Honda CR-V for spaciousness Toyota RAV4 for fuel economy Mazda CX-5 for driving fun And all of them are good, reliable vehicles that can't go wrong

Love the support here for the CX-5. It's good that more people are realizing that higher selling vehicles don't necessarily equate to better cars!

I just shopped all these options and ended up with the CX-5. What most reviews don't show you is the price comparison for comparably equipped vehicles. If you get a RAV4 or a CR-4 with AWD, the Bose or JBL stereo, heated seats, leather interior, sunroof, premium wheels, any interior other than black, and a power liftgate.....the RAV4 and CR-V will run about $4000 to $5000 more than a CX-5 Carbon Edition or Premium. That's not a small amount of change. And if you want the hybrid powertrain, add on even more money. Reviews often say the CX-5 has the "least space". How much space do you need? What are you carrying? The CX-5 is more than adequate. The 2.5L naturally aspirated engine has adequate power and in mixed driving I am regularly seeing 26mpg....that includes commuting in stop and go traffic. If you have a lead foot, your results may vary. I saw no need for the turbo. My only complaint about the CX-5 is the seat bottoms are a little short for my 6'5" 240lbs body...but I don't expect auto manufacturers to make vehicles to fit sasquatches like me. The seats are comfortable and I enjoy the lumbar support. I love the deep red interior color too. Very classy looking. We traded a Lexus NX 300 for our CX-5 and I don't consider it a trade down. The CX-5 is nicer in many respects. And as for the infotainment control knob...it's really easy to use and I got used to it very quickly...much better than the awful Lexus touch pad. And for 2024, the CX-5 has a touch screen. Sadly it only works in Apple CarPlay or Android Auto...and if you want to use it while moving, you need to enable it in the settings. But it does indeed have a touch screen.

I was struggling to buy between CX5 and CR-V in 2022, once I test drive the CX5, I have no doubt and still enjoy driving my CX5 today! (Toyota never on my list, sorry)

Went with the Mazda CX-5.beautiful interior, comfortable, is FUN to drive! Toyota and Honda dealers were not pleasant to work with. Mazda sales process was very smooth

Mazda was the only SUV to pass the new side impact crash test that recently came out.

In terms of appearance I prefere Mazda CX5. ❤

Just bought a '24 Mazda CX5 Carbon. I'll take the real automatic over a possible problem with a CVT transmission. The overall build quality and the beautiful interior is the best.

My 3rd CX-5. Because of my age, this is my last new car. I chose the Signature which has all the options. Best options are the 360 degree camera and the windshield display. Of course the Turbo adds to the fun of driving.

CX5 all the way! After a disastrous ownership of a Honda Odyssey, bought new but turned out to be a huge money pit, I would never even consider buying another of their products, the choice between the Toyota and Mazda is quite clear. The CX5 base model is far better equipped than the RAV-4 at a much lower price, great looks, engine, a rock solid 6 speeds transmission and fun to drive. That was my son's choice and something I agreed 100% with.

cx5 is the best simple but looks soo good in real life even inside feels premium than crv and rav4

CX-5 is hands down the best. The interior materials and build quality put it way ahead of the Honda and especially the RAV4

We had a CRV, RAV4, and a CX9, gotta say, the Mazda seems to be miles ahead of the other 2. The Honda gave us AWD problems, the RAV4 was noisy and the transmission was real clunky, didn’t give the the warm and fuzzies to want to keep it outside of a Warranty, so far the Mazda has been perfect.

Love my 2024 Honda CRV Touring Hybrid. It's worth the extra money in my eyes.

mazda CX-5 looks luxurious 😍

I got myself a Mazda CX-5 AWD Turbo and love it. I wanted a RAV4 at first until I saw the interior. And my mother-in-law got herself a CRV. I wasn’t a fan of the transmission. Felt like a really long first gear. I love the 6-speed in the Mazda

Excellent review and a comprehensive one too. Great summary 👍

Very good review as usual. Each car has its own pros and cons. Tough choice to make but the nice thing about these 3 is that it won't go wrong with any of them

Excellent work.🎊 🎉 You helped me a lot. Thanks 🙏🏼

Thank you so much for this video. I am looking at new cars and this video is very helpful.

