2016 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2016 Mazda CX-5
Two compact SUVs, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2016 Chevrolet
Equinox
3/10
A cheap used crossover that's cheap for a reason: GM's 2.4L Ecotec eats oil, hides it from the driver, and kills itself around 100k.
VS
2016 Mazda
CX-5
8/10
A Miata on stilts with a Corolla's maintenance bill — the last CX-5 before Mazda got fancy.
Milo scores the 2016 Mazda CX-5 higher — 8/10 against 3/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Chevrolet Equinox |
Mazda CX-5 |
| Known failure points | 7 | 8 |
| NHTSA complaints | 392 | 510 |
| Safety recalls | 1 | 5 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 35 | 82 |
| Cheap to own | 35 | 80 |
| Fun factor | 25 | 72 |
| Holds value | 40 | 70 |
| Enthusiast cred | 8 | 58 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2016 Chevrolet Equinox
2.4L LEA excessive oil consumption — worn piston rings + failing PCV system causing 1qt per 1,000 miles or worse, often with no dash warning until bearings knock
$3,500–$6,50060k–120k mi
2016 Mazda CX-5
Rear subframe / trailing arm corrosion in salt-belt cars
$800–$3,50080k–140k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
2016 Equinox LTZ AWD with the 3.6L V6 (LFX), one owner, dealer-serviced records showing 5,000-mile oil changes, under 90k miles. LTZ gets you leather, sunroof, Pioneer audio, and safety tech for barely more than an LT.
✅ 2016 Mazda CX-5
2016.5 (built April 2016+) Touring trim, AWD, in Soul Red or Machine Gray, with the Preferred Equipment Package and clean service records from a non-salt state. Manual transmission Sport FWD exists and is a unicorn for enthusiasts.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
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Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.