The Honda CR-V now has a diesel option to choose from. Is that a deterrent for Mazda’s oil-burning CX-5?
What’s new?
After driving Mazda’s all-new CX-5 for the first time in petrol form earlier this month, it’s now time to get behind the wheel of the diesel model, which commands a circa-200k premium over its sibling sipping on another type of fuel.
And to suit the SUV concept, the diesel-powered CX-5 has an all-wheel drive option sitting on top the range (which the petrol version doesn’t get all) plus a host of driver-assist features Mazda has been touting for quite some already.
Along with the ultra-dated Chevrolet Captiva, the CX-5 used to stand out in the mass-market compact SUV with a diesel engine to choose from. But the landscape has changed a little this year after leading brand Honda has introduced a similar engine for its latest CR-V for the first time in Thailand.
While the top-spec CX-5 XDL goes for 1.77 million baht, the CR-V equivalent costs 1.699 million baht. One reason for that price difference is taxation. If you glance at the accompanying graph below, the CX-5 spews out more than 150g/km and needs to face 35%; the CR-V enjoys a lower 30%.
That said, can the CX-5 prove to be the better family SUV for the weekend (especially considering the merits of diesel and all-wheel drive) for 70,000 baht more?
What’s cool?
When it comes to outright performance, the CX-5 does a significantly better job than the CR-V by feeling more lively on the highway and under hard acceleration from standstill (in fact, the Chevy comes closer to the CX-5 than the CR-V in this aspect).
So yes, despite being a carried-over engine (and six-speed automatic transmission), the CX-5’s bi-turbo unit is still the one to beat at the moment in this particular class of SUVs.
The decision to incorporate the brand’s latest GVC torque-vectoring control into the CX-5 apparently hasn’t harmed the vehicle’s reputed levels of driving enjoyment.
Of course, the ride is now smoother than before and the steering is lighter, as well. But the CX-5’s driving manners at high speeds remains: fine body control and neat handling -- two things it does marginally better than the CR-V
What’s not?
Honda claims a better fuel economy by nearly 2kpl, although we found it easier to close the gap between real-world figures and those claimed by the manufacturers in the Mazda. Even so, the power superiority the CX-5 boasts possibly means it is eventually the less frugal one.
But when it comes to interior utility, the CR-V is clearly the more superior one. Not only does the CR-V have third-row seats for kids, but it also has more usable space in five-seat form.
The airiness the CR-V has to offer for first and second-row occupants is also better. The dashboard and console design in the CX-5 feels more claustrophobic and less user-friendly, especially in the driver’s cockpit. Let’s not forget that SUV owners tend to like a fuss-free and commanding driving position.
Buy or bye?
We earlier summarised the petrol version of the CX-5 to be the driver’s SUV in its class. That remains the case with the diesel, only that its engine and all-wheel drive system further underscore its case. It’s more expensive than the petrol model but far better conceptually.
And with a chassis to match, the CX-5 is the better car to drive for delicate drivers than the CR-V. On the other hand, though, the CR-V is the better one to live with -- and by some margin. And because SUV punters tend to prioritise utility over driving fun, it could be said that the CR-V is the more relevant choice for most Thais.
All said and done, it merely depends on what you’re looking for, if you need an objective answer.
