The CX-5 is still one of the best small crossovers available today and is Mazda’s best-selling vehicle for good reason. It’s nimble and fun to drive, especially with the optional turbocharged engine, and has one of the most upscale cabins in the segment. The CX-5 faces new competition from another Mazda, the CX-50, but its higher price may make buyers stick with the CX-5, which remains a quality vehicle at a competitive price.
Base Price: $40,600
As Tested: $42,110
Horsepower: 227
Mileage: 22 mpg city/27 mpg highway/24 mpg combined
The CX-5 debuted at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and the first model year was 2013, making it a dinosaur among vehicles. The last redesign for the CX-5 was in 2017. It has received some tweaks since then, including a new trim line-up for 2024.
The 2024 CX-5 comes in a whopping eight trims: 2.5 S Select, 2.5 S Preferred, 2.5 S Carbon Edition, 2.5 S Premium, 2.5 S Premium Plus, 2.5 S Carbon Turbo, 2.5 S Turbo Premium and 2.5 S Turbo Signature. Starting prices range from $29,300 to $40,600. All-wheel drive is standard on all trims.
There’s room for five passengers in two rows of seating.
The S trims get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 187-horsepower and pound-feet of torque. Mazda says the base engine can propel the CX-5 from zero to 60 mpg in 8.9 seconds.
The Turbo trims get a turbocharged version of the same engine that produces 227 horses on regular gas and 256 horses with premium gas and 310 pound-feet of torque. Both engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
My tester has the turbocharged engine and it has peppy performance. Mazda says it can sprint from zero to 60 in 7.3 seconds. There’s plenty of power for merging and passing at freeway speeds. Steering is accurate, brakes are responsive and the CX-5 corners well with little body roll. The ride is fairly firm but not jarring. Visibility is good to the front and sides but a bit limited to the rear. All in all, the CX-5 is truly one of the sportiest and best performers in the class.
When properly equipped, the CX-5 can tow up to 2,000 pounds.
Fuel economy is decent for a compact SUV. EPA estimates for my tester are 22 mpg city and 27 mpg highway with a combined rating of 24. I got 25 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. The models with the base engine do slightly better at 26 mpg city/31 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined.
The interior is upscale with quality materials – in fact, the cabin rivals what you’ll find in some luxury brands, especially in the upper trims. A large 10.25-inch display screen dominated the dash. Front seats are comfortable and supportive, even on long trips. The second row will accommodate two adults. Leg- and headroom are decent in both rows, and the rear seatback can recline.
Standard features include proximity keyless entry, push-button start, rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery with synthetic suede trim, six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 4.6-inch driver information display, infotainment system with 10.25-inch display screen with limited touch capability, six-speaker audio system, HD Radio, wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, front and rear USB ports, rain-sensing windshield wipers and automatic high-beam headlights.
Available features include surround-view camera system, head-up display, auto-dimming rearview mirror, real leather upholstery, Nappa leather upholstery, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, six-way power-adjustable passenger seat, ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, seven-inch digital instrument cluster, 10-speaker Bose audio system, satellite radio, navigation, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, additional USB ports, wireless device charging, ambient interior lighting, and a moonroof.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, pedestrian detection, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Available driver assistance technologies include traffic-jam assist (this system controls acceleration, braking and lane-keeping in low-speed traffic), traffic-sign recognition, reverse collision warning, front and rear parking sensors, and driver-attention monitoring.
The infotainment system is generally user-friendly and menus are logically arranged. However, the system is mostly controlled through a rotary dial located between the front seats. The screen works as a touchscreen only with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay; otherwise, you use the rotary dial or controls on the steering wheel. The 10.25-inch screen looks great and the system responds quickly to inputs and voice commands. But the system could use an update so that the touchscreen works for all inputs.
Cargo space is a bit less than what you’ll find in some rivals. There are 30.8 cubic feet with both rows of seating in place and 59.3 cubes with the rear seats folded. Still, there was plenty of room for my horse gear as well as items purchased at a Costco run. The rear seats split-fold 40/20/40, providing flexibility in hauling passengers and cargo. A hands-free power liftgate is available.
The good:
One of the best performers in the class
Two peppy powertrains are available
Decent fuel economy
Upscale, comfortable interior that rivals some luxury brands
Many standard and available features and tech
Standard wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Competitive starting price
The not-so-good:
Infotainment system could use updating
Less cargo space than some rivals
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $40,600. The rear bumper guard is $135. Delivery fee is $1,375 bringing the grand total to $42,110.
Bottom line:
Don’t let the age fool you. Even though the Mazda CX-5 hasn’t had a makeover since 2017, it’s still a top offering in the compact SUV segment. It’s one of the sportiest and most fun to drive in the class, has standard AWD, an upscale interior that rivals some luxury brands, and gets decent fuel economy, all at a reasonable price tag.