Very nice review. Concise on the details and reasoning for each choice.

CX-5 is The # 1 ..Handling ,incredible finish , Not Bouncy as CRV and plastics,vinyle etc…

Great job on this video!

Amazing content,Would be more nice if you also included Forester

Clash of the titans, great vid!

Definately go with the CX-5, it's more luxurious than a RAV4 or CRV with similar prices.

I have a 2021 RAV4 Limited Hybrid. Keeping very detailed records, I have almost 85,000 miles and have averaged 43+ mpg overall. I've owned this car longer than any previously in my life and I can't think of any reason to purchase any other. I have been very satisfied with both Honda's and Subaru's that I've owned, but in both cased found the routine maintenance costs to be quite a bit more than Toyota. A fair review. I'll keep my Rav4!

Wow !!!! What a great and helpful video !!!

Mazda is so relaxing to drive my wife like it very much even more then my Avalon 😅

Thank you for posting this helpful video

Thanks the video on the Toyota rav4, Honda CRV and the mazda cx5 at the end of video you personally would choose the mazda cx5 would you stick to the cx5 turbo or the cx5 natural aspirated engine please respond stay safe.

Very complete review. It guides buyers on this segment. I ended a bit confused with the CX5, interior shots with wheel at the left and exterior shots with wheel at the right 😉

Thank you for your excellent video

Mazda CX-5 all the way!!!

PERFECT REVIEW!

very useful and penetrately analyzed review. subscribed!

Great information ,I would go for Cx-5 .😊

I am considering cx5 due to the price and interior quality compared to CRV and RAV4. CX5 interior is very simple and high quality letherette seats under 30k is sweet deal. Better than cloth. It will be for single person use so rear seats no issue. This model is out for a while so most issue should be resolved by now.

You've been asking for future video ideas so here goes. Not sure if this falls within the scope of this channel or if you've done a video on one of these ideas in the past. I just feel that some of these principles may be very helpful for young people now days and feel that your presentation style may be a good way to communicate it. There has been a spike in repos lately. It seems like people don't realize that when interest rates rise, financing gets more expensive so, "when is the best time to buy a car". Also, it seems like people feel like they need to buy a new car or better car than they can afford. It's like salespeople want us to think in terms of dollars per month and not dollars per year. I don't think people realize how much money they are spending on an annual basis on their car. I bought a 2002 Buick Park Avenue 7 years ago with 196k miles for $1,500. It was a car that no one wanted to buy so it was cheap. Also, this car is cheap and easy to fix and of good quality. I'm still driving it now with 275k. I've put about $3,000 in repairs so far. With liability insurance compare how much i've spent on my car per year with someone with a new car and car payment. Before this I had a 2012 Nissan Versa and was spending $100/month for depreciation, $100/month for full coverage insurance, and around$100/ month for maintenance. That's over $3,000 per year. currently, I spend around $400/ year on liability insurance. I'm saving $2,000/year or that's $10,000 I wouldn't have had in 5 years. Hmmm, enough to buy a good used car with cash in normal market conditions. Ok, so some other video ideas: 1. Talk to your mechanic not your salesman before buying a car. Make friends with a knowledgeable mechanic and treat him like gold. He's worth many car payments. Consult with him on any car questions. 2. When we need a repair on our car why do we compare the cost of the repair with the value of our vehicle? "This repair will cost more than the vehicle is worth." If I followed this idea, I would have sold my Buick long ago. I feel we should compare the cost of a repair with the the cost of buying and maintaining something else. I know I've taken care of this car and I don't know about a car someone else has been maintaining. 3. Consider putting only high quality (not necessarily the most expensive) parts on your car and keep it for a long time. The money you save on putting junk parts on your car you will spend on labor to replace it again in a few years. Also, every time you buy or sell a car (for the most part) you loose money. Just get something you like and take good care of it. The thing that will make you get rid of an old car is if you feel it is unreliable. I would feel comfortable driving my Buick across america right now. 4. Listen to investors. Put more of your money into large assets that increase in value (ex. house) and less money into assets that depreciate in value (ex. car, phone). This is how you build your wealth and don't get stuck in the cycle of living month to month. I heard a statistic recently, that 68% of households in the US don't have $500 in their bank accounts. I am an american who has traveled around the world. I have lived in some very poor countries including Botswana Africa. In all of these countries there have been people with money and people who were living month to month or day to day and it was dependent upon their money management. We are extremely wealthy in North America compared to these other countries, but you wouldn't know it, and I think most people don't realize it. We are slowly becoming poorer because inflation is rising faster than wages which means you need to make adjustments. You can't waist money on new cars like people used to years ago. Consider acquiring skills to fix houses or cars or make friends with someone who has these skills. Buy a cheap condo and rent extra rooms out to your friends. 5. The depreciation curve. Why are these young people buying new cars? Man, just get something at least 5 years old. If you get a good quality car, you will be able to keep it 15 years if you want and save all kinds of money. 6. This may be dangerous to say, but the emissions laws, which have become much stricter since 2006, have forced many automobile manufactures to decrease their quality. It is more important than ever to talk to your mechanic before buying a car. I'll maybe have some more ideas in the future. These are just some things I've been thinking about lately and wish someone would talk about. Why don't we teach this stuff in school? Maybe we have more important things to teach them like, "it's abuse for your parents to tell you you are a boy." Anyway, if these are not in the scope of this channel I understand. Be well. P.S. Just thought of one more: Consider learning how to do basic car repairs. You can pay your mechanic $100/hr or learn to do some of it yourself. I just spent $100 on an air gun and impact sockets. I was able to watch a video on youtube and replace my front brakes myself. Never done it before. Just paid for my new tool. One more: "how to find a well maintained, good quality used car." Why are we afraid of the cost of repairs? I'll gladly put $1,500 into my car if I know it will last for a while. In less than a year I will make that money back in comparison to car payments.

