
The CX-5 in our comparison is powered by a 2.5L four-cylinder engine with 184 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque, while the Tucson is powered by a 1.6L turbo four with 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. On the highway, you will find yourself over-correcting your steering in the Tucson because it is too light at high speeds, although the lightness helps when navigating tight areas like parking garages.īecause the Tucson is softer sprung though, it feels more comfortable and floaty over rough pavement, where a bit more roughness and NVH makes its way into the CX-5’s cabin.ĪLSO SEE: 2015 Honda CR-V vs. The Tucson, on the other hand, feels softer in the corners and the steering feels a bit disconnected, artificial, and over-boosted, all pretty typical traits in this segment. That’s not to say the Tucson is a bad performer, either, but you can really feel Mazda’s sporting heritage in the way the CX-5 drives. That’s a shame, because the CX-5 is the best in its segment for driving dynamics. Unfortunately, engaging driving typically matters diddly squat to people shopping this segment. It feels more connected to the road, you get much more feedback from the direct and responsive steering wheel, and it just dives into corners with more enthusiasm than a crossover has a right to. Is the Tucson’s makeover enough to steal our “favorite” vote away from the CX-5 for the compact crossover segment? The Difference is in the DriveĪfter driving the two crossovers back to back, one thing become very clear: the Mazda is still the better car if driving fun and engagement is what you’re looking for. Get a Quote on a New Mazda CX-5 or Hyundai Tucson in 2014) or the Toyota RAV4 (267,698), the Mazda CX-5 (99,122) has always been our top pick in the segment for its legitimately sporty driving dynamics and good looks. The Hyundai Tucson (47,306), on the other hand, sucked for a really long time, but it has been totally redesigned for the 2016 model year, and the revamp allows the CUV to properly fight it out with the segment’s best. Compact crossovers sell like popcorn at a movie theatre and here we have an industry favorite versus the handsome new guy, the 2016 Mazda CX-5 versus its 2016 Hyundai Tucson counterpart.Īlthough it doesn’t sell nearly as much as the Honda CR-V (335,019 units sold in the U.S.
