I just bought the CX-5 Touring trim last month and I absolutely love it. I was considering the CRV, RAV4, and CX-5, for me the CX-5 was the clear winner. It felt much more premium and refined compared to the others and the handling is fantastic. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a crossover.
I agree the mazda is just a nice looking car. the honda has cheap plastic parts here and fake chrome parts here and this and that. The CRV is cheap and it only gets better gas miledge becauses its less wieght. The doors on the thing are hollow and flimsy. I would so buy the Mazda over the honda
VTEC kick in Have you ever even seen a CR-V lmao. And actually I like Honda. They are reliable, they dont really depreciate, and are good starter cars, family cars, or whatever you need. Thanks for putting words in my mouth though.
The RAV4 only does 3 miles per gallon more than the CRV in combined driving (the difference in city driving is 7 miles, which is more noteworthy). Unless one drives exclusively in the city, there is no significant difference. Considering Toyota uses hybrid technology to achieve this modest gain, it's not very impressive. So I think it's the other way around: The Honda does make the RAV4 look far behind.
I agree, these two SUV's are at the top of the heap. Really one's no better than the other overall, it just depends on what specific things you want: CX-5: premium interior, top driving manners, killer Head's Up Display, better looking CRV: Great interior space, great back seat, very comfortable front seats. But neither is bad at anything. Whichever one you choose, you got a great car.
That Mazda looks like a more expensive car... It looks gorgeous, and fancy. Looks like an entry level European luxury vehicle, at much much lower price!
I bought a cx5 GT 2016 and it does has it pros and cons.. cons... rivets all over the place.. they do rattle bumper.. rear liftgate.. rear panels is all panels with nothing but rivets.. it is not a rattle free car at all.... on the pros side,, it drives like my sisters audi a4 2013 but with a little more weight.. it is very sensitive to throttle and it will jump as soon as you give it a little gas... it feels sport even when it is not in sport mode.the steering wheel is awsome.. firm and responsive. It really feels like a sport suv more than anything... it feels like an audi with obviously more weight to it... I tried in sport mode and i felt I was gonna rip the engine cause it growls louder than my sisters car.. i definitely think that if you are a family man looking for quietness and comfort the cx5 is not the car for you.. if you are like me 31 years old.. no family..cant care less about room... the xc5 is the way to go. If I were a family man.. ahmmm perhaps my mind would change depending on how many kids i have and what my entertainment activities were... who knows... for now... condoms are the way I go
This was a really tough choice, but it came down to handling and looks. Yes, the CR-V is roomier, but it drives like a shipping box and looks artificially pumped up. The CX-5 is smaller but drives like a nicely wrapped present and looks sculpted. I was skeptical of the driving quality, but it’s clearly there. We went with the red Mazda.
I actually had to make a decision between these two cars just last weekend. After test-driving them back to back, I - to my own surprise - preferred the CR-V. I actually thought that I shifted around too much in the CX-5's driver's seat and found the CR-V seats better. I also thought the CR-V's dash was better laid out in some respects. Both are great options in this segment, however. Maybe it's just my own peculiarities, but what I thought really put the CX-5 at a disadvantage was the packages. It felt as though in order to get one adequately equipped one had to spring for the GT (the only one that has a moon roof), and ultimately, my sister (the person shopping for a car) was looking at a GT with the premium package, which worked out to something like $36K, I think. We then test drove a CR-V EX-L and were happy with it. Never felt it needed anything more than what it had. My sister ended up going with the EX, which was nearly $10K less than the CX-5 she configured.
No way that happened since the CRV EX trim starts at 27k(USD) and the CX5 GT trim starts at 30k(USD) or 33k for CRV and 36k for CX5 in Canada. Not sure about your location. I'm assuming Canada with the prices you're giving. My point is no way she got that much off the price. There is only a 3k difference in price from the two models and trim levels you're comparing. The touring trim in the CRV is quite a bit more than the CX5. Either way,I'm sure it's nice and both are good buys.
