Mazda vs. Volkswagen
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of cars from Mazda and Volkswagen contrasts the two brands across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which one is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of vehicle models, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and projected lifetime recalls based on recall history. This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which brand represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both Mazda and Volkswagen cars.
When comparing the Mazda brand to the Volkswagen brand, Mazda has the advantage in the areas of depreciation, horsepower, towing capacity, safety, retained value and vehicle rankings. Volkswagen has the advantage in the areas of new car pricing, used car pricing, overall quality and reliability.
Mazda versus Volkswagen: Pricing and Value: Analyzing Mazda versus Volkswagen pricing we see a lower new vehicle starting price for Volkswagen in 7 out of 7 vehicle comparisons. Volkswagen also has a lower used vehicle starting price in 4 out of 7 comparisons. Mazda models depreciate at a lower (better) rate in 6 out of 7 comparisons.
Mazda versus Volkswagen: Horsepower, Fuel Efficiency and Towing Capacity: Mazda vehicles offer higher maximum horsepower numbers in their base trim in 5 out of 7 model comparisons, with Volkswagen offering more horsepower in 2 comparisons. Both Mazda and Volkswagen vehicles have the same MPG in 2 comparisons. Mazda offers a greater towing capacity in 3 out of 5 comparisons.
Mazda versus Volkswagen: Quality, Reliability, Safety, and Value Retention Ratings: A comparison of Mazda versus Volkswagen overall quality ratings shows Volkswagen with higher quality ratings in 1 out of 2 model comparisons. In terms of reliability ratings, Volkswagen has the advantage in 1 out of 2 comparisons. Mazda has better safety ratings in 6 out of 7 comparisons. Mazda shows higher ratings for retained value in 6 out of 7 comparisons.
Best Car Rankings: Mazda has better car rankings in 7 categories: Mazda CX-9 in Best 7-Seater SUVs, Mazda Mazda3 Sedan in Best Compact Cars, Mazda CX-9 in Best Crossover SUVs, Mazda Mazda6 in Best Midsize Cars, Mazda CX-9 in Best Midsize SUVs, Mazda Mazda3 Sedan in Best Small Cars, and Mazda CX-9 in Best SUVs with 3 Rows. Volkswagen has better car rankings in 3 categories: Volkswagen Tiguan in Best 5-seater SUVs, Volkswagen Golf in Best Hatchbacks, and Volkswagen Tiguan in Best Small SUVs.
Most Reliable Car Rankings: Mazda has better car rankings in 5 categories: Mazda CX-9 in Most Reliable Crossover SUVs, Mazda Mazda6 in Most Reliable Midsize Cars, Mazda CX-9 in Most Reliable Midsize SUVs, Mazda Mazda3 Sedan in Most Reliable Small Cars, and Mazda CX-9 in Most Reliable SUVs with 3 Rows. Volkswagen has the better car ranking in 1 category: Tiguan in Most Reliable Small SUVs.
Safest Car Rankings: Mazda has better car rankings in 5 categories: Mazda CX-9 in Safest Crossover SUVs, Mazda Mazda6 in Safest Midsize Cars, Mazda CX-9 in Safest Midsize SUVs, Mazda Mazda3 Sedan in Safest Small Cars, and Mazda CX-9 in Safest SUVs with 3 Rows.
Available Body Styles: Mazda offers 9 SUVs, 1 sedan, 2 convertibles, and 1 hatchback. In comparison, Volkswagen offers 5 SUVs, 3 sedans, and 2 hatchbacks.
Drivetrain Options: Mazda offers 10 gasoline vehicles, 2 plug-in hybrids, and 1 electric vehicle. Volkswagen offers 9 gasoline vehicles and 1 electric vehicle.
Mazda offers 10 all-wheel-drive models, 3 front-wheel-drive models, and 2 rear-wheel-drive models. Volkswagen offers 7 all-wheel-drive models, 8 front-wheel-drive models, and 1 rear-wheel-drive model.
