The CX-5 and CR-V are both longtime Car and Driver favorites, but with the Mazda fully redesigned for 2026, which one comes out on top? Let's make a bet. Head over to your well-lit display case (or back closet) stacked full of old Car and Driver issues, dust off any 10Best issue from the last decade or so, and we'd wager that either the Honda CR-V or Mazda CX-5 is on that list. With nine of the 10 most recent 10Best lists containing either the Honda or the Mazda, it's clear that the two models are perennial favorites around our office—and, according to sales figures, around the country.
Since Mazda gave the CX-5 a full redesign for 2026, we figured it was a good time to get these two longtime favorites together for a bit of friendly competition. Much like a Burger King order, the 2026 Honda CR-V can be had your way. The lineup starts with the LX at $32,370, which is powered by a 190-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four, and is available in front- or all-wheel drive. If you're looking for a bit more power, a few more features, or better fuel economy, the CR-V's got you covered with an entire lineup of hybrids.
We tested a 2026 EX-L, the top trim for nonhybrid CR-Vs, starting at $36,850; the all-wheel drive and optional Radiant Red Metallic paint push its as-tested price to $38,805. Currently, Mazda's CX-5 stable contains just one powertrain, although a hybrid model is slated to arrive for 2027. Every 2026 CX-5, including our Premium Plus test model, comes equipped with a 187-hp 2.5-liter inline-four, and all-wheel drive is standard.
View Price on AmazonThe CR-V's interior is roomy and easy to see out of. The materials—at least in our EX-L—are high-quality and comfortable to the touch even if they don't impress much beyond that. The layout is simple, with 9.0 inches of infotainment screen acreage to provide you with what you need, but not enough to overwhelm. Climate controls are fuss-free. Want it warmer? Turn that obviously placed dial on the dashboard to the right. Is your butt a little cold? Don't worry, the heated seat button is placed well within arm's reach.
Mazda's interior, on the other hand, goes all in on digital controls. The new-generation CX-5 places just about every non-driving function, from volume to vehicle settings, on the 15.6-inch dash-mounted do-it-all touchscreen. So long as you're cool with this approach, the CX-5's interior impresses. The seats, doors, and dashboard all sport leather wrappings, and the new "Mazda" script on the steering wheel evokes thoughts of luxury goods.
The CR-V's airy cabin puts a premium on passenger space and narrowly edges the CX-5 in rear-seat room—this despite the Honda having a shorter wheelbase: 106.3 inches to the Mazda's 110.8. In compact SUVs, storage space is as important as passenger comfort, and the CR-V wins there as well, offering 39 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 77 cubic feet with the seats folded. The CX-5 has 34 cubic feet behind the rear seats and only improves to 67 cubic feet with the rear seats laid down.
Source: caranddriver.com
