Compare the2026 Mazda CX-5 VS 2026 Jeep Compass

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-5 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Jeep Compass doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Mazda CX-5 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 Compass doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

With its standard Smart Brake Support, the Mazda CX-5 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Jeep Compass, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	CX-5	Compass
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-9 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-6 MPH
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-19 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-23 MPH
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-30 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2.4 sec	1.8 sec
37 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-21 MPH
Warning Issued-Low beams	2.4 sec	1.8 sec

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mazda CX-5 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the Jeep Compass, which scored only a “Marginal” in these critical safety features.

The CX-5 has a standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Compass 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-5 has a standard Rear Smart Brake Support that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Compass doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the CX-5 and Compass have rear cross-traffic warning, but the CX-5 has Smart Braking Support - Rear Crossing (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Compass’ Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the CX-5 and the Compass have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the CX-5 is much safer than the Compass:

	CX-5	Compass
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	141	368
Neck Injury Chance	20%	30%
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	90/112 pounds	247/315 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	90/112 pounds	247/315 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	POOR
Chest Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-5 is much safer than the Compass:

	CX-5	Compass
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	86	189
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	9 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	POOR
Pelvis Force	781 lbs.	1517 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	67	202
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.87 in	2.13 in
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	491 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.79 in	1.77 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	14 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	759 lbs.	937 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Mazda CX-5 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 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, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Compass is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

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-5’s reliability 15 points higher than the Compass.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 114 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 33rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 10 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

The CX-5 has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Compass (15.3 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The CX-5 has a standard locking fuel door, which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Compass. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

For better stopping power the CX-5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Compass:

	CX-5	Compass
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	11 inches

The CX-5 stops much shorter than the Compass:

	CX-5	Compass
70 to 0 MPH	173 feet	195 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	144 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	146 feet	151 feet	Consumer Reports

For better traction, the CX-5 has larger tires than the Compass (225/65R17 vs. 215/65R17).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 6.9 inches longer than on the Compass (110.7 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-5 is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 3.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Compass.

The CX-5 S Premium Plus handles at .83 G’s, while the Compass pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-5 S Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Compass Trailhawk (28.2 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 29.6 seconds @ .53 average G’s).

The CX-5 has 6.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Compass (106.5 vs. 99.6).

The CX-5 has .5 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom, 3.2 inches more rear hip room and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Compass.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CX-5’s rear seats recline. The Compass’ rear seats don’t recline.

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Compass with its rear seat up (33.7 vs. 27.2 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Compass with its rear seat folded (66.5 vs. 59.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CX-5 easier. The CX-5’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.5 inches, while the Compass’ liftover is 31.1 inches.

The CX-5’s cargo area is larger than the Compass’ in every dimension:

	CX-5	Compass
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	39.1”/75”	32.4”/65.7”
Max Width	57.5”	53.8”
Min Width	41.3”	38.1”
Height	33.9”	29.6”

The CX-5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Compass’ (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

When two different drivers share the CX-5 Preferred/Premium, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Compass doesn’t offer a memory system.

The CX-5 Preferred/Premium’s standard Entry/Exit Assist glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Compass doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The CX-5 Preferred/Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Compass doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-5’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Compass’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

On a hot day the CX-5’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Compass can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CX-5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Compass’ standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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-5’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Compass’ headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Compass’ cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The CX-5 Premium Plus’ standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

When the CX-5 Preferred/Premium is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Compass’ mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Compass offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The CX-5 offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Compass’ foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-5 Premium keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Compass doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The CX-5 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Compass.

Both the CX-5 and the Compass offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CX-5 Select/Preferred/Premium has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Compass doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Mazda CX-5 retains 57.6% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 53.93% resale value of the 2026 Jeep Compass after five years, which can save the Mazda’s owner.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-5, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Compass isn't recommended.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Jeep Compass by 34% during 2025.