Last updated: 2026-03-04
Kia Sorento vs Mazda CX-5: Reliability Compared
Kia Sorento
Mazda CX-5
Choosing between the Kia Sorento and the Mazda CX-5? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Mazda CX-5 currently leads with an average score of 81/100 compared to 70/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-5 Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Mazda CX-5 is more reliable than the Kia Sorento, scoring 81/100 vs 70/100.
The Mazda CX-5 demonstrates superior reliability with an average score of 93/100 compared to the Kia Sorento's 81/100. It also has fewer recalls, with 11 over nine years versus the Sorento's 43, and a lower owner complaint rate of 5.6 per 10,000 units sold against the Sorento's 7.4. Furthermore, the CX-5 benefits from lower estimated annual repair costs at $447 compared to the Sorento's $533. These factors combined make the Mazda CX-5 a more reliable choice in the compact SUV segment.
Key Differences
- 1Mazda CX-5 costs $86 less per year to repair
- 2Mazda CX-5 has 32 fewer total recalls
- 3Mazda CX-5 scores 11 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Kia Sorento vs Mazda CX-5: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Kia Sorento | Mazda CX-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 70/100 | 81/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 43 | 11 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 7.4 | 5.6 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $533/yr | $447/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 11% | 8% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 0 | 8 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-5?
The Mazda CX-5 and Kia Sorento present distinct problem profiles despite some similarities in complaint categories. The Mazda CX-5 has a notable concentration of issues in the engine category with 263 complaints, including one crash-linked, while also having a high number of crash-linked complaints in the air bags (11) and vehicle speed control (11) components. Conversely, the Kia Sorento shows a higher total number of complaints, with the power train (269 complaints, 3 crash-linked) and engine (260 complaints, 1 crash-linked) being the most affected areas. Notably, the Sorento has a significant number of electrical system complaints (206), though with fewer crash-linked issues compared to the CX-5, which indicates a potentially broader but less severe range of electrical problems.
| Component | Kia Sorento | Mazda CX-5 |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 1.4Low | 1.5Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 1.5Low | 0.6Very Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1.1Low | 0.7Very Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1Very Low | 0.6Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.3Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.1Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 0.2Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | —None |
| TRAILER HITCHES | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| SEATS | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Kia Sorento or Mazda CX-5?
How Does Kia Sorento vs Mazda CX-5 Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Kia Sorento | Mazda CX-5 | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 75/1008R / 72C | 82/1003R / 25C | Mazda CX-5 |
| 2024 | 79/1002R / 35C | 84/1001R / 53C | Mazda CX-5 |
| 2023 | 70/1007R / 120C | 81/1002R / 96C | Mazda CX-5 |
| 2022 | 66/10010R / 171C | 87/1000R / 50C | Mazda CX-5 |
| 2021 | 66/1006R / 217C | 83/1000R / 129C | Mazda CX-5 |
| 2020 | 71/1001R / 115C | 86/1000R / 94C | Mazda CX-5 |
| 2019 | 64/1002R / 383C | 75/1002R / 229C | Mazda CX-5 |
| 2018 | 68/1003R / 232C | 71/1003R / 310C | Mazda CX-5 |
| 2026(predicted) | 75/100(predicted) | 73/100(predicted) | Kia Sorento |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Kia Sorento scored 79/100 and the 2022 Mazda CX-5 scored 87/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Kia Sorento vs the Mazda CX-5?
Kia Sorento vs Mazda CX-5: Common Questions
- Is the Kia Sorento more reliable than the Mazda CX-5?
- Based on our data, the Mazda CX-5 is more reliable with an average score of 81/100 compared to 70/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Kia Sorento or the Mazda CX-5?
- The Kia Sorento has more recalls (43) compared to the Mazda CX-5 (11). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Kia Sorento or the Mazda CX-5?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Mazda CX-5 has a lower complaint rate at 5.6 per 10,000 sold versus 7.4 for the Kia Sorento. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Kia Sorento or the Mazda CX-5?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Mazda CX-5 is cheaper to maintain at $447/year versus $533/year for the Kia Sorento.
- Is the Kia Sorento or Mazda CX-5 safer?
- Both the Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-5 received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Kia Sorento comparisons
How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
See incorrect data? Report an issue