Why I chose the Honda CRV over the Mazda CX5

[ADVWannabe]

I know this is a Mazda CX5 forum, but I thought I would post why I chose the CRV instead. I learned of the new CX5 from a friend and had really expected to get one. I was replacing a 2005 Honda Accord with 160,000 almost trouble free miles on it. I have a brother with a Mazda minivan with 136,000 miles so I figured the Mazda would be about as good as my Honda. So I went one evening to the Honda lot first for a look and test drive and then stopped at the Mazda lot afterward. The cars are very similar yet quite different. The Mazda has a little more technology like homelink for the garage door opener, HID headlights, mirror mounted turn signals and I really liked the blind spot monitoring. Other than that, the Honda has about the same equipment as the Mazda. I did end up getting the Honda for $2,000 less than the Mazda so I consider the loss of the features a wash.

The ride and handling of the Mazda was good but firm. The CRV, like my Accord, is on the soft side though it does still seem to handle well. But the engine and transmission combo is a lot different between the vehicles. I felt like the Mazda was loud, buzzy and jerky compared to the Honda. I think the 2.0L engine is too small for the vehicle and has to work pretty hard. I know the Mazda has better MPG rating but I am finding the Honda to do just as well and better. So far in mixed driving I am getting 28/29 MPG which is right with my prior 5 sp manual 4-banger Accord. On a 300 mile interstate run I got 34 MPG which is only 1 less than my Accord. I am extremely pleased with the mileage. I am doubtful the Mazda would do any better.

I am really pleased to see that the crossover/mini-SUV category has so many choices now that get mileage rivaling similar cars. If the MPG had been any less, I would be in another car rather than a crossover. So I hope you don't take this as a knock on the Mazda, it just wasn't for me. I wanted to leave the review as a data point for others considering the two vehicles. Obviously many will go the other way as demonstrated by the many happy owners of the CX5 here.

I do have a question about the Mazda, out of curiosity. With the CRV, I can stream Pandora radio through a bluetooth connection with my Android phone, can the Mazda do that? It can make a USB connection with the iPhone but since I don't have an iPhone I don't care much about that feature.

 

[Rockin03mp5]

I'm sure a lot of people would chose the cx-5 over the crv for the looks alone.

If you aren't used to how touchy mazda gas pedals are, you will jerk the car around. i know whenever i drive a ford, im always wondering just when the gas actually is going to do anything. havent driven a honda in a while.

As for your question about bluetooth, my 2011 mazda6 streams music via bluetooth very well. i use that all the time. i just get in the car, and if it is on bt audio, my phone just begins playing through the car speakers. i dont have a cx-5, but my guess would be that all the mazdas would be similar. (my phone is a galixy s2)

 

[paris1]

I do have a question about the Mazda, out of curiosity. With the CRV, I can stream Pandora radio through a bluetooth connection with my Android phone, can the Mazda do that?

Funny you should mention that as I've been playing around with the connectivity feature just this afternoon. I'm looking at using Pandora through my Android phone as an alternative to Sirius radio. Yes, you can stream Pandora using the bluetooth feature, but the sound quality seemed like it could be better (consistent with what I have read about this kind of audio connection), so I ordered a 3.5mm cable which should be better.

 

[PhoenixINX]

What would've the outcome been if the CX-5 was $2k less?

 

[mr.fusion]

So far in mixed driving I am getting 28/29 MPG which is right with my prior 5 sp manual 4-banger Accord. On a 300 mile interstate run I got 34 MPG which is only 1 less than my Accord. I am extremely pleased with the mileage. I am doubtful the Mazda would do any better.

Your mpg in the CRV sounds very good, but my response is that if you are doing that well with your CRV (those numbers are at the high end for CRV owners?), imagine what you could do with a CX5! (lol2) Admittedly, there isn't much room to improve on your numbers, but I would bet a few bucks the Mazda could do a little better. (poke) ha ha

 

[ADVWannabe]

I would have made the same choice. The price wasn't the deciding factor.

 

[ADVWannabe]

Mr.Fusion, you may be right about the mileage. I have found that you can usually beat the estimate for 4 bangers. The CX5 might do better than I am getting from the CRV. I was worried about the poor city MPG estimate of the CRV.

 

[Smiley81]

I have a 2004 CR-V with 185K trouble-free miles. Fully expected to go buy another CR-V. Drove the CR-V first then the CX-5. Bought the CX-5. Different strokes....

 

[Dogeh]

I fully expected to buy the CR-V.

Went to the Mazda dealership first, where they photocopied my license, gave me the keys and said, "Away you go" and was able to give it a good test.

Then I went to the Honda dealership; didn't like the looks much on closer inspection, and I didn't like the build quality. I never got a test drive because the salesman said if we came back in half an hour we could go test drive one. Well screw that, Mr Honda salesman-dude. Time is money, as they say.

