2027 Mazda CX-5 vs Honda CR-V: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the CR-V — it leads our weighted scorecard 5–4.5 across 10 categories, winning on better 5-year value retention (66.3% vs 60.2%) and better fuel economy (40 mpg vs 26 mpg best EPA combined). Choose the CX-5 if the lower sticker matters most ($29,990 vs $31,520 to start).
Scorecard: CX-5 4.5 pts · CR-V 5 pts across 10 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2027 CX-5 | 2027 CR-V | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $29,990 | $31,520 | CX-5 |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | 0.25 | 0.50 | CX-5 |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 60.2% | 66.3% | CR-V |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 26 mpg | 40 mpg | CR-V |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 187 hp | 204 hp | CR-V |
| Max towing (1) | 1,500 lb | 1,500 lb | Tie |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 33.7 cu ft | 39.3 cu ft | CR-V |
| Standard seats (1) | 5 | 5 | Tie |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 5.5% off MSRP | 5.7% off MSRP | Tie |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 0 | 4 | CX-5 |
| Weighted points | 4.5 | 5 | CR-V |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the CR-V — 40 mpg vs 26 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: the CR-V — 39.3 cu ft vs 33.7 cu ft (cargo behind rear seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the CX-5 — $29,990 vs $31,520 (starting MSRP). Used, the median asking price is $24,518 for the CX-5 vs $24,633 for the CR-V.
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the CR-V — 66.3% vs 60.2% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: it's a wash — CX-5 1,500 lb vs CR-V 1,500 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The CX-5 starts at $29,990 and tops out at $39,440; the CR-V runs $31,520 to $42,950 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified CX-5 buyers paid a median 5.5% off MSRP across 41 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 8.3% off. Verified CR-V buyers paid a median 5.7% off MSRP across 49 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 6.7% off. Used, the median asking price is $24,518 for the CX-5 and $24,633 for the CR-V (all model years, US dealer listings).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- CX-5: 0.25 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 87th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- CR-V: 0.50 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 63th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: CX-5 0, CR-V 4.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: CX-5 2016 (avoid) · CR-V 2016 (solid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2027 CX-5 | 2027 CR-V | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $29,990 | $31,520 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $39,440 | $42,950 |
| Horsepower | 187 hp | 190–204 hp |
| Max torque | 186 lb-ft | 179 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 26 mpg | 29–40 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | 1,500 lb | 1,500 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | 5 / 5 | 5 / 5 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 33.7 cu ft | 39.3 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Size
| CX-5 | CR-V | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 184.6 in | 184.8 in |
| Width | — | 73.5 in |
| Height | 66.7 in | 66.2 in |
| Wheelbase | 110.8 in | 106.3 in |
| Ground clearance | 8 in | 7.8 in |
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) CX-5 lists for a median $22,187 — 60.2% of today's median new price of $36,851. A 5-year-old (2021) CR-V lists for a median $24,626 — 66.3% of today's median new price of $37,127.
Shop both
- See new 2027 Mazda CX-5s for sale →
- See 47,358 new 2027 Honda CR-Vs for sale →Median listed price $39,237 · updated Nov 7, 2026
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Mazda CX-5
More on the Honda CR-V
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the CX-5 better than the CR-V?
On our data, no — the CR-V comes out ahead. Our pick: the CR-V — it leads our weighted scorecard 5–4.5 across 10 categories, winning on better 5-year value retention (66.3% vs 60.2%) and better fuel economy (40 mpg vs 26 mpg best EPA combined). Choose the CX-5 if the lower sticker matters most ($29,990 vs $31,520 to start).
Which is more reliable, the CX-5 or the CR-V?
On federal data, the CX-5: owners filed 0.25 NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold versus 0.50 for the CR-V (2015–2022 sales years). That's complaint volume, not a survey score. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 CX-5 and 4 for the CR-V.
Which holds its value better, the CX-5 or the CR-V?
The CR-V: a 5-year-old example lists for 66.3% of the new price, versus 60.2% for the CX-5, based on median used asking prices against today's median new price.
Which is cheaper, the CX-5 or the CR-V?
The CX-5 starts lower: $29,990 vs $31,520 starting MSRP (before destination). Verified buyers paid a median 5.5% off MSRP on the CX-5 (41 deals) and 5.7% on the CR-V (49 deals).
Which has better gas mileage, the CX-5 or the CR-V?
The CR-V: up to 40 mpg combined vs 26 mpg for the CX-5 (best EPA rating across each lineup).
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2027 Mazda CX-5 vs Honda CR-V: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/mazda-cx-5-vs-honda-cr-v, updated November 8, 2026.