Nice! How are you liking it? I'm about to buy a CR-V EX AWD tomorrow over the Mazda because technically it beats the vaunted CX-5 in acceleration, braking, even slalom, while being bigger, lighter, more mpgs, and better overall value. The Honda felt comfortable, comfortable and well balanced and it carved corners just as flat and nicely. The Mazda is the sleeker and a more gorgeous design, so I'm a little torn. www.motortrend.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2017/2017-honda-cr-v-vs-2017-mazda-cx-5-comparison-review/
I went the opposite than the OP. I went with the CX5. To me the handling is better and so is the overall ride quality. The gear timings on CX5 are much better(since CRV is CVT now). I'm quite peeved that Honda went CVT. Should have struck with the traditional transmission. Proven reliability. I think the biggest factors that made me go Mazda is the drive fun factor and handling, interior quality, and overall looks. I really think I would have went CRV if they had not went 1.6 turbo CVT. Biggest downside of CX5 is that I have to wait for the Apple Car Play update until later this year. Although, if the drive felt good in the CRV for you compared to the Mazda then your choice is clear. Both are good buys. Enjoy your new ride.
I know that she got the CR-V EX for $27K (USD) before taxes, but I may have been mistaken about the CX-5. I think the $36K probably included taxes. In any case, it was still a substantial enough difference. My problem when I drove the cars - I drove the Touring trim in the CX-5 and the EX-L trim in the CR-V - was that the CX-5 felt like it needed some additional features, which really meant the GT trim level. The EX-L to me felt just right on the other hand, and the EX, without the leather seats and the power lift gate and a few other small things shaved about $2,500 and was perfectly adequate.
She seems to really be enjoying it. I haven't driven it since the test drive last weekend. I thought CX-5 hands down before going in, based on the design and driving characteristics (I'd driven the 2016 before). Both cars felt adequate in terms of acceleration, braking and handling. Both were relatively car-like and didn't feel like boats. The CR-V felt a little more sluggish off the line and that was probably due to the CVT. Aside from the aforementioned things, I also thought the CR-V was the more practical of the two. It seemed to have more interior space, what seemed to be fairly significantly more trunk space (with the seats up), and better visibility. It kinda just felt better to me overall. And what's even more interesting is that there were three of us doing the test drive, we all went in preferring the CX-5 and all came out preferring the CR-V. I think both manufacturers did a nice job on the redesigns and both cars look pretty sharp (though the CR-V probably takes some getting used to for a lot of people). I'm in no way affiliated with Honda, by the way, nor do I have any issues with Mazda. I've never owned a car from either brand personally. I'm not shopping for cars in this segment myself, but if I were I'd wait for the redesigned VW Tiguan to come out this summer and take a look at it. I don't know if we'll see the 2.0T engine but if we do that car has the potential to blow all of these out of the water in terms of driving dynamics.
He sure did need a lot of room for that umbrella! 😂😂 he could have picked a better example. Lumber or something. On the other hand, my umbrella does take up a lot of space in my beetle...ok dude, you got me. Sold! 🤣
Regarding fuel economy, I'm suspicious of turbos inflating the average. For real world fuel economy, I refer to fuelly.com. There, I learned both vehicles average close to 26 mpg from 2014-2016.
I drove both cars, the dealer actually let me drive the CRV for two days, and I ended up buying the CX-5. The Honda was a really good though, I'm sure many people would like it better. Anyway I've driven the 2017 CX-5 for several weeks now and its downfall on mileage is stop and go city traffic. I get 27 to 28 mpg, and I tend to drive for economy. On the highway however it's another story. I just drove from Tucson to the Grand Canyon and on the flat part of the drive (Tucson to Phoenix) it got 35.6 mpg @ a steady 73 mph. I was impressed. Climbing the mountain (gaining about 6000 feet) it got about 29 - 31. Altogether I got 32 mpg throughout the trip, pretty much all at speeds above 70 mph. That's still pretty good, better than its EPA numbers.
I love Mazda. I have a CX 5, albeit a 2013 model. My entire family has Hondas or Toyotas. After driving/riding in all of those, it seems like the Hondas are for younger families, Toyotas are for older families/ older generations, and Mazdas are for young adults getting their first car. None of these are bad, but Mazda clearly targets a younger audience. Just an observation. Also, the leg room.... no one has ever complained about the leg room in my Mazda before.
I have 2014 CX5 and noticed the new CRV on the road so I'm happy to stay with mine as I avoided the 2014 CRV for the same reasons I would avoid it now - the CRV is boring. The CRV would only be my choice if I planned on starting a family with 2-3 children and was never interested in good handling - just utility. The CX5 is perfect for everyone else as it is cheaper, better looking imho, better handling and has HUD. Though personally I am waiting for the CX9 turbo version to be offered in the CX5 before I'd trade in my '14.
