Eh- I think yours is backwards and misled by headline numbers and there certainly is no downshifting in the CR-V's CVT haha!! So just because the Mazda's peak torque occurs higher up the band now (for some reason just on the AWDs..?) it certainly doesn't mean its not putting out a healthy number @2000 and although I don't have the curves in front of me I'd bet the CX-5s is also impressively broad and flat- that's what makes the engine so good imo.
What does the 1.5l Honda need in lieu of displacement/compression to produce that amount of low end torque? Boost. And lots of it when fully loaded @70+ into headwinds, climbing hills, it'll need all the boost and definitely more than 2000 revs to keep up...turbo whistling along. I don't doubt Honda still builds (at least major) components that'll last I'd bet on 2.5l NA engine to outlive the 1.5T particularly if their lives don't merely consist of Starbucks and TJs runs.
The 2.5L Skyactiv has a relatively flat torque curve from about 3k rpm on up. The torque starts falling off below 3k rpm and especially below 2k rpm, which is to be expected from a naturally aspirated engine.
Since the CR-V makes more torque at lower revs than the CX-5, it can continue operating in a higher "gear" (is there an analogous word that applies to a CVT?) under load conditions where the CX-5 will have to downshift.
Modern control systems can operate a turbocharged engine at its knock threshold over a wide range of conditions including high boost @ low rpm, and we're starting to get high compression turbocharged engines that are designed to make peak torque from low revs rather than generate high peak HP numbers at high revs. The former is perfect for everyday driving, the latter is good for maxing 0-60 times but not much else in the real world. I've driven VW's current 1.8T which makes 184 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm and even when pushing around a big Passat with 4 people it doesn't feel strained at all. I've also driven Mazda's 2.5T in the CX-9 and it's awesome. The CX-9's competitors all have V6s with higher horsepower, but the only time they feel more powerful is after you hold the pedal to the floor and wait for the transmission to downshift a couple gears.
I'm glad Honda has gotten on board with this idea.