Chevy vs Mazda: Reliability Comparison
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Chevy and Mazda aren't new names in the auto industry. They might not be as popular as Honda, Toyota, or Hyundai, but they've got interesting features that will make you want to own them.
However, reliability remains a major factor determining your chances of purchasing a car. You've probably got one question: Chevy and Mazda, which is more reliable?
It's a close margin between both brands, but Mazda is more reliable than Chevy. With Mazda, you get higher safety ratings and cheaper repair and maintenance costs. Gas mileage is relative on both brands, as well as their engine performance and warranty coverage.
However, Mazda's cheaper repair cost and higher durability standards give you the assurance of a cheaper overall cost of ownership and the fact that these vehicles will last very long.
Here's a detailed comparison of Chevy vs. Mazda reliability to help you decide which brand is best for you.
Table of Contents
Chevy vs. Mazda Reliability: A Detailed Comparison
| Features | Chevy | Mazda |
| Design | ||
| Repair and Maintenance Cost | ||
| Safety | ||
| Engine Performance | ||
| Technology | ||
| Gas Mileage | ||
| Durability |
Chevy vs. Mazda Reliability: Which Is Better?
Chevys are amazing cars. Popular for their affordable trucks, amazing technology, and wide lineup ranging from subcompact cars to full-size trucks, there are many benefits to owning a Chevy.
Mazda isn't a bad option either. With its i-ACTIVSENSE technology and Skyactiv technology, Mazda integrates the best technology to ensure maximum efficiency from its cars.
Considering the features of vehicles from both brands, it is obvious that Mazda is better than Chevy when it comes to reliability.
According to RepairPal, Mazda has a reliability rating of 4.0/5.0, ranking 5th out of 32 car brands. Chevy earns a 3.5/5.0 reliability rating, ranking 20th out of 32 brands.
On the 2022 Consumer Reports reliability rating, Mazda assumes the position of the fourth most reliable car brand. Chevrolet drops so low down to the 20th position.
However, it's a different case in the 2022 US Vehicle dependability study as Chevy ranks higher than Mazda, with Chevy recording 171 problems, while Mazda gets 179 problems.
The varying reliability reports can pose a challenge in deciding the most reliable option among the duo. It's important to compare the features of vehicles from both brands alongside the factors that help you decide the reliability of a car brand.
The problem with comparing Chevy’s and Mazda’s reliability is that there aren't many factors that differentiate them. Chevy and Mazda share the same warranty coverage.
You are getting a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and road assistance warranty and 60,000-mile powertrain warranty coverage for Mazda and Chevy vehicles.
Gas mileage and engine performance are hard to compare Mazda and Chevy as it depends on the model that you choose. However, Mazda offers higher safety ratings and cheaper repair and maintenance costs.
Chevy vs. Mazda Reliability: Design
Design is one of the crucial factors to consider when you're comparing the reliability of different car brands. Due to the peculiarity of these brands, it's impossible to expect the same designs from them.
Mazda's designs always focus on the need to capture the love of driving. This design philosophy takes into account the need to deliver joy and satisfaction with each car.
With the alluring design that captures the soul's intent and the personality built around each car, Mazda engineers are always concerned about breathing life into metals. These vehicles are structured to address your emotional concerns, connecting each driver to their car.
Mazda’s design philosophy, KODO–Soul of Motion, ensures that Mazda engineers create a sense of motion with each vehicle. From the personality development of each vehicle to the alluring designs with each Mazda car begging to be driven, Mazda vehicles are designed to make drivers happy.
The craftsmanship involved, commitment in production, paint choice and styling, fabrication, and interiors, there are high levels of innovative implementation in Mazda vehicles to enhance comfort and safety.
For Chevy, designs are all about quality, safety, and innovation. This includes the need to offer peace of mind to each driver through the engineering principles, quality, reliability, and dependability of their vehicles.
The major difference between Mazda and Chevy designs lies in the type of cars they produce. Chevy is known for producing rugged and muscular vehicles, and this is visible in their trucks. Mazda vehicles take up sleek and modern forms.
There isn't much emphasis on rugged cars. Mazda stopped making pickup trucks after the 2009 B-Series Mazda truck. There's a Mazda BT-50 truck, but it might be difficult to find it in your region.
As for cargo space, headroom, and legroom, the differences lie in the model that you choose.
Winner: Both
Chevy vs. Mazda Reliability: Engine and Performance
Mazda and Chevy have a wide range of engines, delivering varying levels of performance on their vehicles.
There is no peculiarity to the prioritization of power and speed, although Mazda's engine Technology places it some steps ahead of Chevy's.
Mazda engines are backed up with SkyActiv technology. The SkyActiv technology embodies the functionality and form of the engine body, transmission, chasing, and overall performance of the engines.