Keep in mind the CX5 platform is a decade old now and still better than both. The Honda is close and the Rav4 wins as the ugliest in its class since the Pontiac Aztec. Plus, the Rav4's interior is plastic fantastic. The CX5 has far superior interior materials, drive train, and driving dynamics.

looked at all 3 of these but went with the rav4 limited hybrid as it was almost $4000 cheaper than the Honda and had way more options and better fuel economy, I have gotten as good as 4.5 l per 100k

The Mazda is more the drivers' vehicle here, but I purchased the RAV4 Hybrid due to the interior space, MPG, and high resale value.

Love my CX-5. It’s a joy to drive and if it’s as reliable as my last Mazda I’ll be extremely happy

Selected CX5 sport design lately will be getting it soon!

I test drove a CX-5, CR-V, and a Tuscon. Tuscon was quick, but that janky dual clutch transmission had weird shifting. The CR-V was nice, but I wasn’t a fan of the CVT and the price. The CX-5 was definitely the most fun to drive. Ended up driving an hour away to purchase the same vehicle, a 21 Touring model for 3k less, and it’s been solid for almost two years now, with 32k miles on the odometer.

Undoubtedly the 3 best SUVS in the category. I bought the RAV4 limited because it has more ground clearance, better off road capability and an 8 speed automatic transmission that behaves very well most of the time and the suspension is awesome in bad pavement, but I think the best looking one is the CX5. CR-V has become very expensive. Here in Mexico you can buy a Hybrid RAV 4 for much less money than a full loaded non Hybrid CR-V. Great review by the way. I love your videos.

This video was very helpful, after looking at all three, we went with the Mazda CX5. The interior, the drive and price were the major factors. The Honda’s price hike put it out of grasp of most families. Also, I think in your next review, you might take a look at the Mazda CX-50, it’s like a CX5 for off roaders.

@carhelpcorner I literally visited Toyota and Mazda yesterday, Mazda felt a bit congested and Rav4 seems fine but I drove XSE version which is very good but prized way to high for Rav4. Not much of a traveler, in fact used around 30k miles in 6years on Honda civic! Saying that which of the trim of Rav4 is value for money with less maintenance headache down the line in both hybrid/Not hybrid. Kindly advise.

Just bought a 2024 Mazda CX-5 Turbo Carbon Edition.

