Mazda CX50 vs. Honda CRV

You’re not alone if you’re debating between the Mazda CX-50’s upscale performance and the Honda CR-V’s practical nature. These compact SUVs have a lot to offer in terms of performance, comfort, and technology; however, the Mazda CX-50 goes a step beyond with its luxury styling, sporty handling, and premium cabin. Our Sport Mazda North team highlights key differences here to help you find the SUV that best fits your Longwood lifestyle.

Interior Comfort and Quality

The 2025 Mazda CX-50’s interior has a premium look and feel. Its design focuses on the driver, and its quality is apparent. The front seats are supportive but may initially feel a bit hard to some. Rear passenger leg room is generous at 37.8 inches. Options include a panoramic moonroof, heated front and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel for the chilly weather months. The infotainment system is sleek, with an easy-to-use interface.

The CR-V’s interior is spacious and comfortable while keeping practicality in mind. Rear-seat passengers have plenty of legroom, and the reclining rear seats add to that comfort. Practical features include leather-trimmed seating, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The cabin layout is logical, with easy-to-use controls and a reconfigurable digital display in the gauge cluster.

Performance and Engine Options

The 2025 Mazda CX-50’s base model features a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. This combination delivers 187 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. You can also opt for a turbocharged version, which produces 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque on 87-octane fuel or 256 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque on 93-octane fuel.

Mazda also offers a CX-50 hybrid, featuring the same 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine matched with three electric motors and an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission for 219 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The CX-50 emphasizes a sporty driving experience, with the turbocharged variant achieving 0 to 60 mph in approximately 6.4 seconds. All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard across all 2025 Mazda CR-X engine options for better control in various conditions. The available drive modes enhance the CX-50’s traction and adaptability.

The 2025 Honda CR-V offers one standard engine plus a hybrid variant. The base engine is a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder matched to a continuously variable automatic transmission for 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. A hybrid option features a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder paired with two electric motors. This powertrain delivers 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard on the CR-V, with an available AWD system if you need better traction.

Fuel Economy and Efficiency

The 2025 Honda CR-V holds a slight edge in fuel economy and efficiency, especially with its hybrid options. The CR-V’s base engine delivers an EPA-estimated 28 mpg city and 34 highway in FWD models, or 26 mpg on city streets and 31 mpg for highway driving with AWD. Its hybrid models boost efficiency to 43 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway in the FWD models or 40 mpg for city driving and 34 mpg on the highway with AWD.

The 2024 Mazda CX-50 is competitive, especially its new hybrid variant, which is rated at 39 mpg city and 37 mpg highway. The standard engine gets 25 mpg for city driving and 31 mpg on the highway, while the turbocharged version averages 23 mpg on Longwood city streets and 29 mpg on the highway.

Safety Features and Ratings

Today’s automakers understand the importance of safety and driver-assistance features, along with an advanced airbag system to help protect you and your passengers in a collision. Standard driver aids for the 2025 Mazda CX-50 include:

• Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane departure mitigation
• Forward collision warning with automatic braking
• Adaptive cruise control

Higher trims add a head-up display, self-leveling adaptive headlights, reverse automatic braking, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot intervention, and a surround-view monitor. The 2024 CX-50 earned a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), including five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars for rollover resistance. Models built after August 2023 received the highest designation of Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2025 Honda CR-V’s standard safety features include lane-keep assist, forward collision warning with automatic braking, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims feature blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and low-speed automatic braking. The 2024 CR-V secured a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal crash tests (five stars for the driver, four stars for the passenger), five stars in side crash tests, and four stars for rollover resistance with the NHTSA. The IIHS also designated the CR-V as a Top Safety Pick.

Pricing and Value Proposition

The 2025 Mazda CX-50 starts at $30,500 MSRP for the 2.5 S Select trim and goes up to $43,500 for the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. The hybrid models begin at $33,970 for the Hybrid Preferred and reach $40,050 for the Hybrid Premium Plus. Mazda positions the CX-50 as a more premium offering, emphasizing upscale interior materials and dynamic driving characteristics. Standard AWD across all trims enhances its appeal if you value performance and versatility.

The 2025 Honda CR-V’s starting MSRP is $30,100 for the LX trim, with higher trims such as the EX-L priced at $35,000. The hybrids start at $34,650, with the top-of-the-line Sport Touring Hybrid at $41,100. The CR-V focuses on practicality, offering a spacious interior, excellent fuel economy, and a reputation for reliability. While AWD is available, it is not standard across all trims.

Visit Sport Mazda North in Longwood To Test-Drive the CX-50 Today

When you’re ready to experience the 2025 Mazda CX-50 for yourself, contact our friendly Sport Mazda North team. We’re here to answer your questions, schedule a test-drive, and review financing options to get you into a new Mazda CX-50. Visit us at 400 N. U.S. Highway 17-92 in Longwood, Florida, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday or noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Call us at 321-300-7266 or complete our secure online form to get started.