Compare the2026 Mazda CX-5VS 2026 Mercedes GLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-5 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Mercedes GLA doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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-5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The GLA doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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

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 GLA 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-5. But it costs extra on the GLA.

The CX-5’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 GLA.

Both the CX-5 and the GLA have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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.

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

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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 82 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 28th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 5 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-5 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The GLA requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

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

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

The CX-5 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 GLA; 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 GLA don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 3.3 inches longer than on the GLA (110.7 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the GLA’s (36.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-5 S/Select has a 2.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the GLA (8 vs. 5.6 inches), allowing the CX-5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-5 Preferred/Premium’s minimum ground clearance is 2.6 inches higher than on the GLA (8.2 vs. 5.6 inches).

The CX-5 has .7 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLA.

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLA with its rear seat up (33.7 vs. 19 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLA with its rear seat folded (66.5 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

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

The CX-5 has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The GLA has no towing capacity.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-5 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLA 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-5 Select/Preferred/Premium has standard extendable sun visors. The GLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the CX-5 and the GLA offer available heated front seats. The CX-5 Premium also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the GLA.

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 GLA doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Mercedes GLA by over 10 to one during 2025.