2016 Hyundai Tucson 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 Hyundai
Tucson
5/10
Great space and features for the money, but the 1.6T/7DCT combo and Theta II engines make this a car you inspect like a detective, not a shopper.
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 5/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Hyundai Tucson |
Mazda CX-5 |
| Known failure points | 6 | 8 |
| NHTSA complaints | 1616 | 510 |
| Safety recalls | 5 | 5 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 45 | 82 |
| Cheap to own | 40 | 80 |
| Fun factor | 38 | 72 |
| Holds value | 42 | 70 |
| Enthusiast cred | 15 | 58 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2016 Hyundai Tucson
Theta II 2.0L/2.4L engine bearing wear leading to rod knock, excessive oil consumption, or complete engine failure
$4,000–$8,00060k–100k 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 Hyundai Tucson
A 2016 Tucson Limited or SE with the naturally aspirated 2.0L or 2.4L engine and conventional 6-speed automatic — skip the 1.6T Eco/Sport trims entirely. AWD adds real usability in snow states.
✅ 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.