UK RAV4 hybrid owner here. Love its fuel economy and reliability, although not as refined as the CX5. The new CRV is heavily overpriced compared to the other two in the UK, which is a shame.

I love mazda cx-5.. it has stylish interior and better performance than other 2..

CX5 all day long. We got the Turbo Sig. we just love it !!! 😃

i am looking at buy either a CRV or RAV4, which of these would you recommend considering a tall boy design and cabin space

Bought the 2024 cx5 kuro, btw you can use the touchscreen in the cx5 when parked, while driving you have to use that big button.

The only RAV4 you should even consider is the hybrid model. The regular engine model has a loud engine and isn’t very fast. If Mazda came out with a hybrid version, that would be the one to get.

Thanks so much for the detailed video. I am looking for the same video on Corolla cross, HR-V and Subaru Crosstrek

Honda and Mazda for the money. Great interiors you can't beat.

👍🏻👍🏻 Im with you on this one. How is that Hatchback working out. I went Civic on that one.

Anything with a CVT transmission is a deal breaker for me. Look at the history where they were failing at 40/50 K and Nissan had to replace a lot of them. Then they raised it to 80 k. Most of the problems according to the Nissan mechanic I use get much worse around 100/125K. Good gas mileage but a used CVT transmission costs are north of the $4,000 range. Gotta save a lot on gas money to pay for that. Love the Murano comfort, but my next car will be a standard automatic transmission. It is wonderful to have all the options so we can pick and choose.

When I was researching picks I did drive the CX-5. I could not find a comfortable seating position, additionally the dealer did not seem to care. I don't care for the look of the RAV4, I dislike the interior as well. It did not perform well on the IIHS testing compared to others. The CRV was my pick, before 2024! I would never buy a 2024 or newer CRV. I ended up buying a 2020 CRV, and it is awesome!

I am residing in KSA and have done bit of a research on all the available SUVs available in the market. I have to say Honda CRV price has shot up and definitely not the same what is mentioned in the video. My initial choice was RAV4 (due to its mileage) but it has a long waiting period that goes as high as 6 months. Based on all the available mid size SUV choices offered by the Japanese car companies, MAZDA CX-5 beats them all, specially if you are residing in a country where the fuel price is comparatively cheaper than other countries. I request you to make videos on the the reliability factor of the SUVs offered by Chinese companies such as GEELY, CHANGAN, MG, etc. They offer SUVs with very cheap prices (budget friendly) and with excellent interior designs and infotainment system for example GEELY OKAVANGO 2024 full options, or GEELY Monjaro or GEELY TUGELLA.

Excellent review. I like the RAV4 hybrid, except that in the mid-west US all the dealers say they are "unobtainium" with wait times of 1.5 to 2 years. As far as the CRV hybrid, dealers only want to order black interiors or exteriors... no thanks. I guess I will have to keep my red 2008 4Runner for another 15 years.

Great comparison video 🚗👍🏻🚙👍🏻🚕. I will go with RAV4 Hybrid ✅

Shopped a Used or new Cx-5 for a Year. Finally purchased a CPO 2023 Turbo Signature. No regrets. Fun to drive and sweet looking SUV in Red Crystal.

I would go with the smaller CX-5, the other two are more appliance family haulers. Hey if that's what you need then great. They are just too boring a drive for me.

Would be good to do a comparison video with the new Mazda CX90 PHEV and others in its class

CX-5, easily. I drove a RAV4 rental for a week, and it was shocking how bad it was. Cheap interior with cheap hard plastic everywhere.

While buying these cars, you shall also consider the holding cost. In Ontario CA, both CRV and RAV4 requires CAD 100+ more per month on insurance due to higher stolen or robbery risk comparing to Mazda. They are very popular “everywhere”.

Built quality/reliability made in japan mazda cx5 wins easily. I just read that over 2.3 million toyota/honda cars recalled in November. Rav4 is made in canada and crv is made in Indiana. I wouldn't touch either cars with a ten foot pole.

A video on 1) best lifted wagons 2) Best every day 300/300+ hp suvs/sedans please

Mazda CX-5 entertainment centre can be changed to touchscreen in the settings

Even if I was going for the Rav4 hybrid, the salesman said I would have to wait 8 months for one. That would work if I had a car to drive during that time, but our car got totaled.

