Want to buy CR-V or CX-5? Comprehensive Analysis of Honda and Mazda

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

Price and Variants

The Honda CR-V's OTR price 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 Mazda CX-5's OTR price 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.

In terms of price, the Mazda CX-5's starting price is RM 42,731 cheaper than the Honda CR-V. To be honest, in this price range, a difference of a few thousand is not really significant; the key is still the overall cost-performance ratio and long-term ownership costs.

Safety Features

The Honda CR-V's safety rating is 5★ (ASEAN NCAP), and active safety systems include Honda SENSING (ACC, CMBS, LKAS, RDM).

The Mazda CX-5's safety rating is 5★ (ASEAN NCAP), and active safety systems include.

Both cars have the same safety rating, and safety features in this class are quite comprehensive. New cars nowadays have good safety, so there is no need to worry too much about this point.

Configuration and Technology

The Honda CR-V adopts FWD drive configuration.

The Mazda CX-5 adopts FWD drive configuration.

Both cars have the same drive configuration, which is FWD, so there won't be a huge difference in daily driving experience.

Who is it suitable for?

Both the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 are 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 the better reputation; if you care more about value for money and features, choose the one with richer configuration. Ultimately, we suggest test-driving both models, as personal experience is the most important.

Conclusion

In general, both the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 are very good models in the Malaysian market. Which one to choose depends mainly on your personal needs and budget. We suggest doing your research, comparing quotes from several dealers, and then test-driving to make the final decision. Buying a car is a big matter, spending some time on research will never go wrong.