New Car Pricing
SUVs
Mazda CX-5
$30,611 - $40,595
Mazda CX-5
$30,611 - $40,595
Mazda CX-50
$31,833 - $45,266
Mazda CX-50
$31,833 - $45,266
Mazda CX-50
$31,833 - $45,266
Mazda CX-9
$40,092 - $46,756
Mazda CX-9
$40,092 - $46,756
New Car Pricing
SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
$30,000 - $40,812
Volkswagen Taos
$25,229 - $35,554
Volkswagen Tiguan
$30,000 - $40,812
Volkswagen Taos
$25,229 - $35,554
Volkswagen Tiguan
$30,000 - $40,812
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
$38,615 - $54,400
Volkswagen Atlas
$39,765 - $55,865
Used Car Pricing
SUVs
Mazda CX-5
$28,687 - $40,393
Mazda CX-5
$28,687 - $40,393
Mazda CX-50
$29,626 - $41,990
Mazda CX-50
$29,626 - $41,990
Mazda CX-50
$29,626 - $41,990
Mazda CX-9
$29,370 - $39,992
Mazda CX-9
$29,370 - $39,992
Used Car Pricing
SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
$28,946 - $39,417
Volkswagen Taos
$26,455 - $33,569
Volkswagen Tiguan
$28,946 - $39,417
Volkswagen Taos
$26,455 - $33,569
Volkswagen Tiguan
$28,946 - $39,417
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
$34,813 - $51,998
Volkswagen Atlas
$35,911 - $52,902
5-Year Depreciation (Lower is better)
SUVs
Mazda CX-5
36.2%
Mazda CX-5
36.2%
Mazda CX-50
38.7%
Mazda CX-50
38.7%
Mazda CX-50
38.7%
Mazda CX-9
47%
Mazda CX-9
47%
5-Year Depreciation (Lower is better)
SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
41.3%
Volkswagen Taos
41.7%
Volkswagen Tiguan
41.3%
Volkswagen Taos
41.7%
Volkswagen Tiguan
41.3%
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
45.9%
Volkswagen Atlas
48.2%
Horsepower / Torque
SUVs
Mazda CX-5
187 hp / 185 foot-lbs
Mazda CX-5
187 hp / 185 foot-lbs
Mazda CX-50
187 hp / 186 foot-lbs
Mazda CX-50
187 hp / 186 foot-lbs
Mazda CX-50
187 hp / 186 foot-lbs
Mazda CX-9
250 hp / 320 foot-lbs
Mazda CX-9
250 hp / 320 foot-lbs
Horsepower / Torque
SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
184 hp / 221 foot-lbs
Volkswagen Taos
158 hp / 184 foot-lbs
Volkswagen Tiguan
184 hp / 221 foot-lbs
Volkswagen Taos
158 hp / 184 foot-lbs
Volkswagen Tiguan
184 hp / 221 foot-lbs
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
269 hp / 273 foot-lbs
Volkswagen Atlas
269 hp / 273 foot-lbs
MPG (city/highway/combined)
SUVs
Mazda CX-5
Not Yet Available
Mazda CX-5
Not Yet Available
Mazda CX-50
Not Yet Available
Mazda CX-50
Not Yet Available
Mazda CX-50
Not Yet Available
Mazda CX-9
20 / 26 / 23
Mazda CX-9
20 / 26 / 23
MPG (city/highway/combined)
SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
23 / 30 / 26
Volkswagen Taos
28 / 36 / 31
Volkswagen Tiguan
23 / 30 / 26
Volkswagen Taos
28 / 36 / 31
Volkswagen Tiguan
23 / 30 / 26
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
20 / 27 / 23
Volkswagen Atlas
20 / 27 / 23
Max Towing Capacity
SUVs
Mazda CX-5
2000 lbs
Mazda CX-5
2000 lbs
Mazda CX-50
3500 lbs
Mazda CX-50
3500 lbs
Mazda CX-50
3500 lbs
Mazda CX-9
3500 lbs
Mazda CX-9
3500 lbs
Max Towing Capacity
SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
1500 lbs
Volkswagen Taos
Not yet available
Volkswagen Tiguan
1500 lbs
Volkswagen Taos
Not yet available
Volkswagen Tiguan
1500 lbs
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
5000 lbs
Volkswagen Atlas
5000 lbs
iSeeCars Overall Quality Ratings
SUVs
Mazda CX-5
8.2 / 10
Mazda CX-5
8.2 / 10
Mazda CX-50
Not available
Mazda CX-50
Not available
Mazda CX-50