So went back to Mazda and bought the CX-5.

Haven't regretted it since. The car handles more like a sports car than the Escape or the RAV4.

And the dealers are better than Honda's

 

[Buger]

There are a lot of very good choices in the small crossover market and there aren't really wrong choices if people get what is right for them. Many people who are used to more power will choose the CRV or Rav4 or Escape over the CX-5 as the current model doesn't have a higher HP engine in the US. It's good that you are happy with the CRV fuel economy there is a reason why the CX-5 has the better fuel economy both in testing and real world results. You can look at real world results on fuelly.com or other places which may clear up a little of your doubt.

 

[paris1]

Personally I think the next real contender for the CX-5 will be the 2014 Subaru Forester. I didn't bother to drive the current model because of the dinosaur-age 4 speed automatic and mediocre gas mileage, but the rest of the vehicle was very appealing and the Imprezza was actually my second choice (to the CX-5), but was too small. The new Forester, due out first quarter of 2013, will offer both their current 2.5l four and a 2.0 turbo boxer both with CVT. Mileage will no doubt be much closer to CX-5 in a nicer package.

 

[hollis]

the new generation of CRVs now look like mini mini vans instead of SUVs.

Yes, the CX-5 has less power then CRV but in real world setting their within 0.5sec in 0-60mph so null that question.
Oddly, I found the the CRV to be much louder on the highway and felt the jolts when going over large bumps in the road, where the CX-5 dampened the bumps much better and was quieter overall.
I had hondas and acuras for many many years, and they have been going down in build quality and driver focus each new generation. I had enough and decided to look elsewhere, came down to either Subaru Forester or Mazda CX-5

CX-5 had the right configuration and features I wanted for a ridiculous price point of $20K and 0.9% financing

Glad you found what fits your needs, I am sure you cant really go wrong with any of the top 4 SUVs on the market.

 

[DougNuts]

Yes, the CX-5 has less power then CRV but in real world setting their within 0.5sec in 0-60mph so null that question.

But that's only max effort acceleration. The "flexibility" of larger engines is nice to have sometimes, in my opinion.

I had hondas and acuras for many many years, and they have been going down in build quality and driver focus each new generation. I had enough and decided to look elsewhere, came down to either Subaru Forester or Mazda CX-5

Agreed 100%. Honda has really fallen off in regards to interior quality.

 

[Goguinness]

Why I choose a CX-5 over the CRV

Six speed automatic versus five speed.
Wide center arm-rest versus two narrow fold down ones
Extendible sun visors for side windows versus non-extendible on CRV
Power driver's seat available on CX-5 for $3,000 less
Blind side warning system
Styling, and handling
Rarity & uniqueness

 

[Triton46]

I did end up getting the Honda for $2,000 less than the Mazda so I consider the loss of the features a wash.

Less than what model? Were you comparing a CRV EX with a fully loaded CX5 GT?

 

[Macksma]

I previously had a CRV and loved it. The older style with the back door that opened to the side. When I was looking at cars this time around I started with the CRV. I still liked it but the price with some options I wanted along with the minivan look turned me off. Then I drove the CX-5, liked the handling a lot more and am very happy with my purchase. I haven't had any problems with any lack of power, I can get on and off freeways, change lanes when I'm behind a snail and still get right up to speed in the new lane. And I am enjoying my gas mileage, we're getting about the same mileage (29mixed-city/34roadtrips) I figure as long as you're happy with your purchase, you're doing well!

 

[ADVWannabe]

Less than what model? Were you comparing a CRV EX with a fully loaded CX5 GT?

I was comparing the CRV EX with the CX5 Touring model with the Technology package and I think maybe another package but don't remember now. The quote I got OTD for the Mazda was right at $2,000 more than for the CRV. But like I said, it has some things that the CRV doesn't.

 

[CodyZoom]

I was very hesitant to buy a Mazda since it is now my first. I've been a huge Honda fan because of their reliability, but both these cars are going to be plenty reliable down the road.

I test drove the CR-V and was impressed, but just couldn't get over the looks of that thing. The CX-5 has a wide array of features and has been a pleasure to own. I would buy the CX-5 over the CR-V a hundred times over.

 

[CX-SV]

In driving the previous gen CRV (very similar) I was most impressed with the smoothness of the 4 banger engine, way above average and best in class from that perspective only.

Rest of car I could live without after looking at latest 2012 CRV, and my top 2 choices were 2013 Escape and 2013 CX-5.

 

[Mithan]

CX-5 just blows it away in styling IMO (interior and exterior). The only issue I have with the CX-5 is the power, which is why I may wait until 2014 to buy one, but we will see. I am pretty close to pulling the trigger on a GS model, but its going to come in at $36k with tax here in Regina...