New 2026 MAZDA CX-5 vs Honda CR-V Comparison
New 2026 MAZDA CX-5 vs Honda CR-V Comparison
The 2026 Mazda CX-5 is all-new for this model year. The third generation grew 4.5 inches in overall length and wheelbase, pairs a 187-horsepower 2.5-liter engine with i-ACTIV® AWD on every trim and offers a 15.6-inch touchscreen, the largest ever fitted to a Mazda. The 2026 Honda CR-V counters with a turbocharged gas engine or a two-motor hybrid, with front-wheel drive standard on most trims.
Every comparison below draws on current figures from Mazda, Honda, the EPA, the IIHS and NHTSA, beginning with the single engine shared across all five trims.
2026 MAZDA CX-5 vs Honda CR-V Key Facts
- The all-new 2026 Mazda CX-5 uses a 2.5-liter engine rated at 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft, a 6-speed automatic and standard i-ACTIV® AWD.
- Every 2026 Mazda CX-5 trim is EPA-estimated at 24 city, 30 highway and 26 mpg combined.
- Google built-in and a 12.9-inch touchscreen are standard on the 2026 Mazda CX-5, and the 2.5 S Premium Plus moves up to a 15.6-inch touchscreen.
- Front and rear parking sensors, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are standard on every 2026 Mazda CX-5 trim.
- The IIHS named the 2026 Mazda CX-5 a 2026 TOP SAFETY PICK+.
- The 2026 Honda CR-V offers a 190-horsepower 1.5-liter turbo or a hybrid with 204 horsepower of total system output.
- Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard on every 2026 Mazda CX-5, its 40:20:40 split rear seat reclines, and the 2.5 S Premium adds ventilated front seats and heated rear seats.
2026 MAZDA CX-5 vs Honda CR-V Performance
Every 2026 Mazda CX-5 uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder rated at 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft on regular fuel, a 6-speed automatic and i-ACTIV® AWD, so every trim has all-wheel drive. The EPA rates every trim at 24 city, 30 highway and 26 mpg combined, and Mi-Drive offers Normal, Sport and Off-Road modes. G-Vectoring Control Plus now includes an electronic brake limited-slip differential for added traction.
The CR-V LX, EX and EX-L use a 1.5-liter turbo with 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft and a CVT, rated at 28/33/30 mpg with front-wheel drive and 27/31/29 with AWD. The Sport, Sport-L, TrailSport and Sport Touring hybrids make 204 horsepower of total system output, returning 43/36/40 with front-wheel drive, 40/34/37 with AWD and 38/33/35 for the TrailSport. The Mazda tows up to 1,500 pounds, the same as a gas CR-V, and CR-V hybrids are rated at 1,000 pounds.
MAZDA CX-5
- 2.5L four-cylinder: 187 hp / 186 lb-ft
- 6-speed automatic
- i-ACTIV® AWD standard on every trim
- EPA-estimated 24/30/26 mpg
- Tows up to 1,500 lb
2026 Honda CR-V
- 1.5L turbo: 190 hp / 179 lb-ft with CVT
- Hybrid: 204 hp total system output
- AWD standard on TrailSport and Sport Touring hybrids
- EPA-estimated 28/33/30 (gas FWD), 40/34/37 (hybrid AWD)
- Tows 1,500 lb gas, 1,000 lb hybrid
2026 MAZDA CX-5 vs Honda CR-V Safety Features
The new 2026 Mazda CX-5 makes a long list of i-ACTIVSENSE® features standard on every trim, including Rear Smart Brake Support with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Smart Brake Support with Turn-Across Traffic and Head-On Collision Mitigation, Emergency Lane Keeping with Blind Spot Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Vehicle Exit Warning and front and rear parking sensors. The 2.5 S Premium Plus adds Cruising & Traffic Support with Lane Change Assist, Driver Monitoring and a 360 View Monitor. The IIHS named it a 2026 TOP SAFETY PICK+.
Honda Sensing on every CR-V includes the Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, Traffic Jam Assist and Traffic Sign Recognition. Blind Spot Information and Cross Traffic Monitor start at the EX, parking sensors come on the EX-L, Sport-L and Sport Touring, and NHTSA gives every 2026 CR-V a five-star overall rating.
MAZDA CX-5
- Rear automatic emergency braking, standard
- Emergency Lane Keeping with Blind Spot Assist
- Front and rear parking sensors on every trim
- 360 View Monitor on 2.5 S Premium Plus
- IIHS 2026 TOP SAFETY PICK+
2026 Honda CR-V
- Honda Sensing on every trim
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow
- Blind Spot Information from EX up
- Parking sensors on EX-L, Sport-L, Sport Touring
- NHTSA five-star overall rating
2026 MAZDA CX-5 vs Honda CR-V Technology
The 2026 Mazda CX-5 is the first model in the lineup with Google built-in, bringing Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play to every trim, with a 12.9-inch touchscreen standard. The 2.5 S Premium Plus trades up to the 15.6-inch touchscreen, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument display is standard. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto go wireless from the 2.5 S Select, the Preferred adds a full-color windshield head-up display, and the Premium and Premium Plus play through 12-speaker Bose audio.
