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- 2024 CX5 Akera G25
Except maybe down the centre of Australia from Darwin to the Alice? Is that "highway" still unlmited speed?
Help Me Decide: CX-5 vs. CR-V
- Thread starter bluegrass
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Except maybe down the centre of Australia from Darwin to the Alice? Is that "highway" still unlmited speed?
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- 2021 CX-9 Sig
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- 2021 CX-5 GT
My son and went to test drive the new Civic Hatchback and I also got a ride in the new CR-V before our second rides in the Mazda 3 and the CX-5. First, the 1.5T engine in the Honda is good. Really good. We were all set the get the Mazda 3 but the Civic Hatch is a really fun car. Fast of the line with immediate throttle response. Great feel with turning and an overall very fun car. The CVT is OK but when you drive it hard, the ugly CVT features come out. The manual is terrible. Must have been pulled from an old Geo Metro. No feel, soft and the gears shifts are short but have no feel. And this engine rev thing it does it just wacky.
Comparing this car with the 3 is easy but also tells an interesting story that relates to the CX-5 and CR-V (which I discuss below). The Civic hatch is the car that a 16-24 year old will fall for. It has a go-cart like feel and the interior is set up for them. Less luxury and more practicality. The Civic's blind spot monitoring (which happens only on the true passenger side blind spot) is a camera that shows you exactly what is there. There is nothing on the driver side so you should look. The Honda's computer infotainment system is crazy complicated and frustrating (but lots of options). Just as bad as our Odyssey with two screens. The Mazda 3, after driving the Civic feels like an old mans car. The seats are nicer, the car feels more luxurious and softer, even if it is as fast as the civic. My son said the 3 made him feel like some old dude (like 30!).
Which brings us to the CR-V and the CX-5. I had a CR-V in the past and can say it had its strengths. It was reliable and consistent for the most part but got terrible mileage (20, everywhere!), was pretty darn slow and no fun to drive. The new CR-V is really nice. The same basic engine - with more horse power than in the civic is used (in the Civic they recommended premium gas but not in the CR-V). The CVT is again not terrible but can get caught up at moments but is 100x better than anything in a Nissan or Toyota. The car is also huge and roomy. The trunk is noticeably larger and the back seats do have more leg room. The driving feel is not bad either getting off the line. The throttle response is immediate and the car feels very fast. There is no turbo-lag or any feel that you are waiting for the engine to get into the meat of the power band. It is there. The engine does drone at higher RPMs and is loud sounding and the honda's infotainment system is still terrible. The car drives really well and the handling is 1000x better than my old CR-V but not as nice as my 2014 CX-5 - but it is not far behind. The interior and the gauge cluster are stupid looking. They really are but they work. But boy do they look stupid.
After this we went back and drove the 3 and the 17 CX-5. And again the difference are pretty striking. After I drove the CR-V, I though it was much faster feeling than the CX-5 but driving the new 2017, it actually felt similar. Different but similar. The CX-5 requires revs to get to the meat of the power feel but it does and the throttle response is not bad either. The car feels smaller and less truck like. And I get the more refined feel as well. The whole experience is different. The CX-5 is the better handling car as well. Just very smooth around corners with a small car feel. Very nice and very easy mature feeling car.
Again, I think you can sum up the cars in a simple way. The CR-V feels like a car you want when you are 30 with small kids. The CX-5 felt like the car you get when you are 40 and the kids are not small and you want something nicer. Both are nice with good functionality.
Comparing this car with the 3 is easy but also tells an interesting story that relates to the CX-5 and CR-V (which I discuss below). The Civic hatch is the car that a 16-24 year old will fall for. It has a go-cart like feel and the interior is set up for them. Less luxury and more practicality. The Civic's blind spot monitoring (which happens only on the true passenger side blind spot) is a camera that shows you exactly what is there. There is nothing on the driver side so you should look. The Honda's computer infotainment system is crazy complicated and frustrating (but lots of options). Just as bad as our Odyssey with two screens. The Mazda 3, after driving the Civic feels like an old mans car. The seats are nicer, the car feels more luxurious and softer, even if it is as fast as the civic. My son said the 3 made him feel like some old dude (like 30!).