I noticed that throughout the entire video the shots were taken on an asphalt type surface road like many rural highways are made, and if the testing consisted of only those types of roads then it isn't fair to say that the CX-5 has a smooth ride without being too stiff. Try driving on a concrete city street or freeway and decide how smooth you think the CX-5 is. The CX-6 is another car that is trying to be something that it is not, and its trying to demonstrate characteristics that were meant for real sports cars. I've had mine for two years now. I know engines like this one produce more torque at higher rpm, but mine seems to be reluctant to increase speed at all as soon as I step on the gas after slowing down. If I reach a fairly high rpm in a lower gear and then let off the gas, the transmission stays in the low gear for about 4 seconds before upshifting to a gear that matches the speed I'm currently at.
I checked out both and went with the CX-5 GT simply because I just love the looks way more than the boxier CRV. I just thought the CX-5 is way more elegant looking and has clean design whereas I thought the CRV has too many tacked on elements. The interior is much nicer in the CX-5 as well and the materials are a step above the CRV. Practically though the CRV is much better because it's roomier so I think if you don't really care about the looks or interior feel but more about fuel economy and hauling stuff the CRV would be the winner. For us the CX-5 was roomy enough since we just had a small sedan before and needed a little more practicality but not necessarily the MAX amount i can get. Not sure why I'm typing this because it's basically what the reviewer said too but just my 2 cents.
I also upgraded from a subcompact sedan too and heavily researched and test drove both of these two. It's worth noting that in addition to the practicality and efficiency, the Honda is actually better in terms of driving performance - including handling. It just doesn't encourage it, since it's more focused on comfort. Agreed about the Mazda looking better though. www.motortrend.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2017/2017-honda-cr-v-vs-2017-mazda-cx-5-comparison-review/
The CRV has always looked top-heavy to me and the rear-end has always been a mess. I'm really impressed with the exterior & interior styling of the CX-5. The stance looks balanced and it's one of the few cars that looks sexy from almost every angle. The interior looks luxurious and clean. 3 MPG and extra room for carseat adjustment isn't going to convince me on the CRV.
When you absolutely maximise interior space the cars all end up looking the same. The Mazda looks better IMO and I'm sure that of most others because they have dared to put overall styling ahead of having the most interior space. Good for Mazda.
I'm a Honda fan! Always have been, I currently drive a 2013 acura mdx... this Mazda looks amazing inside and out! I am actually considering getting a cx-5 or cx-9 as my next car!
I went to both dealership to compare CX5 and CRV. I could judge easily CX5 is way better. Honda used to be a number 1 Japanese car, but now have to admire CX5 had overlap.
In March of 2017, I leased a CRV XL. I drove everything else in the segment and settled on the Honda. Reasons - some brand loyalty and reliability. I have had 3 previous CRVs, a 1998, a 2002, and a 2009, all with the top trim levels at the time. They have been bullet proof with over 240, miles on the clock when they were sold. I sold all three quickly for reasonable money and will drive the lease out on the '17 and likely buy it out then as it will have less than 20K miles on it. I can take 4 other people in reasonable comfort. My overall mileage is 28.6 with about 90% town driving. The car never wants for power and while not a winner in the Gran Prix De Stoplight, will easily keep up with traffic. The Honda Sensing system on the car is flawless and I can tow my small utility trailer easily. The car does everything I need it to do and the the only thing that I would trade it for would a anew CRV with that nifty 2.0L turbo engine and a 9 speed automatic trans. Second choice would have been the Rav 4, one again for reliability and practicality. I utilize the UTILITY rather than the sport part of the moniker. That said, I really don't think that you can go very far wrong with the other vehicles in the same segment and it simply boils down to preference and how you use the vehicle.
Santa Joe within this segment you want utility hence you buy an suv. The honda crv is the roomier & has more cargo capacity along with better fuel economy. With that being said I'd still take the cx-5 over the crv. The cx-5 is sex on wheels, and that interior stunning.
Mazda said from the very beginning that they would never employ a CVT due to the impact it has on driving. Instead they re-designed their transmission from ground up to have economy as close to the CVT as they could get, whilst having shifts as quick as a DSG. Repair wise, it's not as cheap to repair as a CVT nor as cheap to build as a CVT, but it's certainly not as expensive as a DSG. The manual like rev match as you go down gear is very nice.
Mazda grand touring has Led headlights that articulate, AND led fog lights. I love my CX5 but I did have to adjust the fog lights up because they were way to low. Styling put the CX5 in my driveway over the CR-V. Both are great vehicles.
