- I recently drove the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-50 compact hybrid SUVs.
- The CR-V wins for its superb cabin ergonomics, solid build quality, and intuitive tech.
- The CX-50 Hybrid offers peppy driving dynamics, athletic looks, and a smartly designed cabin.
I recently had the chance to drive both the Honda CR-V Hybrid and the Mazda CX-50 Hybrid, two of the most popular compact SUVs.
The CX-50 is one of my favorite competitors in the segment. I loved its handsome styling, premium cabin, great fuel economy, and strong driving dynamics.
But on a day-to-day basis, the CR-V's roomy cabin, comfortable seats, and more intuitive infotainment tech shine through.
Here's a closer look at how the two stack up against one another.
Which is a better deal?
The Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-50 are similarly priced, with their most affordable hybrid models starting at $34,000.
My fully loaded CX-50 Hybrid Premium Plus and CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring test cars both start at around $40,000, with as-tested prices of $42,065 and $42,600, respectively.
The biggest difference is that all CX-50s come standard with all-wheel drive, but the feature only comes on the range-topping CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring.
Which looks better?
The current generation CR-V is an attractively styled crossover with rugged, chiseled looks — but the CX-50 might be the best-looking SUV in the segment. The CX-50 features the latest derivative of Mazda's signature Kodo design language, marrying its traditional curves with a more rugged, squared-off athletic look.
Which one is larger?
At 186.1 inches, the CX-50 is one of the longest offerings in the segment and about 1.5 inches longer than the CR-V.
However, this doesn't translate to its interior, with the CR-V offering 103.5 cubic. feet of total passenger space to the CX-50's 97 cubic feet.
Which hybid has better power?
Honda's hybrid system features an 181 horsepower electric traction motor and a 161 horsepower electric generator motor mounted side-by-side in the engine compartment next to a 145 horsepower, 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine.
The total system output for the CR-V comes to 204 horsepower.
In most instances, the CR-V Hybrid operates as a series hybrid, with the electric motors driving the wheels and the ICE engine focused on charging its small 1.06 kWh battery pack. However, the system can switch to parallel hybrid mode during highway cruising, with the ICE engine connecting to the front axle through a clutch.
The Mazda's hybrid system, sourced from Toyota, is a traditional parallel hybrid with a 2.5-liter, 176-horsepower, naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine paired with a pair of electric motors and a 1.59-kWh battery pack.
The Mazda's total system output is 219 horsepower.
Which has a better all-wheel-drive system?
Mazda and Honda take very different approaches to all-wheel drive.
The CX-50 depends on a 54-horsepower electric motor to create a virtual all-wheel-drive system, while the CR-V uses a physical connection to send up to 50% of the engine's power to the back. This setup is more in line with conventional SUVs.
How efficient are they?
The CR-V Hybrid with AWD boasts EPA fuel economy figures of 40 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 37 mpg combined. Front-wheel-drive hybrid models get about three additional mpg.
The all-wheel-drive CX-50 offers similar EPA fuel economy figures of 39 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 38 mpg combined.
How do they drive?
The Honda CR-V is pleasant and inoffensive to drive, with a quiet and refined ride, but it's far from exciting.
Like the CR-V, the CX-50 is sensible, fuel-efficient transportation but brings a dose of Mazda zoom-zoom to the party.
The CX-50's steering is well-weighted and offers a decent amount of feedback for a vehicle of its type. The suspension is a bit stiffer than most of its rivals, which helps it approach corners with great composure, but it does compromise ride comfort a tad.
The Mazda's hybrid powertrain delivers peppy performance, especially in Power mode, thanks to the ample torque from its electric motors.
Which one has a nicer interior?
The CR-V cabin is comfortable and smartly organized, with exceptional build and material quality. Honda's engineers certainly prioritized practicality and durability over luxury.
Like the CR-V, the Mazda has strong build quality but also delivers a premium, upscale feel.
Which has a more comfortable cabin?
The CX-50's interior may feel more upscale, but the CR-V is roomier with more comfortable seats.
The CR-V's seats, designed to combat fatigue, proved to be supportive and comfortable on long drives. On the other hand, the CX-50's red leather seats, which look amazing, lacked cushioning and support. It felt like you were sitting on the seat instead of in it.
The two SUVs boast nearly identical front seat head and legroom, but the CR-V offers substantially more rear seat head and legroom.
How does the tech stack up?
The CX-50's 10.25-inch widescreen display looks great, but the software behind it makes daily use a bit weird. The display is only a touchscreen when Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is initiated. In all other instances, the system requires the use of a cumbersome rotary controller on the center console.
Despite being somewhat dated, the Honda's touchscreen interface is intuitively designed and far easier to use than the Mazda's.
How much cargo can they carry?
The CR-V offers a stout 34.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind its rear seats, 5.5 cu. ft. more than the CX-50. Fold the down rear seats, and cargo capacity expands to 76.5 cu. ft., which trounces the 56.3 cu. ft. in the Mazda.
The CR-V Hybrid is my winner for its comfortable, well-designed cabin, superior cargo space, and easy-to-use tech.
As much as I enjoyed the Mazda's peppy driving dynamics, the Honda's practicality and comfort won the day for me.
