The Mazda CX-5 and the Honda CR-V are well-equipped to deliver reliable acceleration and responsive handling. Each crossover offers two engine options, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs. They begin on a fairly even playing field with their standard powertrains generating 187 to 190 horsepower (HP).

For even more power, both models have a second, more robust engine to take your driving experience to the next level.

Here, the Mazda clearly separates itself with substantially more brawn (more later about why that’s important).

During your day-to-day drives, you may encounter slick or slippery roads and less-than-ideal weather conditions from time to time. The Mazda CX-5’s drivetrain gives you the advantage of standard all-wheel drive (AWD), which provides greater stability, smoother acceleration, and better traction for less wheel spin and a safer ride. Meanwhile, the Honda CR-V comes with 2-wheel drive and makes AWD available.

The Mazda’s additional strength will come in handy beyond merging onto the highway or passing other vehicles. Need to tow a small utility trailer when helping a friend move? Want to take some motorcycles or an ATV on your next vacation? Either is possible with the Mazda CX-5’s towing capacity of 2,000 pounds when properly equipped. On the other hand, the CR-V is limited to 1,500 pounds of towing capacity.

When considering their fuel economies, we need to compare apples to apples, or in this case AWD to AWD. The Mazda earns an available EPA-estimated 26 city/30 highway MPG, while the Honda rates an EPA-estimated 26 city/31 MPG.* Despite this similarity, you’ll travel longer, farther with the Mazda CX-5 thanks to its 15.3-gallon fuel tank. The CR-V’s 14-gallon tank will have you pausing at the pump for a pitstop as the Mazda CX-5 motors past.

Another bonus of the Mazda CX-5 is its standard G-Vectoring Control Plus that helps minimize the amount of corrective steering needed while driving for better control and less fatigue. It’s exclusive to Mazda, so you won’t find it in the CR-V.

Although considered compact in stature, the Mazda CX-5 and the CR-V have well-furnished cabins with sufficient space for everyone and everything you bring with you. Their practical layouts cater to drivers and passengers alike, blending available premium characteristics with practical applications.

Among their many interior options are these upscale, optional features that may have you wanting to take the long way home:

• Leather seating
• Power-adjustable front seats with lumbar and memory
• Heated steering wheel
• Dual-zone climate control
• Heated front seats

That said, only the Mazda CX-5 offers available ventilated front seats and heated rear seats to ensure total comfort for everyone on board. You’ll only find available genuine wood trim in the Mazda, too, which further elevates your cabin’s ambiance.

Both models come furnished with similar technologies to keep you in the know while on the go. Their standard and available systems include, among others:

• Full-color touchscreen display
• Apple CarPlay®/Android Auto™ compatibility
• Wireless device charging
• Bose® premium sound system

Simply connect your compatible smartphone to send and receive text messages, listen to your favorite tunes, and much more.

Despite their similarities, there are some noticeable differences, starting with the size of their standard touchscreens. The Honda CR-V supplies a 7-inch display, which pales when compared to the standard 10.25-inch touchscreen of the Mazda Connect™ system in the Mazda CX-5. Although you can upgrade to a 9-inch screen in the CR-V, it still remains smaller than the standard display of the Mazda CX-5.

In the Mazda CX-5, i-Activsense® serves as a vigilant copilot, keeping a watchful eye on all sides of your vehicle, including those hard-to-see areas. It monitors conditions on the roadway and alerts you to hazards you might otherwise miss, helping avoid collisions or lessen their impact. Among its included safety features are:

• Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go
• Lane Departure Warning/Lane-keep Assist
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Smart Brake Support – Forward

Honda Sensing® in the CR-V includes many similar standard features with two significant exceptions: Its Blind Spot Information System and Cross Traffic Monitor are only available on higher trim levels. For greater peace of mind that comes standard, choose the Mazda CX-5.

Continuing that trend, only the Mazda CX-5 is available with a 360° View Monitor. This unique feature uses several cameras positioned around the exterior of the Mazda CX-5 to craft a composite image, viewable on the central touchscreen. It will add to your peace of mind and come in handy when navigating narrow city streets or maneuvering in tight parking lots and spaces.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sets safety standards and conducts tests, rating vehicles based on their crashworthiness. For the latest model year, the NHTSA has awarded the Mazda CX-5 and the Honda CR-V a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating, its highest rank. As a result, you can be confident when behind the wheel of either of these crossovers.