2019 Mazda CX-5 vs 2019 Honda CR-V - A Riverside Mazda Shopper Comparison and First Look
Compact crossovers are among today’s most popular vehicles, and the 2019 Mazda CX-5 and the 2019 Honda CR-V are two of the most admired models. The 2019 Mazda CX-5 is Mazda’s best-selling vehicle, nearly outselling all other Mazda models combined. The CX-5 features upscale amenities, an attractive exterior and driving dynamics that the competition can’t touch. These are just some of the reasons the CX-5 is so popular at Mazda dealers near Riverside.
The 2019 Honda CR-V is also a big seller. It’s certainly a fine vehicle. But how does the 2019 CR-V stack up against the 2019 CX-5? Read on as we compare the two compact crossovers and see which one comes out on top.
Price
When it comes to price, we have to declare a tie. The 2019 Mazda CX-5 and the 2019 Honda CR-V both have a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $24,350. Note that the MSRP isn’t the price you can expect to pay at a dealer like the Riverside area Mazda dealership CardinaleWay Mazda.
Safety
The 2019 Mazda CX-5 and the 2019 Honda CR-V are both safe vehicles. But the IIHS awarded the CX-5 as a Top Safety Pick+ vehicle, while the CR-V was only named a Top Safety Pick. The Top Safety Pick+ award is given to vehicles that excel when it comes to safety; it’s more prestigious than the Top Safety Pick award.
Features
Both vehicles have a wide range of standard and optional features. The CX-5 and the CR-V both come with color displays, but the CX-5 gets a standard 7-inch screen, while the CR-V’s standard screen is only 5 inches. Mazda CX-5 drivers enjoy standard features such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a leather-wrapped shift knob and push-button start..
Powertrain
You’ll get more power from the Mazda CX-5 than the Honda CR-V. The base engine in the CX-5 is a 2.5-liter, inline-4 engine that that generates 187 horsepower and 186 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The base unit on the CR-V is a 2.4-liter inline-4 that produces 184 hp and 180 lb.-ft. of torque, teamed to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Both vehicles can upgrade to a turbocharged inline-4, and once again the Mazda is the winner, with a 2.5-liter turbo-4 that develops 250 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque with premium gasoline (227 hp with regular), connected to a six-speed automatic transmission. The CR-V gets a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 that’s good for 190 hp and 179 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a CVT.
Most automotive enthusiasts prefer an automatic transmission to a CVT. You’ll find CVTs in lawnmowers and motor scooters. They can be noisy, and they don’t really change gears the way an automatic gearbox does.
All-Wheel Drive *
Both the 2019 CX-5 and the 2019 CR-V get available all-wheel-drive (AWD). However, the CX-5’s two upper trim levels get AWD standard. You can’t get standard AWD on any CR-V trim level.
Our Conclusion
While the 2019 Mazda CX-5 and the 2019 Honda CR-V are both good compact crossovers, there can only be one winner. When you consider categories such as price, the powertrains, features and safety, the CX-5 emerges as the winner in this contest.