Not available
Mazda CX-9
8.7 / 10
Mazda CX-9
8.7 / 10
iSeeCars Overall Quality Ratings
SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
8.2 / 10
Volkswagen Taos
Not available
Volkswagen Tiguan
8.2 / 10
Volkswagen Taos
Not available
Volkswagen Tiguan
8.2 / 10
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Not available
Volkswagen Atlas
7.4 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Ratings
SUVs
Mazda CX-5
7.2 / 10
Mazda CX-5
7.2 / 10
Mazda CX-50
Not available
Mazda CX-50
Not available
Mazda CX-50
Not available
Mazda CX-9
8.6 / 10
Mazda CX-9
8.6 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Ratings
SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
7.4 / 10
Volkswagen Taos
Not available
Volkswagen Tiguan
7.4 / 10
Volkswagen Taos
Not available
Volkswagen Tiguan
7.4 / 10
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Not available
Volkswagen Atlas
5.7 / 10
iSeeCars Safety Ratings
SUVs
Mazda CX-5
9.0 / 10
Mazda CX-5
9.0 / 10
Mazda CX-50
10 / 10
Mazda CX-50
10 / 10
Mazda CX-50
10 / 10
Mazda CX-9
10 / 10
Mazda CX-9
10 / 10
iSeeCars Safety Ratings
SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
9.3 / 10
Volkswagen Taos
8.0 / 10
Volkswagen Tiguan
9.3 / 10
Volkswagen Taos
8.0 / 10
Volkswagen Tiguan
9.3 / 10
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
9.0 / 10
Volkswagen Atlas
9.0 / 10
iSeeCars Resale Value Ratings
SUVs
Mazda CX-5
8.3 / 10
Mazda CX-5
8.3 / 10
Mazda CX-50
8.1 / 10
Mazda CX-50
8.1 / 10
Mazda CX-50
8.1 / 10
Mazda CX-9
7.6 / 10
Mazda CX-9
7.6 / 10
iSeeCars Resale Value Ratings
SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
7.9 / 10
Volkswagen Taos
7.9 / 10
Volkswagen Tiguan
7.9 / 10
Volkswagen Taos
7.9 / 10
Volkswagen Tiguan
7.9 / 10
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
7.6 / 10
Volkswagen Atlas
7.5 / 10
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings
SUVs
Mazda CX-5
#10 of 19 in
Best Small SUVs
Mazda CX-9
#3 of 25 in
Best 7-Seater SUVs
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings
SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
#8 of 19 in
Best Small SUVs
Volkswagen Atlas
#19 of 25 in
Best 7-Seater SUVs
iSeeCars Most Reliable Car Rankings
SUVs
Mazda CX-5
#14 of 19 in
Most Reliable Small SUVs
Mazda CX-9
#8 of 32 in
Most Reliable Midsize SUVs
iSeeCars Most Reliable Car Rankings
SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
#13 of 19 in
Most Reliable Small SUVs
Volkswagen Atlas
#20 of 32 in
Most Reliable Midsize SUVs
iSeeCars Safest Car Rankings
SUVs
Mazda CX-5
#36 of 67 in
Safest Crossover SUVs
Mazda CX-5
#36 of 67 in
Safest Crossover SUVs
Mazda CX-50
#17 of 67 in
Safest Crossover SUVs
Mazda CX-50
#17 of 67 in
Safest Crossover SUVs
Mazda CX-50
#17 of 67 in
Safest Crossover SUVs
Mazda CX-9
#4 of 67 in
Safest Crossover SUVs
Mazda CX-9
#2 of 39 in
Safest SUVs with 3 Rows
iSeeCars Safest Car Rankings
SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
#28 of 67 in
Safest Crossover SUVs
Volkswagen Taos
#60 of 67 in
Safest Crossover SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
#28 of 67 in
Safest Crossover SUVs
Volkswagen Taos
#60 of 67 in
Safest Crossover SUVs
Volkswagen Tiguan
#28 of 67 in
Safest Crossover SUVs
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
#41 of 67 in
Safest Crossover SUVs
Volkswagen Atlas
#17 of 39 in
Safest SUVs with 3 Rows