Clash of SUVs: 2020 Honda CR-V vs 2020 Mazda CX-5

Both very popular with young families in Laval, Montreal and on the South Shore, the 2020 Honda CR-V and 2020 Mazda CX-5 compact SUVs, the first one produced since 1996, the second since 2012 and also the first Mazda vehicle to integrate the new Skyactiv technologies, lend themselves to a comparison in this short blog. To find out which one is the best SUV that will meet your family's needs, here is the Honda CR-V vs Mazda CX-5.

Upgrades

For 2020, the Honda CR-V gets a few upgrades such as new alloy wheels and bodywork touch-ups, on top of the standard Honda Sensing safety technologies. The 2020 CX-5 is quieter, thanks to better soundproofing, and moreover, if you use 93 octane Super gas, torque will increase from 310 to 320 lb-ft. Since last year, the naturally-aspirated version of the 2.5-litre engine in the GS and GT versions has been equipped with a variable displacement drive, a system exclusive to this Mazda SUV in North America, by the way. It allows you to deactivate two cylinders when you're driving at constant speed. The result is about a fuel economy of about 3%.

Engines

Let's see what propels our participants, starting with the 2020 CR-V. Available in 6 trim levels—LX-2WD, LX, Sport, EX-L, Touring and Black Edition—all rely on the 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine developing 190 horsepower for 179 lb-ft of torque, mated to a continuously variable transmission. All-wheel drive is standard on all models except the LX-2WD, on which it is available as an option.

The Mazda CX-5, on sale at your Spinelli Mazda dealership, offers you 4 versions, the GX, GS, GT and Signature. The 187-hp, 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine with 186 lb-ft of torque, paired with the Skyactiv-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift mode powers the GX, GS and GT models. The Signature version is powered by a 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo engine generating 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. i-Activ all-wheel drive comes standard on the Signature and GT, but is optional on the GX and GS.

Shared equipment

In their respective entry-level versions, in terms of equipment, they both share a few features such as heated front seats, air conditioning, cruise control, heated door mirrors, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, among others.

Safer

To give you peace of mind on the road, the CX-5, depending on your version, offers you a little more with Skyactiv vehicle dynamic control and G-Vectoring Control Plus as well as the i-Activsense suite of safety technologies that include the Advanced Blind Spot Monitoring system, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Smart City Brake Support, the Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Pedestrian Detection (forward sensing), Distance Recognition Support System, Forward Obstruction Warning, Lane Departure Warning System, Lane-keep Assist System, High Beam Control System, Traffic Sign Recognition System and Adaptive Front-lighting System.

Top of the range

Now, let's compare the high-end versions of our opponents, so the Black Edition version of the Honda for a little under $45,000, and the Signature version of the Mazda, which will cost you a little over $43,000. The Mazda's interior welcomes you with Cocoa Nappa leather-trimmed upholstery, 360° View Monitor, a steering wheel trimmed with high-end stitching, Abachi wood-trimmed front and rear door panels, Abachi wood-trimmed decorative dash panel, black interior roof lining, LED front and rear room lamps, a frameless rearview mirror with automatic dimming function and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. Even at its best, the CR-V doesn't give you as much as the Mazda, and you'll have to pay more for it on top of that. In a nutshell, the choice seems more than obvious.

And what about driving dynamics? Mazda vehicles are known for their driving pleasure, not to mention that their interior is by far among the most sophisticated and refined on the market. So don't wait any longer and come discover all that the new 2020 Mazda CX-5 has to offer at Spinelli Mazda in Montreal.