Compare the2023 Mazda CX-5 VS 2023 Honda HR-V

The CX-5 has standard Whiplash-Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The HR-V doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-5. But it costs extra on the HR-V.

The CX-5 Turbo Signature has a standard 360° Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The HR-V only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The CX-5 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the HR-V Sport/EX-L offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-5 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the HR-V Sport/EX-L offers Cross Traffic Monitor.

Both the CX-5 and the HR-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available driver alert monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-5 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 134 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The HR-V is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. With 3 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Honda.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Honda is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Honda is ranked fifth.

The CX-5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 29 more horsepower (187 vs. 158) and 48 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 138) than the HR-V’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 98 more horsepower (256 vs. 158) and 182 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 138) than the HR-V’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Mazda CX-5 is faster than the Honda HR-V:

	CX-5 4 cyl.	CX-5 turbo 4 cyl.	HR-V
Zero to 30 MPH	3.1 sec	2.1 sec	4.7 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.6 sec	6.1 sec	11.1 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.4 sec	3.2 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16.6 sec	14.7 sec	18.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85 MPH	94 MPH	81 MPH

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-5 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The HR-V doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-5 has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the HR-V (15.3 vs. 14 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the CX-5 Turbo’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the HR-V:

	CX-5 Turbo	HR-V
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	12.3 inches

The CX-5 stops shorter than the HR-V:

	CX-5	HR-V
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	144 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

For better traction, the CX-5 has larger tires than the HR-V (225/65R17 vs. 215/60R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-5 Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo has standard 19-inch wheels. The HR-V’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The CX-5 has engine speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The HR-V doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 1.7 inches longer than on the HR-V (106.2 inches vs. 104.5 inches).

The CX-5 handles at .82 G’s, while the HR-V EX-L AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the HR-V EX-L AWD (27.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

The CX-5 has 4.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the HR-V (103.6 vs. 98.7).

The CX-5 has .3 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom and 7.9 inches more rear hip room than the HR-V.

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the HR-V with its rear seat up (30.8 vs. 24.4 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the HR-V with its rear seat folded (59.3 vs. 55.1 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The HR-V doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the CX-5 Premium/Turbo has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The HR-V doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

The CX-5 has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The HR-V has no towing capacity.

When two different drivers share the CX-5 Preferred/Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The HR-V doesn’t offer memory seats.

The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The HR-V doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-5’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The HR-V’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the HR-V Sport/EX-L’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

The CX-5’s power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The HR-V’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The CX-5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The HR-V’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the CX-5’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the HR-V’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The CX-5’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the HR-V’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-5 Premium/Turbo has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The HR-V doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the CX-5 and the HR-V offer available heated front seats. The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the HR-V.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The HR-V doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The HR-V doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The CX-5 has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The HR-V doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

Both the CX-5 and the HR-V offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CX-5 Select/Preferred/Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The HR-V doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The CX-5 Turbo Signature’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The HR-V’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-5 and the Honda HR-V, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Honda HR-V by 31% during 2022.