Mazda CX-5 vs Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sportage – Which SUV Should I Buy?

QUESTION - SIMON:
We are starting a family and I'd like a safe and comfortable SUV with great fuel economy and the best resale. I like to update my car every 2 years or so to ensure we always has modern safety gear. That’s the most important thing.

I have been looking around and had in mind a Mazda CX-5 GT Diesel. Having said that, I’m concerned that the new CX-5 model arriving next year may harm the resale value of the current car.

BUDGET:
$50,000

RESPONSE - SAMANTHA:
You are on to a good thing with the Mazda CX-5. We often recommend the model, and the GT Diesel is a great variant. If you do need to buy a car in the short term and opt for the CX-5, be sure to add the Safety pack for $1060. It includes blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and Smart City Brake Support (forward collision warning and auto-braking).

If you don’t need to buy right away, it is worth waiting for the new model since you’re quite concerned about resale values. The CX-5 will be significantly updated within your two-year ownership period, and this will affect the resale.

The current car was launched in 2012 and updated early last year, so it is admittedly getting older. The resale on this vehicle is currently one of the highest in the compact SUV market; it is a popular seller, and the diesel is handling depreciation well, so it’s a small risk if you do choose to buy now.

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The new Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sportage Platinum are also excellent, though resale is not as outstanding in the Korean corner. The new VW Tiguan 110TDI gets the nod for safety and economy, but resale is also somewhat unknown. It is a very new model, meaning it won’t be superseded during your two-year ownership, however VW’s issues with its older diesel engine emissions has affected general buyer confidence to some degree. Whether or not that will remain long term remains to be seen.

Others you may want to investigate that have excellent safety and fuel economy would be the Ford Kuga Titanium ($45,190 2WD, or $47,190 AWD), and if your budget can stretch or you don’t mind buying a near-new demo, the Lexus NX200t Luxury 2WD ($53,550).