2018 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2018 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.
2018 Chevrolet
Equinox
4/10
Fine as a $12k grocery-getter if you budget for a brake vacuum pump and skip the 1.5T entirely.
VS
2018 Mazda
CX-5
6/10
Best-handling compact SUV of its generation, but budget for a possible engine-related surprise the accountants at Mazda clearly didn't.
Milo scores the 2018 Mazda CX-5 higher — 6/10 against 4/10.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| NHTSA complaints | 397 | 116 |
| Safety recalls | 5 | 3 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 42 | 58 |
| Cheap to own | 45 | 55 |
| Fun factor | 30 | 78 |
| Holds value | 38 | 70 |
| Enthusiast cred | 10 | 45 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2018 Chevrolet Equinox
9-speed automatic hard shifts, hesitation, and TCM (transmission control module) failures tied to a software/hardware recall
$0–$2,50040k–90k mi
2018 Mazda CX-5
Cracked cylinder head (2.5L Skyactiv-G, non-turbo) causing oil leak, white smoke, burning smell
$3,500–$6,50060k–90k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
A 2018 Equinox Premier with the 2.0T engine, FWD (to avoid the extra AWD driveline complexity), and full documentation of ALL five recalls completed — this combo minimizes the two biggest headaches (1.5T oil burn and AWD driveshaft failure).
✅ 2018 Mazda CX-5
2018 CX-5 Grand Touring with the 2.5L NA engine, low miles, full documented oil-change history, and — if you can find one — the later-production run (VIN indicating spring 2018 or later) which had running running engine software/build updates.
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.