Breaking into the top tier of the compact SUV segment has never been easy.Buyers in this class expect practicality, efficiency, modern technology, and strong value, which means even a complete redesign isn't always enough to shake up the established order.Any newcomer hoping to climb the rankings has to prove it can improve on a formula that's already been refined for years.
That's exactly the challenge facing one of the segment's most recognizable nameplates.Its latest redesign brings bolder styling, a more premium cabin, and a fresh approach to technology, but are those changes enough to knock the class benchmark off its perch? In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Honda and Mazda, and other authoritative sources, including the EPA.Related Audi's new Q9 headlights use 25,600 tiny LEDs to stop blinding other drivers Oncoming drivers see something closer to a low-beam effect even while the Q9's high beams remain on.
Posts By Carl Anthony Does the new Mazda CX-5 have the chops to take on the Honda CR-V Two affordable compact SUVs go head to head Close If you're shopping for a compact SUV, then it's likely the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V have already made your shortlist.For as long as they have been around, they have both been among the best options in the segment.Making the rivalry a little more complicated, Mazda's CX-5 has entered a new generation, with updated styling and some new bits of kit.
Does this update mean that it has the chops to dethrone what we think is one of the best SUVs on the market, though? Honda offers a couple more trim options 2026 Mazda CX-5 Starting MSRP Honda CR-V Starting MSRP S $29,990 LX $30,920 S Select $31,990 EX $33,150 S Preferred $34,250 EX-L $35,400 S Premium $36,900 Sport Hybrid $35,630 S Premium Plus $38,990 Sport-L Hybrid $38,725 TrailSport $38,800 Sport Touring Hybrid $42,550 In terms of price, the two compact SUVs are pretty evenly matched.If you're looking for the most amount of features for the money, then Mazda's CX-5 does feel like a slightly better choice, with more premium equipment on offer across the board.However, Honda includes a good amount of standard kit, and the top half of the CR-V's trim lineup is offered with an incredibly thrifty hybrid powertrain.
Mazda is yet to offer a hybrid version of the CX-5.Honda offers quite a bit more choice with the CR-V compared to the Mazda CX-5.Not only do they offer a choice of powertrains, but you can also get a slightly more rugged TrailSport model, designed to tackle off-road excursions.
The Mazda takes a more linear approach, with an emphasis on interior luxury and modern technology.Related This everyday SUV has an interior better than luxury rivals You get luxury-level comfort and tech in this SUV, without paying luxury-level prices.Posts By Adam Gray The CR-V is the more practical choice, while the Mazda feels more luxurious Two different approaches to the family SUV Mazda has, for some time now, aimed to be one of the more premium mainstream brands on the market.
The new CX-5 only leans further towards this goal.Meanwhile, Honda's CR-V looks to offer a balanced experience, offering a good amount of space and comfort for the price that you pay.The CR-V has always been the more practical option, but the new generation of the CX-5 has gotten a bit bigger, somewhat closing the gap between the two.
Plenty of room for the whole family Model Mazda CX-5 Honda CR-V Front row headroom 39.7 inches 40 inches Front row legroom 41.7 inches 41.3 inches Second row headroom 40.2 inches 38.2 inches Second row legroom 39.9 inches 41 inches Cargo capacity 33.7 cubic feet 39.3 cubic feet With the CX-5 getting a little bigger for the 2026 model year, it is now able to compete with the likes of the Honda CR-V in terms of passenger space, with both SUVs offering pretty similar dimensions in the front and the back.Honda's crossover still takes the cake as far as cargo space is concerned, though, with quite a lot more space behind its back seats than you get in the CX-5.The new CX-5 strays from Mazda's well-established design language in a way that quite a lot of people find controversial.
The cabin has become extremely minimalist and physical buttons and controls have been taken away, with everything now controlled by a large central screen.This screen is 12.9-inches as standard, but a 15.6-inch unit is offered on top trims.In terms of design, Honda's crossover is more obviously mainstream compared to the CX-5.
However, this doesn't mean that it is worse.We like the long honeycomb grille that goes across the dashboard, hiding the air vents, and we appreciate the many physical controls throughout the cabin.While the Mazda CX-5 definitely wins the tech war, also coming with slightly nicer materials, we think that the CR-V features a more user-friendly cabin.
Related The hybrid SUV that makes every gallon go farther This hybrid SUV delivers the best highway fuel economy, combining outstanding efficiency with low ownership costs and everyday practicality.Posts By Adam Gray You get a choice of powertrains with the CR-V, and you don't with the CX-5 Hybrid power is still on the horizon for Mazda For now, the 2026 Mazda CX-5 still only comes with the same engine as the outgoing model.While Mazda promises that a hybrid version is on the way, it isn't available just yet.
Meanwhile, the Honda CR-V comes equipped with a choice of powertrains, with higher trims being hybrids and lower trims featuring a non-hybrid setup.The CX-5 is gas-only and loses its optional turbocharged engine Mazda CX-5 Like SUV Base: $29,300 Base Trim Engine 2.5-L Inline 4 Base Trim Transmission 6-speed automatic Base Trim Drivetrain All-Wheel Drive Base Trim Horsepower 187 hp Base Trim Torque 185 lb-ft Make Mazda Model CX-5 Segment Compact SUV Powered by Expand Collapse The new CX-5 features the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that it did last year, though Mazda says that it has been tuned for sharper responses.All-wheel drive is standard, and you get a six-speed automatic transmission.
This setup gets the CX-5 up to 60 miles per hour in as little as eight seconds.Unfortunately, Mazda no longer offers the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine in the CX-5.While the CX-5 isn't particularly quick or efficient, it does excel in one particular area.
Mazda has found a great balance between ride and handling, with the driving dynamics of the CX-5 feeling as satisfying as ever.We think that the ride quality has gotten a little bit better as well.The CR-V is more well-rounded Honda CR-V Like SUV Base: $29,500 Base Trim Engine 1.5L I4 Turbo Base Trim Transmission CVT Base Trim Drivetrain Front-Wheel Drive Base Trim Horsepower 190 HP @6000 RPM Base Trim Torque 179 lb.-ft.
@ 1700 RPM Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined) 28/34/30 MPG Make Honda Model CR-V Segment Compact SUV Powered by Expand Collapse The standard powertrain in the CR-V is a turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 190 horsepower.You get a continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive as standard, though all-wheel drive is optional across the board.A hybrid setup is offered on higher trim levels, though, with a setup that makes 204 horsepower and gets the crossover up to 60 miles per hour in 7.1 seconds.
The CR-V might not be quite as athletic as the CX-5, but it does offer enough character that it never feels dull.It feels like a generally well-balanced and easy vehicle to live with.Hybrid models also offer fantastic levels of efficiency, with the most efficient models managing up to 40 miles per gallon combined.
Mazda seems to have forgotten its own identity, while Honda continues delivering consistency The CX-5 has never been quite as popular as some of its rivals, which is obviously part of the reason it has been given such a drastic overhaul.However, Mazda has forgotten what made them special and turned the CX-5 into something generic and, unfortunately, a little bit dull.While it is still relatively fun to drive and a little more practical now, the new model feels like it has lost a little bit of its soul.
The CR-V has always been a jack-of-all-trades.It might not blow you away with fancy gimmicks, but it consistently offers class-leading practicality and efficient and reliable powertrains.While it might not be as luxurious as the CX-5, at least in some ways, it comes with all the features that you could need, better efficiency, and a more spacious interior.
In our eyes, that is what keeps it ahead of its rivals.
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