Rav4 interior looks like a dumpster compared to CX5

Bought a 2024 CX 5 Signature and love it. I’ve been a Honda owner for 23 years but I didn’t like the new CRV. It looks too much like the Pilot and Passport. The price jump was too steep also. RAV4 was too noisy and I’m not a big fan of the CVT. Mazda fit and finish is superb and the ride is amazing.

I chose the CRV in 2018 and I’m still driving the same car.

The price at the dealers of Honda and Toyota are much higher than you list. The dealers tack on dealer price adjustments = 5 to 10000 dollars more and there are almost always significant waiting lists for deliveries. In other words Honda and Toyota dealers gouge their clients and if you don't like it , go somewhere else. Mazda dealers are much more reasonable in pricing. Also lower trim vehicles are in very short supply but higher trims ( that reads higher profits ) are surprisingly quicker deliveries. Welcome to the real world.

We bought a 2018 Honda CR-V for my wife and it has worked out very well. After having a great experience with my 1989 Toyota 4Runner, I wanted to go with a Toyota but could not fit in either the Rav-4 or Highlander. I'm 6'4" 250lb with a fused back, which made getting in/out very hard in all small cars, except the CR-V.

I'd definitely test drive the crv and rav 4

Any news on the 2025 RAV4 Prime re do?

We have a 2016 CX5. My spouse calls it our first grown-up car. It has the same powertrain as the tested model. It is the best car we have ever owned. And, just as described. Except for one thing--the rear seat is quite comfy and has plenty of leg room. Perhaps the Rav4 & CRV have more room there, but the CX5 has plenty. Fuel economy: I find a huge difference if I set the cruise at 100 km/hr. Thanks for the always thorough and informative review.

If CX-5 had hybrid system of Toyota or Honda... it would be beyond competition.

SMALL SUV'S !!!! NEVER FORGET THIS !!!! All my life I wanted a brand new RAV4 Hybrid and 5 months ago I finally bought the RAV4 of my dreams. It was GREAT! Moon roof, roof racks, All weather package so what if it was 41.5K list price! I was getting the car of my dreams! Then about 4 months later the stars fell from my eyes and harsh reality set in. The honeymoon was over. THE ROOF IS TWO INCHES TOO LOW !!!!!!!!!!! I have a tall torso and I bang my head each and every time I get in or out !!!! THE ROOF IS TOO LOW !!!!!!!!! And that center console! Don't get me started on that center console!! Oppps, too late. That center console is TWO INCHES TOO WIDE ON EACH SIDE !!! Even my wife complains about the cramped seating! And you know my wife, she's never wrong. "Why did you buy a car that has cramped seating??? " "Oh gee. I guess I wasn't thinking." And you know how that conversation ended. For you unmarried guys, it didn't end well. At least not for me. It always ends well for your wife but we guys, well, let’s just say you begin to wish that your Mother and your Father had never met.……Again. After months of owning a brand new 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid here is my honest review. Mechanically it is a great vehicle but it seems the engineers are totally clueless about DRIVER COMFORT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I bang my head every single time I get in or out BECAUSE THE ROOF IS 2 INCHES TOO LOW! The visibility is horrible! It's the worst visibility of any car I have ever owned, the rear view mirror is directly in my line of sight so I have to duck my head down to see underneath it every time I want to look 30 degrees to my right. My neck now has a permanent ache in it whenever I have to twist my head like this. The side support pillars are twice as wide as they need to be so I can't see anything coming at me from the sides if the intersection is less than 90 degrees. "Oh you need strong pillars to protect yourself in a roll over crash." "WELL MAYBE I WOULDN'T BE IN A ROLL OVER CRASH IF I COULD SEE THE ONCOMING CARS IN THE FIRST PLACE! DID YOU EVER THINK OF THAT?" Another thing I absolutely HATE about the Toyota RAV4 is how LOUD it is and that’s on the first day. Over time it’s only going to get louder. At highway speeds this vehicle has the LOUDEST road, wind and engine NOISE of anything I have ever driven before and I've been driving since 1968 when my parents first let me drive our Olds Vista Cruiser station wagon on the back roads of central Wisconsin because they were completely empty and they wanted to help me gain confidence and experience in the safest place they could find. Little did they know that afterwards, when they would send me out to get milk and bread by myself that I was taking back road corners on two wheels. I bet you didn't know that you could get a Vista Cruiser to take corners on two wheels but you can. You just can't get it to pop a wheelie. I know, I tried. "Why are the tires smoking?" "They were like that when I found them." And now for my penance, to pay for all my past sins I bought a 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid which is in all my lifetime of driving experiences the worst, most uncomfortable car I have ever driven in my life and I have driven a lot of different cars. Seriously, this is the only car that I actually DREAD having to drive. "We should go to the store." "Are you sure? Can't we put it off a few more days?" Mechanically the RAV4 Hybrid is a fantastic vehicle but as far as wanting to drive it my review is that it is a poorly thought out, hard plastic ROUGH TRUCK and I'm now sorry that I ever bought it. You've been a great audience and I hope you've enjoyed a piece of my RAV4 comedy standup routine. If a turbo engine doesn’t bother you then buy a Honda they’re cheaper and more comfortable and have a great night!