The Mazda would not look out of place parked directly next to a Porshe Macan, Audi Q5, Mercedes GLC, BMW X3, in fact it probably looks better than some of the base trims of those, but it definitely needs a turbo upgrade, and hopefully a manul to make it the only CUV, that can truly be called dporty in the world.
Good review but editing in the beginning sucks. Who starts out a video where the person is talking away from the viewer and standing in front of the cars that we are supposed to see?!?
Crv has traffic sign reading tech to match the mazda's head up display. i fine the trafic sign reader more useful as i often miss speed limit signs. A turbo always beats a naturally aspirates car for mpg and power. The crv keeps the epms in the right range so can access all the190hp and if you want a more spirited ride switch to sport mode for 0-60 in under 8. 0! With the most expensive suspension you can get(multi-link) and the extra turbo hp. I argue that the crv is more the drivers car!
Sales rates should not be a criterion to measure the quality of a car. What about bugatti or lamborghini then? Mazda has never tried to be the top selling company, and it is explicitly clear from their annual number of production units. However,cars are cars like women and unless you have one, you never know how does it feel..
Esc Dilokulu that argument is invalid, this segment is hottest growing out of all the segments, so yes sales do matter..and obviously Honda must be doing something right to outsell all of Mazda with one model
I like the CX-5 for its Mazda fun factor. I'd certainly consider the CR-V, but the two things I'd be concerned about would be the turbo engine and CVT.
He right the Mazda is the real winner. Utility is good but should not prioritised. If you want utility, you need to look at the class above. Possibly Mazda have accidentally stumbled between the mainstream models in terms of price and premium in terms of feel. Probably worth doing a comparison against a premium badge?
If you are shopping for a midsize SUV, I dont think you can go wrong with either of these vehicles. Sure, the extra room on the CRV is appreciated, but so is the near-luxury appointments and detail on the CX-5. The deciding factor to me is the CVT. The tester is correct, most people won't know or notice, just as most won't really notice the 2-3 mpg disadvantage of the Mazda under normal driving. To me, however, the idea of a CVT droning away - I've driven other Hondas with similar transmissions, as well many Nissans, Jeeps, and Subarus - would be noticeable, and that would be enough for me to be at a Mazda dealership. I cannot deny the CR-V's virtues but that transmission is a sore point. [Disclosure: I own a 2016.5 CX-5 grand touring and I have no regrets...it's a nice car to drive and live with, and the 2017 is better yet with tighter looks, a nicer ride and more luxury features.]
The Forest Gump vibes are strong. I was really hoping a feather would gently float across the screen during the fist minute of the video... It's mostly the shoes. CR-V will continue to well outsell the CX-5. Mazda's driving dynamics are really oversold and not even something most purchasers are engaged enough to appreciate. Glad the prize wasn't just handed to the Mazda. When you get down to it it's not offering all that much different (Looks and a neato heads up display) though Mazda likes to sell the idea they are changing the game. It's biggest appeal to me over the CR-V is the standard automatic.
Have you tried the CRV? It's almost as dynamic and technically beats the CX-5 in cornering, braking, and acceleration (by a lot). Which isn't bad for something that's actually roomier, and better on MPGs. www.motortrend.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2017/2017-honda-cr-v-vs-2017-mazda-cx-5-comparison-review/
Ive driven both, CX5 wins with handling, acceleration, interior, exterior, suspension comfort, comfortable seats, quiet interior, sound system,infotainment and design. For me the CRV wins in passenger space (by about 20%), a little better in terms of gas mileage and cargo space, I can also give it extra points for the rugged look. For both models, I'm glad to see a 6 speed automatic with 4 engine options, 2.0 NA 2.5 Na, 2.5T and 2.2Dtt. its also nice to see the crv with ALOT of different engines including the hybrid. but despite the turbo and most powerful engine, it still feels slow for my taste. this are the 2022 models.
hello everybody. I want to buy a SUV but I don't know witch of these cars to buy. Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V or HR-V, Mazda CX-5. I need recomendations please.
I'm 6' 4" and when I look at cars always put the front seat where I would have it to drive and then try and get in the back seat. The CX5 passed my test a 6' 4" person can sit behind a 6' 4" person in reasonable comfort and can get in and out fairly easily, that's certainly good enough for me. There may be more in some other vehicles, but I doubt that's going to matter much for the vast majority of potential owners. Buy the one you like best, the one you feel some excitement over buying, ultimately you will always be more pleased with a vehicle that has that certain something in looks, styling and feeling as opposed to the "sensible" choice on paper.