Which brings us to the CR-V and the CX-5. I had a CR-V in the past and can say it had its strengths. It was reliable and consistent for the most part but got terrible mileage (20, everywhere!), was pretty darn slow and no fun to drive. The new CR-V is really nice. The same basic engine - with more horse power than in the civic is used (in the Civic they recommended premium gas but not in the CR-V). The CVT is again not terrible but can get caught up at moments but is 100x better than anything in a Nissan or Toyota. The car is also huge and roomy. The trunk is noticeably larger and the back seats do have more leg room. The driving feel is not bad either getting off the line. The throttle response is immediate and the car feels very fast. There is no turbo-lag or any feel that you are waiting for the engine to get into the meat of the power band. It is there. The engine does drone at higher RPMs and is loud sounding and the honda's infotainment system is still terrible. The car drives really well and the handling is 1000x better than my old CR-V but not as nice as my 2014 CX-5 - but it is not far behind. The interior and the gauge cluster are stupid looking. They really are but they work. But boy do they look stupid.
After this we went back and drove the 3 and the 17 CX-5. And again the difference are pretty striking. After I drove the CR-V, I though it was much faster feeling than the CX-5 but driving the new 2017, it actually felt similar. Different but similar. The CX-5 requires revs to get to the meat of the power feel but it does and the throttle response is not bad either. The car feels smaller and less truck like. And I get the more refined feel as well. The whole experience is different. The CX-5 is the better handling car as well. Just very smooth around corners with a small car feel. Very nice and very easy mature feeling car.
Again, I think you can sum up the cars in a simple way. The CR-V feels like a car you want when you are 30 with small kids. The CX-5 felt like the car you get when you are 40 and the kids are not small and you want something nicer. Both are nice with good functionality.
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- Denver, CO
And the 2014 CX-5 is what you drive when you are in your 20's.
This line here:
This is exactly how I felt sitting in a 2017 CX-5 versus my 2014 CX-5.
Anyway, good write up and comparison. I am glad I am not the only one who thinks the CR-V gauges look stupid.
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- Fmr CX5 Touring
He's over on the CR-V forums, saying that he's going to get a CR-V, but he took a couple of potshots at the car while doing so. Basically, they're telling him to get a CX-5. I stopped following it so I don't know what he did or if he ever intended to buy one.
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- Denver, CO
Hahaha....really? That's hilarious. (rofl2)
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- 2017 CX-5 GT/Tech
I'm 37 with a young baby (pow)
We still chose the CX-5 over the CRV and the Rogue. It simply drove better and that's all.
That was exactly me a few years ago and I did the exact same thing for the exact same reason..but what if #2 arrives? Spices it up a little- I'd likely still do the same but wife drives the bus anyway and we can't start over now so its moot!
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- 2014 QX70 AWD
Poor Guy. Those Honda boys over there seem to get quite impatient. After a few pages of discussion the majority thinks its time to wrap up the show, and carrying on the conversation is apparently heresy.
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- Denver, CO
I saw that. Apparently a discussion that spans more than a few pages is too much for "those Honda boys" over there.
7eregrine
The man, the myth, the legend
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- Land of Cleve
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- 2016.5 CX5
Me, too. Wanted something bigger then my last car for my son mainly. Something that still had the utility of my wagon. and the fun. But that was still my #2 reason. I am very shallow. My #1 reasons was simply: looks.
//EDIT// Well that wasn't hard to find:
http://www.crvownersclub.com/forums...n-5/140610-help-me-decide-cr-v-vs-cx-5-a.html
Most of the CRV guys are actually pretty respectful. Except for that Mango-something dude, of course.
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OP here.
That Honda forum definitely has its share of insecure whining babies. Any discussion of drawbacks or flaws with the CRV is met with hostility. Some posters have such fragile egos that they cannot tolerate any rational, honest debate about the two vehicles.
Anyway, I have not yet purchased a vehicle.
As stated in the Honda forum, I have no urgent need or immediate time pressure to buy a vehicle.
When I'm ready to get rid of my current car, I'll make my final decision and go buy one.
I did say that I was leaning towards the CRV based on the crash test data that came out.
I've got a wife and young kids, so safety is very important.
HOWEVER, I also said I need to dig into the crash test results to see if the CRV is meaningfully/substantially safer than the CX5.
I truly hate the looks of the CRV, both inside and out. I also hate the CVT.
But I'm not going to buy a better-looking vehicle if it puts my family at greater risk of injury.
That Honda forum definitely has its share of insecure whining babies. Any discussion of drawbacks or flaws with the CRV is met with hostility. Some posters have such fragile egos that they cannot tolerate any rational, honest debate about the two vehicles.
Anyway, I have not yet purchased a vehicle.
As stated in the Honda forum, I have no urgent need or immediate time pressure to buy a vehicle.
When I'm ready to get rid of my current car, I'll make my final decision and go buy one.
