2019 Mazda CX-5 vs 2019 Honda CR-V

The 2019 Mazda CX-5 was celebrated for its stylish design and engaging driving experience, distinguishing itself as one of the best-looking midsize crossovers. Previously critiqued for its modest power and lack of modern connectivity features, Mazda addressed these concerns in the 2019 model by introducing Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. These updates, however, were initially limited to the top-tier trims.

Starting at $24,350, the base Sport trim offered a host of unexpected features such as LED headlights, a push-button ignition, a 7-inch touchscreen, and advanced safety technologies like low-speed forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warnings. The Touring trim, priced at $26,615, added keyless entry, a power driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and additional USB ports. The Grand Touring trim further enhanced the vehicle with adaptive headlights, LED fog lights, leather upholstery, an upgraded driver display, and navigation for $30,045. All-wheel drive was a $1,400 option across all trims.

The real change came with the Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims, which offered a more powerful, turbocharged engine and luxurious features like a head-up display, power-folding mirrors, and heated and ventilated seats. My experience was with the top-tier Signature trim, starting at $36,890, which provided ambient cabin lighting, upgraded leather upholstery, real wood trim, a 360-degree camera, and parking sensors. The final price, including options and a $995 destination fee, amounted to $38,930.

The 2019 Honda CR-V also made selecting a suitable model easy with its four trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring. Starting at $24,350 plus $1,045 destination charges, the pricing went up to $34,150 plus destination. The base LX didn’t look basic, thanks to its 17-inch aluminum wheels. The higher trims, however, featured body-color trim, bigger 18-inch wheels, and rear privacy glass.

From the back, the CR-V looked upscale, though its front-end design left some room for improvement. The interior was made from quality materials and a thoughtfully arranged control layout. Despite some hard plastics, the overall feel was premium and robust.

In terms of engine performance, the Mazda CX-5's base engine was a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, producing 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. Though decent, these numbers were becoming less impressive in the competitive crossover market. The 6-speed automatic transmission offered EPA estimates of 25 mpg city, 31 highway, and 28 combined. For those desiring more power, the turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine in the Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims made up to 250 hp (or 227 hp with lower-octane fuel) and 310 lb-ft of torque. This setup gave it a spirited performance with an EPA rating of 22 mpg city, 27 highway, and 24 combined. Mazda's G-Vectoring Control Plus system and retuned suspension further improved handling.

The Honda CR-V’s base LX trim featured a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, offering 184 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 180 lb-ft of torque at 3,900 rpm, paired with a CVT. For the EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine delivered 190 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 179 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 and 5,000 rpm. The turbocharged engine proved to be more responsive and fuel-efficient, though it faced reliability issues in cold weather and with battery problems in some cases. My testing reflected an average of 27.7 mpg, slightly below the EPA’s combined estimate of 29 mpg. The Real Time 4WD system offered enhanced traction rather than off-road capabilities.

The CR-V’s driving dynamics were solid, supported by a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, 235/60 tires on 18-inch wheels, and dual-pinion, variable-ratio electric steering which offered varying levels of heft depending on speed. The braking system was reliable and consistent, even during extended mountain driving.

Both vehicles offered ample interior space, but the CR-V had a clear edge in cargo capacity with 39.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, compared to the CX-5’s 30.9 cubic feet. More importantly, the CR-V could expand up to 75.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. This made it substantially more practical for carrying larger items.

The CX-5 provided more than adequate legroom for passengers in both rows, though the front seats felt a bit narrow. Its higher trims added luxury touches like ambient lighting, real wood, and high-end leather upholstery.

The CR-V delivered impressive roominess for passengers, particularly in the back seat, where air vents and USB ports minimized complaints. The driver's seat in trims above LX was especially comfortable, with a 12-way power-adjustable feature and available heated front seats. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustability, which could be a deal breaker for some.

For the 2019 Mazda CX-5, the inclusion of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in trims above Sport addressed prior criticisms. The MazdaConnect infotainment system was visually appealing and responsive, though the scroll-wheel interface might not be everyone’s preference. A 360-degree camera was a useful addition, albeit with subpar resolution. The GT Premium package offered further technological advancements, including a head-up display, power-folding mirrors, and heated seats.

The 2019 Honda CR-V, starting from the EX trim, enhanced its infotainment with a 7-inch touchscreen, SiriusXM radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and HondaLink connected services. The Touring trim featured a premium sound system and optional navigation on EX-L. While improving, Honda’s infotainment still had drawbacks like the lack of a tuning knob and a sometimes finicky voice recognition system.

The 2019 Mazda CX-5 came equipped with the i-ActiveSense safety suite as standard, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warnings, and low-speed forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. It received a 5-star rating from NHTSA, except for a 4-star rating in the rollover category, and a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS, with only the child safety anchors rating as Acceptable.

Honda Sensing was standard on all 2019 CR-V trims except LX, offering adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and road-departure mitigation. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The CR-V was a Top Safety Pick by IIHS, with an Acceptable rating for headlight performance being the only slight blemish.