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2018 Hyundai Tucson vs. 2018 Mazda CX-5: Which Is Best?
2018 Hyundai Tucson Mazda CX 5 ・ Photo by Mazda / Hyundai
The 2018 Hyundai Tucson and 2018 Mazda CX-5 are two compact crossovers with seating for five passengers. They’re great choices for those who want the roomy cabin and flexible cargo space of an SUV, but don’t need something too large.
Both these vehicles fit the bill, but there are differences between the two that make one the better choice. Let’s take a closer look at the 2018 Hyundai Tucson and 2018 Mazda CX-5 to see which of these popular compact crossovers is best.
Pricing and Trims
The 2018 Hyundai Tucson is available in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive in six trims. The SE starts at $22,550 with front-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The front-wheel drive Sport gets a 2.4-liter four-cylinder at $25,150. The Limited features a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a price of $29,425 with front-wheel drive. Add all-wheel drive to any trim for $1,400.
The 2018 Mazda CX-5 also offers front-wheel or all-wheel drive, but with only three trims and only a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The front-wheel drive Sport starts at $24,150 while the Grand Touring comes in at $29,645. All-wheel drive costs an additional $1,300. Its lower pricing and its wider range of trims put the Tucson on top.
Hyundai Tucson
Photo by Hyundai
Safety
Both the 2018 Hyundai Tucson and 2018 Mazda CX-5 received an overall five-star rating in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, both received a top rating of Good in all crash tests and Superior for available front crash prevention technologies.
There was, however, a difference in their headlight ratings. The CX-5 received a Good rating while the Tucson received one step down at Acceptable. As a result, the CX-5 was named a 2018 Top Safety Pick+ while the Tucson was only a 2018 Top Safety Pick. It’s a subtle difference, but it’s enough to put the CX-5 slightly ahead of the Tucson on safety.
Mazda CX-5
Photo by Mazda
Seating
There’s enough room to seat five adults in both the 2018 Hyundai Tucson and 2018 Mazda CX-5, but that seating isn’t created equal. The Tucson has 39.6 inches of headroom and 41.5 inches of legroom up front with 39.2 inches of headroom and 38.2 inches of legroom in back. The CX-5 offers 39.7 inches of headroom and 41.0 inches of legroom for front passengers while rear passengers get 39.0 inches of headroom and 39.6 inches of legroom.
The difference comes in those rear seats with more legroom for those passengers in the CX-5. In addition to the extra rear legroom, the CX-5 offers heated seats with leather trims and power adjustability on all but the base model.
Mazda CX-5
Photo by Mazda
Cargo
A good crossover needs the flexibility to handle both people and cargo. The 2018 Hyundai Tucson offers 31.0 cubic feet behind the 60/40 split-folding rear seat and 61.9 cubic feet behind the front seats. There’s an available hands-free power-operating smart trunk with adjustable height settings on top trims and roof rails on all but the base trim.
The Mazda CX-5 counters with 30.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 59.6 cubic feet behind the first row. It has a power rear liftgate available on all but the base trim and offers a bit of additional flexibility with a 40/20/40 split-folding second. Despite the flexible rear-seat configurations, the Tucson comes out ahead for its greater capacity.
Hyundai Tucson
Photo by Hyundai
Towing
Sometimes there simply isn’t enough room for everything inside the vehicle. If you need to transport large items that won’t fit through the tailgate or need to keep the rear seats up for a full load of passengers, then a crossover’s towing capacity comes into play. Every 2018 Mazda CX-5 is rated to tow 2,000 pounds.
The 2018 Hyundai Tucson has two ratings, depending on how it’s equipped. It’s rated to tow up to 1,000 pounds without trailer brakes or up to 1,500 pounds with trailer brakes. That’s a significant difference and easily gives the CX-5 the win when it comes to towing.
Mazda CX-5
Photo by Mazda
Performance
The 2018 Mazda CX-5 comes with a single powertrain featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. The 2018 Hyundai Tucson has three available engines starting with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 164 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque paired to a six-speed automatic.
The Tucson's Sport trim gets a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, which still comes in less than the CX-5. The top of the Hyundai's trims has a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 175 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque paired to a seven-speed automatic. The Tucson offers more variety, but the CX-5 offers a more powerful ride in every trim.
Mazda CX-5
Photo by Mazda
Comfort and Handling
The 2018 Hyundai Tucson does a good job of providing the room and flexibility to carry cargo with a comfortable ride for passengers. It has a quiet and spacious cabin with comfortable front seats that are supportive without getting stiff. Rear passengers will also enjoy the ride, and the cabin suffers from minimal road and wind noise, making conversation easy.
The 2018 Mazda CX-5 likewise delivers a solid crossover experience, but it takes things a step further than the Tucson. Cabin materials are of a higher quality and seating, especially up front, is downright plush. Its also upholds Mazda’s reputation for building cars that are fun with a sportier drive than the Tucson.
Photo by Mazda
Fuel Efficiency
The 2018 Mazda CX-5 with front-wheel drive gets an EPA-estimated 25 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined. All-wheel drive models see a slight drop to 24 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined.
Equipped with the 1.6-liter four-cylinder and front-wheel drive, the 2018 Hyundai Tucson gets an EPA-estimated 25 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg combined. Choose all-wheel drive and the numbers fall to 24 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined. Other engines see a further drop in fuel economy numbers, making the CX-5 a more fuel-efficient choice.
Photo by Mazda
Infotainment
The 2018 Mazda CX-5 features a standard 7-inch color touchscreen and a four-speaker audio system, with an available six-speaker system or a 10-speaker Bose audio system depending on the trim level you choose. The base system in the 2018 Hyundai Tucson includes a smaller 5-inch color touchscreen with a six-speaker audio system. There’s an available 7-inch or even larger 8-inch screen, along with an eight-speaker Infinity audio system on select trims.
Features are comparable, but the Tucson gets the edge for offering both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration as standard features on all but the base model. This technology isn’t currently offered on the CX-5 at all, even on the top trim.
Photo by Hyundai
Verdict
The 2018 Hyundai Tucson and 2018 Mazda CX-5 are two strong crossover offerings. Both have the features and versatility customers demand for today’s busy lifestyles. While the Tucson offers a wider range of trims, lower pricing that’s easier to fit into the family budget, and more cargo room, the CX-5 is an overall stronger crossover.
The Mazda has a more powerful engine, a nicer interior, and better fuel economy. It also offers more of that crucial rear legroom and a quieter, smoother ride. Its biggest drawback is the lack of infotainment system features, but that’s not enough for the Tucson to pull ahead.
Photo by Mazda