The goal is to improve efficiency and engine output. Mazda achieves this by implementing higher compression ratios, making it easy to squeeze out more energy from every drop of fuel available in your engine.
The SkyActiv transmissions make driving more responsive, steering and control more precise, and help for smooth and quick acceleration. The framework for the chassis adopts an ultra-high tensile-strength steel form to make lighter yet stronger vehicles.
Overall, it is normal to assume that Mazda’s engines will always be better than Chevy's. You can give it to Mazda for increasing the standards of reliability in its engines, but when it comes to delivering power and speed, engines from both brands are almost on the same level.
What this means is that you can rely on Mazda engines to last longer than you expected, but the speed and gas mileage you'll get from these engines depend on the model that you choose.
Sometimes, there are even Chevy vehicles that deliver better fuel efficiency than Mazda's.
Here's a comparison of Chevy vs. Mazda engines.
The 2021 Mazda CX-3 delivers an engine power of 148hp, while the 2022 Chevy Trax delivers 155hp. However, it's a different case for the 2022 Chevy Equinox vs. Mazda CX5. The Chevy Equinox delivers 170 hp while the Mazda CX-5 returns 187 horsepower.
The 2022 Mazda CX-9 gets 227 horsepower with its 2.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, but the 2022 Chevy Traverse gets 310 hp, equipped with a 3.6L V6 engine. The 2022 Mazda CX-30 also beats the 2023 Chevy Equinox with dual 2.5L 4-cylinder engine options that deliver 186 and 227 hp, respectively. This is compared to the Chevy equinox which only gets 175 hp.
It's obvious that the differences between Chevy and Mazda engines lie in the model that you choose. Mazda CX-5 returns better engine power than the Chevy Equinox, but the Chevy Traverse gets better engine power in its 2023 models.
We noticed that in most cases where Chevy has the better engine power, Mazda wins with gas mileage, and Vice Versa.
Winner: Both
Chevy vs. Mazda Reliability: Gas Mileage
Just as there are varying figures in the engine performance of Chevy and Mazda, there are also different ratings for their gas mileage.
In this sense, it is safe to say that Chevys are just as fuel efficient as Mazdas.
Let's compare the fuel efficiency of engines from both brands to give you a better understanding.
The 2023 Mazda CX-5 returns a gas mileage of 24/30 mpg, while the 2023 Chevy Traverse returns 18/27 mpg. This is a different case for the 2022 Mazda CX-5 vs. 2022 Chevy Equinox comparison, as Mazda has a fuel economy of 24/30 mpg while Chevy gets 26/31 MPG.
Chevy also wins with better gas mileage on the 2023 Chevy Equinox vs. the 2022 Mazda CX-30 gas mileage comparison. You'll get 26/31 MPG from Chevy and 24/31 MPG from Mazda.
The truth is, whether you are choosing a Chevy or a Mazda, you have the assurance of getting great engines that will help you save money on gas.
However, you must understand that there are also varying ratings on the trim levels of the different models from both brands.
Winner: Both
Chevy vs. Mazda Reliability: Safety and Technology
It's a clear win for Mazda in terms of safety. There are six Mazda cars earning the IIHS Top Safety Pick (+) Award. This is impressive compared to Chevy, which has only one car on the list.
For improved passenger protection, Mazda adopts a three-way safety mechanism; basic safety, preventive, and collision safety. These safety mechanisms work together to reduce different risk factors that can compromise your safety; low risk, high risk, etc.
Here's a list of features available on Mazda's safety system.
- Blind-spot monitoring
- 360-Degree view monitor
- Seat-belt pre-tensioners and multiple airbags
- Smart brake support
- Acceleration control
- Radar cruise control
- Driver monitoring
And lots more.
In terms of technology, both brands offer a range of features like infotainment systems, Audio systems, smartphone integration, and advanced navigation systems.
Mazdas are always known for their user-friendly systems, but from an overall scale, the advancement of the technology on your Mazda or Chevy is dependent on the model and trim level that you choose.
Winner: Mazda
Chevy vs. Mazda Reliability: Repair and Maintenance Cost
Repair and maintenance cost remains one of the areas in which Mazda has an advantage over Chevy.
According to RepairPal, the average annual repair cost for a Mazda is $462, while the average annual repair cost for a Chevrolet is $649.
This means that, on average, Mazda owners will spend less money on repairs than Chevrolet owners.
Winner: Mazda
Conclusion
Mazda and Chevy are great car brands with superb features that make them an admirable option for a lot of drivers.
It is obvious that Mazdas are more reliable than Chevys, but their limited lineup and the non-availability of some models can pose a hindrance to getting your perfect dream car.
Aside from the cheaper repair and maintenance cost, and higher safety ratings that Mazda offers, you can always find a Chevy alternative for any Mazda.
