Honda CR-V vs Mazda CX-5: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Honda CR-V does better at its MOT: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 6.0 percentage points ahead of the Mazda CX-5 on first-time MOT passes. Its raw pass rate is the lower of the two (80.7% against 83.2%) because Honda CR-Vs on the road are older on average: cars of their age pass 74.1% of the time, against 82.7% for cars the age of the Mazda CX-5 fleet. That comparison covers 27,530 real tests across every generation on the road, not a survey. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict; the common faults below cover the rest.

MOT first-time pass rate

Counted from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test records. “vs age-matched” compares each model against what the national fleet scores at the same age — the only fair better-or-worse number, because an older fleet fails more whatever its build quality.

Honda CR-V

Pass rate80.7%

Age-matched national74.1%

Difference+6.5

Tests20,016

Mazda CX-5

Pass rate83.2%

Age-matched national82.7%

Difference+0.5

Tests7,514

Model	Pass rate	Age-matched national	Difference	Tests
Honda CR-V	80.7%	74.1%	+6.5	20,016
Mazda CX-5	83.2%	82.7%	+0.5	7,514

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Honda CR-Vs registered 2002–2022 and Mazda CX-5s registered 2013–2022.

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). National first-time pass rate 77.3%. Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. The difference is worked out before rounding, so it can be 0.1 away from the two rounded figures beside it.

Honda CR-V

Mk5, 2018–2023 (Hybrid) · mid-size family SUV

The Mk5 Honda CR-V (2018–2023) is among the most reliable mid-size SUVs in the UK. The dominant owner-reported issue is oil dilution with fuel on the early 1.5 VTEC Turbo petrol, mostly on short cold trips. We found no UK recall or Honda campaign for it in DVSA's recall file, so ask whether any Honda software update or oil-dilution repair was done. The hybrid (e:HEV) is exceptionally low-maintenance. Best-buy years: 2020–2023. Worst: no single year stands out on DVSA MOT results.

What goes wrong

Safety recall R/2020/061recall
The absorption of moisture into the driver's air bag propellant could lead to slow deployment or inflator rupture
42,435 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers)
Large recall — 42,435 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
Safety recall R/2023/357recall
Battery Cable Contact Short Circuit Problem
18,733 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 22 October 2018 and 1 July 2022
Large recall — 18,733 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
1.5 VTEC Turbo fuel-in-oil dilutionmajor
Engine oil level rising above max on dipstick; oil smells of petrol; reduced oil viscosity
2018–early 2019 (1.5T petrol) · Warranty cover varies by car, so ask a Honda dealer about the exact one; post-warranty oil damage: £800–£2,500 depending on severity
Check: Dipstick at viewing — oil level should not be above max. Ask the seller whether any Honda software update or oil-dilution repair was carried out, and for the paperwork. Service history should show Honda-stamp servicing with evidence of oil changes at correct intervals. Be wary of cars that sat in short-trip urban use.
e:HEV inverter (hybrid models)moderate
"System Error" or "IMA" warning; reduced power; rare fail-to-start
2018–2021 hybrid · Under warranty typically (Honda 5-yr hybrid warranty); out of warranty £1,800–£3,200
Check: Scan for hybrid system codes. EV-mode should engage cleanly at low speeds — if it never enters EV mode, inverter or battery may have faulted.

Typical asking price:: not given as a fixed figure — the model guide shows the median and middle 80% of asking prices for the cars advertised on Autoza that day, when at least 10 qualify
Fuel economy:: 1.5T petrol: 31–38 mpg real-world. e:HEV hybrid: 42–49 mpg — significantly better on UK city/suburban use
Vehicle tax:: £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025 (2026/27 rates). A car registered from April 2017 that listed at over £40,000 new (options included) also pays the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 — it is the price when new that counts, not what you pay for it used.
Best years:: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

Used Honda CR-Vs for sale Full CR-V fault guide Used Hondas

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Mazda CX-5

KF, 2017–2024 (2022 facelift) · mid-size family SUV

The KF Mazda CX-5 (2017–2024) is one of the more reliable mid-size SUVs sold in the UK, but the dominant 2.2 SkyActiv-D diesel suffers fuel-in-oil dilution and DPF blockage on short urban journeys. Pre-2022 cars also have headlight clouding and dated Mazda Connect infotainment. Best-buy years: 2022–2024 (facelift). Worst: 2018.

