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The Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 are both excellent SUVs to buy, new or used. Most drivers are looking for an easy-to-maintain vehicle that will last for a long time. Is there a better choice between the Honda or the Mazda?

Is the 2019 Honda CR-V a good car?

The 2019 Honda CR-V is a fan favorite
The Honda CR-V SUV is a reliable choice, but is it better than the Mazda CX-5? | Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Consumer Reports approves of the 2019 Honda CR-V. The reliability was rated at a five out of five, with an overall owner satisfaction of three out of five. It is a well-priced SUV that has many standard safety features. 

The Honda CR-V has room for five and gets around 25 miles per gallon in the city, 31 on the highway. It is offered in both a front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configuration. The SUV has a roomy cabin and room for cargo in the back, making it ready for any adventures you want to take.

The CR-V comes in a variety of trims. The CR-V LX is the base trim. The EX comes with a 7-inch touchscreen and has some upgraded safety features standard. These include driver attention monitor, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and road departure mitigation.

The CR-V EX-L model has upgraded leather seats and some other bits like a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It also comes with a power liftgate.

The CR-V Touring model is the top-of-the-line trim level. It has satellite navigation and a premium sound system. It also comes with rain-sensing windshield wipers.

Is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 expensive to maintain?

Repair Pal has some interesting statistics about the Mazda CX-5. Repair Pal gave the CX-5 a rating of four and a half stars. The average annual repair cost is $447, which is fairly low for an SUV.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 crossover SUV is available in a few different trims: Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. The Sport time starts at $25,370 and is the entry option with room for five.

This trim is offered with a 2.5L Skyactiv engine that gets 187 horsepower. The Mazda SUV is available in front-wheel drive or i-ACTIV all-wheel drive with off-road traction assist.

The front-wheel-drive option gets an estimated 25 miles per gallon in the city and 31 on the highway. For the all-wheel-drive SUV, the mileage goes down to 24 miles per gallon in the city and 30 on the highway.

How long will a 2018 Honda CR-V last?

The good news is that the CR-V will last you for many years with proper maintenance. U.S. News ranked the 2018 Honda CR-V number four on the list of Affordable Compact SUVs. The reliable SUV received a score of 8.4 out of 10 overall, with a 9.8 for safety. From the critics, the score was a 9.7 out of 10.

Though it did not come first, the 2018 CR-V ranked on the list of Affordable SUVs with 2 Rows and Affordable Crossover SUVs. It won the award of Best Compact SUV for the Monday and Best Compact SUV for Families.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the CR-V a five out of five for safety. It also earned five stars for the frontal and side crash ratings. That means that this SUV is generally safe if you end up in an accident.

Repair Pal gives the CR-V an annual maintenance cost of $407. That’s just a bit lower than the annual cost of the CX-5. One of the main problems listed is that the air conditioning blows warm air.

The company also gave the CR-V a score of four stars. To repair the air conditioning issue, Repair Pal says that the cost about $363-$379. Additionally, replacing the a/c pressure sensor is anywhere from $210-$242.

What is new in the 2020 Mazda CX-5?

U.S. News ranks the Mazda CX-5 in a few different categories. Critics’ rating, performance, interior, safety, and reliability. With all of these categories taken into consideration, the CX-5 also gets an overall score.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 scored a 9.8 from the critics and a 9.9 for safety. This year included other safety features like forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control. While these used to be optional, Mazda now includes these features standard.

Since the 2020 model is still fairly new, you will likely have a warranty on the SUV even if you buy it used. That’s always good for peace of mind.