Verdict
At RM133,900, the Civic undercuts the RM134,469 CX-5 by RM569 while delivering 180 hp, 240 Nm and an 8.3-second 0-100 km/h time against 162 hp, 213 Nm and 10.4 seconds. It also saves RM349 annually in road tax, has a 497-litre boot and brings autonomous braking plus lane-keeping steering correction. The CX-5 answers with a 1,675-mm SUV body, 56-litre tank, 17-inch wheels and dual-zone climate control, but its 442-litre boot and 100,000-km warranty trail the Civic’s.
Pick the Honda Civic if you want the quicker 180-hp turbo sedan, lower RM90 road tax and Honda Sensing safety assistance.
Pick the Mazda CX-5 if you need a taller five-door SUV with a 56-litre tank, 40:20:40 rear seats and dual-zone air-conditioning.
Key differences
- Price: Honda Civic RM133,900; Mazda CX-5 RM134,469.
- Performance: Honda Civic 180 hp, 240 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 8.3 seconds; Mazda CX-5 162 hp, 213 Nm and 10.4 seconds.
- Road tax: Honda Civic RM90 per year; Mazda CX-5 RM439 per year.
- Boot space: Honda Civic 497 litres; Mazda CX-5 442 litres.
- Dimensions: Honda Civic is 4,678 mm long and 1,415 mm tall; Mazda CX-5 is 4,550 mm long and 1,675 mm tall.
- Warranty mileage: Honda Civic unlimited mileage; Mazda CX-5 100,000 km.
Civic
- 180 hp and 240 Nm, with an 8.3-second 0-100 km/h time.
- Honda Sensing includes autonomous braking and lane-keeping steering correction.
- 497-litre boot and unlimited-mileage five-year warranty.
- 47-litre fuel tank versus the CX-5's 56 litres.
- Single-zone climate control versus dual-zone climate control.
- 16-inch wheels versus the CX-5's 17-inch wheels.
CX-5
- Taller 1,675-mm SUV body with five doors.
- 56-litre fuel tank and 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats.
- Dual-zone climate control, four USB ports and a wireless charger.
- 162 hp, 213 Nm and a 10.4-second 0-100 km/h time trail the Civic.
- No autonomous braking or lane-keeping assist, while the Civic has both.
- RM439 annual road tax, a 442-litre boot and 100,000-km warranty lose to the Civic.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM133,900✓ | RM134,469 |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM90✓ | RM439 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, turbocharged with variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,498 cc | 1,998 cc |
| Horsepower | 180 hp✓ | 162 hp |
| Torque | 240 Nm✓ | 213 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 73 mm | 83.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.3 | 13 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | SkyActiv-Drive with Manual Shift and Sport mode |
| Gears | — | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Mazda |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.3 seconds✓ | 10.4 seconds |
| Top Speed | 200 km/h✓ | 176 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,678 mm | 4,550 mm |
| Width | 1,802 mm | 1,840 mm |
| Height | 1,415 mm | 1,675 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,735 mm | 2,700 mm |
| Weight | 1,349 kg | 1,588 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 47 litres | 56 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 497 litres✓ | 442 litres |
| Front Tyre | 215/55R16 | 225/65R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/55R16 | 225/65R17 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Continental MaxContact MC5 | Continental CrossContact LX Sport |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 16" Alloy | 17" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 16" Alloy | 17" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 three-point |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Honda Sensing | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | Front Seats Only |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflector with Auto High Beam | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Manual Adjustable |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-fold | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Rear AC Vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear | 1 Front, 4 USB, 1 Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 9.0" Advanced Display Audio Touchscreen with Google Services Built-in, 8 Speakers, Wired Android Auto, Wired and Wireless Apple CarPlay | 8.0" Display Audio Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 6 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Front Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Entry (Push Button Start) | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Digital/Analogue | Digital/Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used Civic & CX-5 for sale
Civic vs CX-5 FAQ
Is the Honda Civic or Mazda CX-5 better?
The Civic is the stronger choice for most buyers: it is RM569 cheaper, substantially quicker, cheaper to tax and has autonomous braking plus lane-keeping assistance. Choose the CX-5 when its taller SUV body, larger fuel tank and dual-zone air-conditioning matter more.
What is the price difference?
The Honda Civic costs RM133,900 and the Mazda CX-5 costs RM134,469, so the Civic is RM569 cheaper.
Which has better driver assistance?
The Honda Civic does. It has Honda Sensing autonomous braking, collision warning, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping steering correction. The Mazda CX-5 has passive cruise control and no autonomous braking or lane-keeping assist.
