The 2018 Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V are both popular used SUVs to buy. Is there one that is better than the other? That depends on what you are looking for in a used SUV. Check out some of the awards that have been awarded to both the Honda and Mazda compact SUVs.

Is the 2018 Mazda CX-5 a reliable car?

In 2018, the CX-5 scored an 8.7 overall from U.S. News. This included a 9.4 from the critics and a 9.8 for safety. It came in number one on numerous lists, including Affordable Compact SUVs, Affordable Crossover SUVs, and Affordable SUVs with 2 Rows.

For 2018, the Mazda CX-5 got a score of 3.5 out of five. This year does have two safety recalls. The first one is related to the powertrain control module. Mazda can fix this at the dealership by reprograming the software.

The second recall is for the side curtain airbags not properly deploying. Mazda would replace the airbags free of charge if your vehicle was one of the impacted models.

The 2018 Mazda CX-5 comes with a three-year, 36,000-mile warranty and a five-year, 60,000-mile warranty for the powertrain.

The 2018 Honda CR-V is family-friendly

U.S. News ranked the 2018 Honda CR-V number four on the list of Affordable Compact SUVs. The reliable SUV received a score of 8.4 out of 10 overall, with a 9.8 for safety. From the critics, the score was a 9.7 out of 10.

Though it did not come first, the 2018 CR-V ranked on the list of Affordable SUVs with 2 Rows and Affordable Crossover SUVs. It won the award of Best Compact SUV for the Monday and Best Compact SUV for Families.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the CR-V a five out of five for safety. It also earned five stars for the frontal and side crash ratings.

In March 2021, American Honda Motor Co. recalled many vehicles due to the fuel system malfunctioning. Around 62,8124 vehicles are potentially affected, with the 2018 CR-V being one of them.

The recall is due to the fuel pump failing, which could cause the engine to stall while the car is in motion. This could potentially cause a crash.

Both options are reliable used SUVs

Both of these SUVs rank high on the lists for reliable, compact SUVs. Some drivers find themselves loyal to one brand over the other, which is normal.

Fortunately, both the CX-5 and the CR-V had safety scores of 9.8. The reliability score from U.S. News was higher for the CX-5, but the critic’s rating was higher for the CR-V.

Both SUVs have room for five passengers and get around 25 miles per gallon in the city and 31 on the highway. Also, both offer front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options.

AutoTrader has many available 2018 Honda SUVs on sale for a variety of budgets. For a CR-V with higher mileage, there are some available for between $15,00 and $18,000. There are also lower-mileage vehicles for between $28,000 and $33,000.

For the 2018 Mazda CX-5 SUV, AutoTrader had a 2018 front-wheel-drive Sport edition with 13,727 miles available for $21,131.

The used front-wheel-drive Touring edition with 32,821 miles is listed at $20,991. A higher-end Grand Touring edition with 21,256 miles is listed at $23,441.