the CX-5 or the Envision?: The CX-5 is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data estimates $447 a year for it and $573 for the Envision, which is about $630 over five years. The CX-5 also averages 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year against 0.4.
What is the biggest problem with the Mazda CX-5?: Cracked cylinder heads. They leak oil onto the hot exhaust side, which causes a burning smell, white smoke, or oil on the ground, often with no warning light. Failures cluster between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles, and repair quotes reach $8,000. Some owners call it a fire risk.
Does the Buick Envision have brake problems?: Yes. Owners report brakes that apply hard on their own with no obstacle, and a Service Brake Assist warning followed by a very firm or sinking pedal. One diagnosed case was a failed brake vacuum pump. Dealers often cannot find a fault unless the warning stays on.

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More Mazda CX-5 comparisons

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How we score the Buick Envision and Mazda CX-5

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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