The ring is set once again. The crossovers have returned to pick up where they left off. The 2017 Mazda CX-5 takes on Honda CR-V and the unfinished battle continues as the epic showdown simply cannot be concluded in a single round.

The Test Of Strength

According to Car and Driver the 2017 Mazda CX-5 is equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that cranks out 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. An option for a diesel-powered turbocharged Skyactiv-D engine that puts out 173 horsepower and 310 pound feet of torque will also be available. The powertrain is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift and sport mode that will send the power to a standard front wheel drive (FWD) or the optional all-wheel drive (AWD) drivetrain.

The 2017 Honda CR-V also has two powertrains in the forms of the standard 2.4-liter Inline-4 and the turbocharged 1.5 four-cylinder engines that are capable of 184 horsepower, 180 pound-feet of torque and 190 horsepower, 179 pound-feet of torque respectively. The powertrains are matched with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that also sends the power to a standard FWD and an optional AWD drivetrain.

The Battle Of Stamina

The battle of stamina boils down to the fuel efficiency of the two crossovers. Reports stated that the 2017 Mazda CX-5 has a fuel economy rate of 26/33/29 miles per gallon in the city, highway and combined respectively. The 2017 Honda CR-V on the other hand has 26/32/28 and 28/34/30 miles per gallon in the city, highway and combined for its 2.4-liter and 1.5-liter engine respectively.

Crossover Safety Features

Top Speed reported that the 2017 Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V are both packed with features designed to protect its passengers in case of accidents. The 2017 Honda CR-V has the Honda Sensing that features lane keep assist, collision mitigation braking system with forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control and road departure mitigation system. It was stated in the same report that the 2017 Mazda CX-5 has similar safety features and is also expected to have a better safety score than its previous model.

The Verdict

Both crossovers are serious contenders in their segment but neither has the upper-hand at the moment. Perhaps another duel in the future will settle the score. At the end of the day, buyers will decide the winner when they make a purchase.