How to Choose Between the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5? You'll Understand After Reading This

In Malaysia's SUV market, many buyers compare the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 when choosing a car. These two cars are quite close in price and positioning. Today, we will make a detailed comparison from multiple aspects to help you save time on research.

Price and Variants

The OTR price of the Honda CR-V in Malaysia is RM 178,200 - 195,900, with a total of 4 variants, including 2026 e:HEV 2.0L 2WD RS (RM 195,900), 2026 1.5T 4WD V (RM 181,900), 2026 e:HEV 2.0L 2WD E (RM 178,200) etc.

The OTR price of the Mazda CX-5 in Malaysia is RM 135,469 - 166,760, with a total of 3 variants, including 2025 2.0L AT 35th Anniversary (RM 316,154), 2025 2.0L AT (RM 296,154), 2025 2.0L MT (RM 294,154) etc.

From a price perspective, the starting price of the Mazda CX-5 is RM 42,731 cheaper than the Honda CR-V. To be honest, in this price range, a difference of a few thousand is actually not significant; the key is to look at overall value for money and long-term maintenance costs.

Performance and Fuel Economy

The Honda CR-V is equipped with a 2.0L 4-cyl, with 170 hp. Official fuel consumption is 8.0 L/100km.

The Mazda CX-5 is equipped with a 1.5L Turbo, with 140 hp. Official fuel consumption is 7.0 L/100km.

In terms of performance, the Honda CR-V's 2.0L 4-cyl has 30 more horsepower than the Mazda CX-5's 1.5L Turbo, providing more confidence in mid-range acceleration, especially when overtaking on highways. However, the Mazda CX-5's fuel consumption might be friendlier, and the difference in daily city commuting will not be significant.

Maintenance and Upkeep

Honda CR-V comes with a 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty, service interval every 10,000km or 6 months.

Mazda CX-5 comes with a 5-year/150,000km warranty, service interval every 10,000km or 6 months.

Who is this suitable for

The Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 are both mainstream choices in the Malaysian market, suitable for family use and daily commuting. If you value brand reputation and resale value more, you can prioritize the one with better reputation; if you care more about value for money and features, choose the one with richer configuration. Ultimately, it is recommended to test drive both, as personal experience is the most important.

Conclusion

Overall, the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 are both very good models in the Malaysian market. Which one to choose depends mainly on your personal needs and budget. It is recommended to do your research, compare quotes from multiple dealerships, and then test drive to make the final decision. Buying a car is a major event; spending time doing research will never be wrong.