Did they ever thin-down the A pillars on the Mazda CX-5? Seemed fat and in the way of my view when I sat in one a few years back. Otherwise the interior looks pleasing. Well except the tablet glued on. Overall style wise it is such a winner it still looks stunning. Did they increase the tail light size on the latest?

If you like driving, mazda.. love my 2019 and would buy again.

As a Canadian first time buyer i appreciate videos like this. Id also like to hear more of the critical negatives so it doesnt sound like a sellers speel. Cr-v sounds the best to me, if the rav4 werent so hard to get, id maybe say that tops it. I got tons of research ahead of me, and thanks for the vid!

I’m so happy to see that the Mazda is so highly praised… my decision for my last car has been made.

Best one is Forester touring.........Comfortable....go anywhere......haul everything............Paul

You mentioned you would personally choose the cx5 over the Honda CRV or toyota rav4 in your videos choosing the cx5 as you mentioned would you choose the cx5 turbo or non turbo cx5 please reply thanks.

Cx5 is the better driving and handling suv imo. It’s not close.

I'll take the CX-5.

I like the looks of the Honda CRV Hybrid Sport Touring

I like them: the 3 of them🙄

I currently have a 2019 RAV4 Hybrid and have been extremely happy with it. Has awesome fuel economy which is my main priority and has been very reliable. Would not hesitate in buying another. I tested the CX-5 before purchasing the RAV4 but was put off by the high fuel consumption and small cargo area although it does look and feel more premium than the RAV4. The latest CRV Hybrid is over priced here in Australia as it is only available in one grade costing US$38,000 compared to the RAV4 Hybrid which can be bought from US$29,500

Good comparison. Went with the CR-V Hybrid and love it. The Hybrid gives great performance and love how present the electric motors are in city driving. I looked carefully at the hybrids generally, narrowed it down to RAV-4 and CR-V but in the end, the room inside, ride quality and performance was better in the CR-V.

We purchased a new 2023 CX-5 2.5S premium (non-turbo) great vehicle my wife loves it especially, we like Honda although the turbo engine and CVT disqualified the CRV for us, we have a high mileage RAV4 for the kids to use and they are great SUV’s as well!

My hybrid CRV,s brake pads are not even close to need a change at 20000 miles thanks to regenerative braking .Use it!

Which SUV? Subaru Outback Touring XT, then the CX-5.

Good review. Tip: Keep your left hand on the wheel - every few seconds you are waving it around. Very distracting!

Because I don’t need the bigger space that the Honda or Toyota have, I would go for the Mazda CX-5 Turbo Premium or Turbo Signature trims. The fuel economy is about the same as my 2017 Ford Escape Titanium with the 2.0 ecoboost. I like the performance of the 2.5L turbo and the CX-5 looks great inside and out. If I needed more space, I would go for the CR-V hybrid. It’s good performance and great fuel economy wrapped in a nice looking package. The RAV-4 wouldn’t be a consideration.

I could not justify paying almost $24k more for a brand new CRV with the hybrid when the previous gen achieved the same MPG without hybrid. Great video!