It can be difficult to consistently perform in the automotive world, and even harder to regularly top your segment. Particularly when that segment is perhaps the most competitive in the automotive world. The Honda CR-V and the Mazda CX-5 are two of the oldest names in the compact SUV market, but like clockwork, they regularly rise to the top of the rankings. 

Under the hood of the 2025 Mazda CX-5, drivers can opt for the Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that delivers 187 horsepower and 186-lb ft of torque. It’s a reliable powerplant that has demonstrated itself year after year. A turbocharged edition is available, and it generates up to 256 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque with premium fuel. The CX-5 isn’t just about power – with standard all-wheel drive, a six-speed automatic transmission, manual shift mode and a performance-minded suspension, the CX-5 is the most agile and engaging drive in the compact SUV class.

The 2025 Honda CR-V comes with a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine, and while the numbers are similar to the CX-5’s, with 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque, the Continuously Variable Transmission dampens acceleration, and the driving dynamics are a bit tamer than the Mazda CX-5. The Mazda CX-5 is made to be driven, the CR-V is made to be ridden in.

The Mazda CX-5 has looked the same since its redesign, and it’s become a familiar look, with the wide front grille and slanting headlights leading to sporty, swelling sheet metal. It offers a sense of motion, while the CR-V is more upright, and looks more like a family-focused hauler. The CR-V sits on 17- or 18-inch wheels, while the Mazda CX-5 has 17-inch wheels with optional 19-inch versions.

Inside the Honda CR-V, the surfaces and materials are very utilitarian, a little rough at points, and favors function over form. The 2025 Mazda CX-5, on the other hand, manages to blend the two. The interior feel is closer to that of an entry-level luxury vehicle, with soft-touch surfaces and upmarket materials surrounding passengers.

Both the Mazda CX-5 and the CR-V come with established safety systems including rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning, forwards automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection and lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist. Both also have optional upgrades, including a surround-view camera system.

While the 2025 Mazda CX-5 may be 8 years into its current generation there’s a good reason why it hasn’t been redesigned like the CR-V was – why mess with success? Check out the Mazda CX-5 and all it has to offer today!

You can schedule a  test drive  of a New Mazda CX-5 and find out for yourself at Lancaster Mazda in East Petersburg, PA