Honda gives every 2026 CR-V a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a wireless charger. A 10.2-inch digital meter comes on the EX-L, TrailSport, Sport-L and Sport Touring, and Google built-in and Bose audio are Sport Touring features. In the Mazda, a head-up display joins the equipment list at the Preferred.
MAZDA CX-5
- 12.9-in touchscreen standard; 15.6-in on Premium Plus
- Google built-in on every trim
- 10.25-in digital instrument display
- Head-up display from Preferred
- Bose 12-speaker on Premium and Premium Plus
2026 Honda CR-V
- 9-in touchscreen on every trim
- Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto and wireless charger
- 10.2-in meter on EX-L, TrailSport, Sport-L, Sport Touring
- Google built-in on Sport Touring Hybrid
- Bose 12-speaker on Sport Touring Hybrid
2026 MAZDA CX-5 vs Honda CR-V Interior
The longer body shows up in the back seat, where the 2026 Mazda CX-5 now offers 39.9 inches of rear legroom and 40.2 inches of rear headroom on trims without the panoramic sunroof, and the 40:20:40 split rear seat reclines. Cargo space measures 33.7 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 66.5 with it folded, reached through a larger liftgate opening over a lower load floor. Heated front seats and a heated wheel start at the Preferred, and the Premium adds leather, ventilated front seats and heated rear seats.
The CR-V lists 41.0 inches of rear legroom and 39.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat in gas models, 36.3 in the Sport, TrailSport and Sport-L hybrids and 34.7 in the Sport Touring. Heated front seats start at the EX, and leather comes on the EX-L, Sport-L and Sport Touring. Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard on every 2026 Mazda CX-5, starting with the 2.5 S.
MAZDA CX-5
- 39.9 in rear legroom
- 40:20:40 split reclining rear seat
- 33.7 / 66.5 cu ft cargo
- Dual-zone automatic climate on every trim
- Ventilated front and heated rear seats from Premium
2026 Honda CR-V
- 41.0 in rear legroom
- 39.3 / 76.5 cu ft cargo (gas)
- 36.3 / 71.8 cu ft cargo (most hybrids)
- Heated front seats from EX
- Leather on EX-L, Sport-L, Sport Touring
2026 MAZDA CX-5 vs Honda CR-V Trims and Design
The 2026 Mazda CX-5 lineup climbs from the 2.5 S through the 2.5 S Select, 2.5 S Preferred and 2.5 S Premium to the 2.5 S Premium Plus. The 2.5 S and Select ride on 17-inch wheels with 8.0 inches of ground clearance, and the Preferred and above step up to 19-inch wheels and 8.2 inches. The body measures 184.6 inches long on a 110.8-inch wheelbase, backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Honda splits the 2026 CR-V into gas LX, EX and EX-L trims and Sport, Sport-L, TrailSport and Sport Touring hybrids, with the TrailSport adding all-terrain tires. It measures 184.8 inches long on a 106.3-inch wheelbase and carries the same 3-year and 5-year warranty terms. The Preferred is where the head-up display, heated front seats and 19-inch wheels arrive together, which makes it a sensible trim to drive first.
MAZDA CX-5
- Five trims, one engine, AWD on all
- 17-in wheels on 2.5 S and Select; 19-in from Preferred
- 8.0 to 8.2 in ground clearance
- 184.6 in long on a 110.8-in wheelbase
- 3-yr/36k basic, 5-yr/60k powertrain warranty
2026 Honda CR-V
- Gas: LX, EX, EX-L
- Hybrid: Sport, Sport-L, TrailSport, Sport Touring
- 7.8 to 8.2 in ground clearance
- 184.8 in long on a 106.3-in wheelbase
- 3-yr/36k basic, 5-yr/60k powertrain warranty
Drive the 2026 MAZDA CX-5 in Ocala
See the 12.9-inch and 15.6-inch screens side by side, fold the 40:20:40 rear seat and get a feel for standard AWD on your own test route.
2026 MAZDA CX-5 Photos
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2026 MAZDA CX-5 interior and exterior images
Why Buy From Jenkins Mazda of Ocala?
Jenkins Mazda of Ocala sells the all-new 2026 Mazda CX-5 in all five trims, which makes it easy to see whether the Preferred covers your list or the Premium Plus is worth the step. If you have already driven a CR-V, tell us what stood out, and we can point you to the trim that covers the same ground.
Once you own it, Mazda-trained technicians, service specials and financing support are all at the same Ocala store.
Jenkins Mazda of Ocala, Ocala, FL