What goes wrong

Safety recall R/2019/187recall
Soot may accumulate around the intake shutter valve on the inlet side of the engine
70,435 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 26 January 2012 and 30 June 2018
Large recall — 70,435 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
Safety recall R/2021/435recall
Low pressure fuel pump impeller might become deformed
26,974 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 3 April 2018 and 27 October 2018
Large recall — 26,974 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
Engine — 2.2 SkyActiv-D fuel-in-oil dilutionmajor
Engine oil level rising above max on dipstick; diesel smell on dipstick; reduced oil viscosity; in extreme cases runaway-engine risk
2017–2021 (pre-software update); risk persists on any 2.2D used mainly for short urban trips · £180–£280 oil + filter change at independent specialist; £700+ if injector seals also need replacement
Check: Dipstick at viewing — oil level should be at or below max, not above. Sniff the dipstick for diesel. Ask the seller for the typical journey length: a 2.2D used mostly for sub-9 miles commutes is a red flag regardless of mileage.
DPF — 2.2 SkyActiv-D diesel particulate filtermajor
Limp mode; "DPF full" warning; loss of power on hills; failed regeneration cycles
All 2.2 SkyActiv-D, mileage- and usage-dependent · Typical issue 55,000+ miles when used for short urban journeys · £600–£1,200 forced regen + cleaning; £1,800–£3,000 DPF replacement
Check: Ask the seller for proof of recent motorway driving. Run a 30-minute mixed-speed test drive with an OBD reader connected (£20 phone tool) — watch DPF soot load. Avoid any car where the DPF has been removed or tampered with: under the DVSA MOT inspection manual (8.2.2.1) a missing or tampered-with DPF is a major defect, which fails the MOT, and GOV.UK says removing one is almost always illegal.

Typical asking price:: not given as a fixed figure — the model guide shows the median and middle 80% of asking prices for the cars advertised on Autoza that day, when at least 10 qualify
Fuel economy:: 2.2 SkyActiv-D 42–47 mpg real-world; 2.0 SkyActiv-G 31–35 mpg; 2.5 SkyActiv-G 28–33 mpg
Vehicle tax:: £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:: 2022, 2023, 2024
Years to avoid:: 2018

Used Mazda CX-5s for sale Full CX-5 fault guide Used Mazdas

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Which one suits you

Honda CR-V

Good for: Families wanting reliable Japanese quality in an SUV package. e:HEV hybrid is the pick for urban and suburban commuting — no plug needed, excellent real-world economy. Buyers with good service history documentation.

Less good for: Buyers tempted by early 1.5T examples with no oil-change history; short-trip-only drivers on the 1.5T petrol; hybrid buyers needing 7 seats (seven seats were offered only on the 1.5 VTEC Turbo petrol; the hybrid is five-seat).

Mazda CX-5

Good for: Family buyers wanting a premium-feeling Japanese SUV with strong long-term reliability, lower depreciation than German rivals, and a quiet refined cabin (especially post-2022 facelift). Best fit for drivers doing regular motorway miles.

Less good for: Short-trip city-only drivers buying the 2.2 SkyActiv-D — fuel-in-oil dilution and DPF clogging are use-pattern issues, not luck. Choose the 2.0 / 2.5 SkyActiv-G petrol or look elsewhere. Also not for buyers needing seven seats — CX-5 is strictly five-seat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Honda CR-V or the Mazda CX-5?

On the MOT measure, the Honda CR-V: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 6.0 percentage points ahead of the Mazda CX-5 on first-time MOT passes, across 27,530 DVSA-recorded tests covering every generation on the road. Its raw pass rate is the lower of the two (80.7% against 83.2%) because Honda CR-Vs on the road are older on average: cars of their age pass 74.1% of the time, against 82.7% for cars the age of the Mazda CX-5 fleet. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict.

How do the MOT pass rates of the Honda CR-V and the Mazda CX-5 compare?

80.7% of Honda CR-Vs pass their MOT first time (20,016 tests in DVSA's records) and 83.2% of Mazda CX-5s pass their MOT first time (7,514 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Honda CR-V's age average 74.1% and cars of the Mazda CX-5's age 82.7% — so the Honda CR-V runs 6.5 points better than its age group and the Mazda CX-5 runs 0.5 points better than its own. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.

Which years of the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 should I avoid?

Honda CR-V: Early 2018–2019 1.5 VTEC Turbo engines reported fuel mixing into the engine oil in cold-weather short-trip driving patterns — exactly how many UK commuters use their cars. Oil level would rise above max and engine longevity was compromised in severe cases. We found no UK recall or Honda campaign for it, so a car's oil history matters more than its year: the problem can go undetected for months. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2018 and 2019 registrations above all cars registered those years, so they are not named as years to avoid. Judge a CR-V by its registration, service history and the checks below rather than by year. Mazda CX-5: 2018 examples — the first full UK model year for the KF — saw the highest count of engine-related owner complaints, including oil leaks, oil consumption, and earliest reports of fuel-in-oil dilution on the 2.2 SkyActiv-D. Pre-update Mazda Connect was already feeling dated.

Is the Honda CR-V or the Mazda CX-5 cheaper to run?

On fuel the two are too close to call: the most economical versions return up to 49 mpg (Honda CR-V) and 47 mpg (Mazda CX-5), on the figures in our model guides. For cars registered from April 2017, vehicle tax works the same way for both: the £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included, plus the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 on a car that listed at over £40,000 new — the price when new, not what you pay for it used. Any Honda CR-V or Mazda CX-5 registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pays a CO2 band instead, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates). Insurance differs mainly by driver and postcode rather than by model, so treat any model-level insurance figure with caution.

MOT figures are counted from DVSA records and are the only measured statistic here. Prices, economy and tax bands are indicative and vary by specification, condition and where the car has lived. Last reviewed: 2026-10-06 / 2026-10-06.