I'll have the Honda CRV please. More reliable in every way and model has been around way longer to earn enough respect and is known to be a a reliable model at every generation. I don't think the mazda's engine will make to 10 years.
dude the mazda gets 24/31 mpg. Then you can also get active grill shutters and ieloop which adds even more mpg. It also looks like you had the front seats full pushed back in the CX-5. Im 5 11 and sit perfectly in the back with another full grown man sitting in the front.
EpiDemic117 You got a good point, but is also a preference issue. I can also say the same that if you are buying a crossover or SUV, you are looking for sporty cool look, not exactly function cuz otherwise you would of went with minivan. Just saying.
As a CRV owner, after driving the CX-5 I have to admit that besides space, this mazda is a better package. (Though I'm not sure how will it do over time)
It is all about preference, CRV if you want funtionality/practicality. CX5 if you want fun in driving dynamics and more upscale look. In a sense, Mazda is not exactly a in the same economy class as Honda, Toyota or Nissan anymore. They are kind of in between economy and luxury class like a premium class like Buick if you will. Standard LED headlight on all trim level, the body shape of CX5 is just spelling upscale instead of economy. As a matter of fact you got some auto reviewers comparing CX5 to Audi, Acura. Why would they do that if it is not upscale class?
The CX5 has the accelerator pedal on the floor like premium European luxury vehicles, instead of dangling from the top. That little attention to detail shows Mazda sweat the bigger things when it comes to refinement. Just turn the temp. knob on one and you'll know.
Heyu Yoma wrong. Grand Touring is 55% of mazda sales. much higher than rav4 limited or crv touring. mazda is a premium option compared to other Japanese econobox cuvs
I love the looks of the Mazda, but the kids might hate how small the back row is. I like the crv, but hate the grill and the middle arm rest console is just weird.
Car and Driver tests the CX-5 0-60 mph in 7.7 seconds. And the CR-V 0-60 with the turbo in 7.6 seconds. Why is the difference compared to your test results? Do you have to use the Sport mode in CX-5 to get the Car and Driver's faster 7.7 seconds to 60s?
Those shoes with the jeans tucked in them!!! Makes you look like one of those crazy 40 year old guys who still want to be hip. lol Maybe you need to go buy a Corvette?
As long as you don't have to maintain it, the Mazda may be reasonable. Much more dealer dependent (even the simplest things are complicated!) and more expensive to maintain. I got a Honda (2008 Accord Coupe) and a Mazda (2012 '5) in my driveway, and the Mazda cost more to maintain in the 5 years (80 000 km) we owned it than my 9 1/2-year old Honda (200 000 km). YMMV. I'd take the Honda, leave the Mazda at the stealership.
According to Motor Trend", the CR-V is almost a second faster going 0 - 60, stops 10 feet shorter from 60 - 0 and was faster around their track loop. So how is the CX-5 the "sporty alternative" to main stream CUV's like the CR-V? Additionally, the CR-V gets better gas mileage and is roomier.
Toyota Rav4 might be dated, but is more reliable than both of these feminin SUV's. Thank goodness Toyota is making a rugged one in 2019 instead of follwing this feminin looking trend SUV styles.
Please do cx5 vs q3/x1/gla!! I'd like to see how close mazda is to competing with those. Haha I'd like to see a crv win again those whereas the mazda actual has a chance vs the entry luxury cuvs
Heyu Yoma so your saying a crv can compete with entry level luxury suvs? Because that's funny. Or are you saying mazda can't because they easily can, they just need to replace a few more plastic parts with soft touch or leather then it'll be good
Chevrolet Equinox 1.5t AWD is $6,000 less than CR-V 1.5t AWD. Or go Equinox 2.0T for $24,000 and never worry about power. The Equinox has best in class 81 cu ft of cargo with front passenger seat folded.
I know I'ma getting lot of hate, but Crv just look wayyyy better for me, cx5's front end looks nice the sides are alright but the rear end is boring and tasteless, but Crv obviously can't match Mazda's quality in the interior but Crv looks funky and youthful!!
cx5 please add the turbo, manual and signature trim and show Porshe, Audi. BMW, Acura, Lexus, Mercedes, Infinit How to do it right in a Sport /Luxury CUV