I did say that I was leaning towards the CRV based on the crash test data that came out.
I've got a wife and young kids, so safety is very important.
HOWEVER, I also said I need to dig into the crash test results to see if the CRV is meaningfully/substantially safer than the CX5.
I truly hate the looks of the CRV, both inside and out. I also hate the CVT.
But I'm not going to buy a better-looking vehicle if it puts my family at greater risk of injury.
7eregrine
The man, the myth, the legend
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- Land of Cleve
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- 2016.5 CX5
Don't forget IIHS.
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/mazda/cx-5-4-door-suv/2016#other-model-years
I look at it like this: I traded in a 2006 Saab 9-3. That was an IIHS top safety pick.... 11 years ago. Technology has advanced so far, that a 1 start difference between one cars frontal offset and another's is still much safer then a car from even 10 years ago. My pregnant wife drove that '06 Saab.
Cars keep getting safer, but the bar keeps getting raised, as well.
I am very confident that my family is damn safe in my CX-5.
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/mazda/cx-5-4-door-suv/2016#other-model-years
I look at it like this: I traded in a 2006 Saab 9-3. That was an IIHS top safety pick.... 11 years ago. Technology has advanced so far, that a 1 start difference between one cars frontal offset and another's is still much safer then a car from even 10 years ago. My pregnant wife drove that '06 Saab.
Cars keep getting safer, but the bar keeps getting raised, as well.
I am very confident that my family is damn safe in my CX-5.
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- Denver, CO
Makes sense. It's a big purchase, why rush it?
CR-V makes sense for some folks. But for others, nah. I hate all the same things that you outlined in your post. And to me those are major enough to not even consider it (for me).
Yep, fully agree. A CX-5 is way safer than any vehicle I used to drive (mainly Jeeps).
This is a very good point.
I'm currently transporting my family around in 2006 and 2007 model vehicles, yet I haven't felt the urgent need to rush out and buy the safest new car possible.
So regardless of which new vehicle I choose, it will be safer than what I'm driving now.
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- Denver, CO
I think in the end, you'll be served well by either vehicle as a "family truckster". It will come down to things like features, feeling, styling, etc. that pushes you to one or the other. What do you value most?
One of the original drawbacks you have mentioned were EPA#s. I think in real world - unless you drive constant at 50-60 mph range, CX-5 will beat CRV.
Understand that for EPA - Honda knows what to do to gain max FE, but real world driving reports give it 20 mpg in city. That is because anyone who is not a grandma will push it a little and that hurts FE a lot.
So if this is your commuter + family hauler - decide what you will do most in it and understand your driving pattern. CX-5 for mixed has been a boss in mpg since 2013 - I can compare it to 2015 Camry SE and my CX-5 does equally good in mixed, ofcourse on highway Camry wins due to profile.
At this point I think there are 4 publications saying CRV city is 20-21 - thats a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong way from the EPA # of 26.
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- Denver, CO
Wow that is indeed pretty crappy real world FE.
I knew there was a reason I called it the granny-mobile
I knew there was a reason I called it the granny-mobile
The problem with these 5 star safety ratings is that if gives a false sense of appreciable difference. The CX-5 could have missed out on the 5 start rating by 0.5% for all we know. Which in the real world is not statistically significant and wouldn’t make the car “less safe.” Considering the average age of cars on the road these days in the states is 11.4 years, anyone with a CX-5 is going to fine. People need to stop over hyping this. We all die eventually. Driving a 4 star car versus a 5 star car doesn’t mean you are going to get to the end quicker. If you don’t teach a kid that a rose bush has thorns and let them prick their fingers once and a while, you are not teaching them how to live.
I'm picking up my new CX-5 next Friday and couldn't be happier about my choice.
I'm picking up my new CX-5 next Friday and couldn't be happier about my choice.
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- 2021 CX-9 Sig
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- 2021 CX-5 GT
And the 2014 CX-5 is what you drive when you are in your 20's.
This line here:
This is exactly how I felt sitting in a 2017 CX-5 versus my 2014 CX-5.
Anyway, good write up and comparison. I am glad I am not the only one who thinks the CR-V gauges look stupid.
Yeah, they are actually really cheesy. My son is all over the Civic Hatch and truly Honda does have a good engine on their hands. I looked at the V6 accord and the people told me that is being replaced with a 2.0 turbo. I think Mazda really needs to make a 2.0 Turbo as well and put it into the CX-5. The 17 CX-5 is a really nice car as well and personally, I think it is worth changing a 14 out for.
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