2024 Mazda CX-5

Overview

Taking a look back at the Mazda CX-5's history is a good way to understand where it stands today. It's got as many Car and Driver 10Best awards as it does tires, but after seven years of one of our favorite crossovers, the CX-5 is due for a rejuvenation. It's still a better driver and far more luxurious than the train of competitors behind it, but the new kids on the block have quickly outshined its trophy cabinet. Under the hood is a 187-hp inline-four engine with standard all-wheel drive. The optional 256-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter is the powertrain to get, but thankfully Mazda has decided against the popular CVT and instead uses a traditional six-speed automatic transmission, which sweetens the CX-5 driving experience. While it gives up some space for the sake of style, sitting in a CX-5 is enough to convince you of its luxury. For space, we'd stick with the newer Honda CR-V or the slightly larger CX-50, but despite its age, the CX-5 still drives like it's out to prove something and for that reason, we think it's worthy of a place on our 2024 Editors' Choice list.

What's New for 2024?

Like it did for the CX-30 crossover and 3 sedan and hatchback, Mazda adds the Carbon Turbo trim level to the CX-5 for 2024. A CX-5 Carbon Turbo is easy to spot, as it wears brown Zircon Sand paint and black trim pieces including wheels and mirror caps. Carbon Turbo models come with the optional 256-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four engine and all-wheel drive.

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Pricing and Which One to Buy

We think the Turbo Premium trim best exemplifies the CX-5. With the upgraded 256-hp turbocharged engine, its quickness better corresponds with its athletic handling. Its exterior is elegantly sporty with trim-specific gloss-black accents. Its interior mirrors that sportiness with red accents and stitching.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The CX-5's standard 187-hp four-cylinder engine has great throttle response when pulling away from stoplights or hustling around town, so it feels quicker than it actually is. It's at higher speeds, such as when trying to pass or merge onto the freeway, that it feels underpowered. The 256-hp turbocharged version we tested provided much quicker acceleration. Both engines pair with a snappy six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. You don't need to drive the CX-5 hard to enjoy it or to appreciate its excellence. Sure, its precise steering and composed cornering make for one helluva Sunday cruise. But it also soaks up rough roads without commotion and has the ride quality of crossovers that cost twice as much. This harmonious interplay of dynamics is unrivaled by its competitors. Pavement imperfections are isolated, road noise is minimal, and the damping is neither stiff nor floaty. At the same time, the Mazda comes alive on curvy roads. The electrically assisted steering provides satisfying responses. The Signature model we tested had a reassuring brake-pedal feel that operated without delay and without being too touchy when you apply the brakes.

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Towing and Payload Capacity

The Mazda CX-5 can tow up to 2000 pounds, which isn't much, but an improvement over some of its competitors, such as the Volkswagen Tiguan and Honda CR-V. The larger CX-50 can pull more, with a max trailering capacity of 3500 pounds, but that's only when it's optioned with the turbo engine, otherwise, it tows just as much as the CX-5.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

With two engine options, the CX-5 has two fuel-economy ratings. The base 2.5-liter engine is rated at 24 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The more powerful turbocharged engine is rated at 22 mpg city and 27 highway. We've tested both on our 75-mph highway route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, and the standard engine returned 32 mpg compared with the turbo four's 30 mpg result. For more information about the CX-5's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Wake up inside the top-tier CX-5 models and you might think you've been abducted by kidnappers driving an Audi or a Mercedes. First-rate materials and a fabulous layout make it feel especially upscale. The floor-hinged accelerator pedal feels better than the more common version that is suspended above the floor, the well-crafted steering wheel is directly in front of the driver and not offset at a slight angle, and all of the front-seat armrests are at the same height for optimal comfort. Sacrifices come in small packages: in this case, the CX-5 held just nine carry-on suitcases behind its rear seats in our testing. The storage bay does benefit from a completely flat load floor. There are also several nooks and crannies in the cabin to store smartphones and other small items. For instance, the center console has a deep tray at the front and a useful bin with a removable shelf.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

Every model boasts a 10.3-inch infotainment display that's primarily manipulated through a rotary controller and volume knob on the center console. The interface also operates through voice commands and buttons on the steering wheel. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the board. The CX-5 comes with Mazda Connected Services that includes access to remote vehicle functions via a smartphone app and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)

View Crash Test Results

The CX-5 comes standard with a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance technology and some other optional assists. For more information about the CX-5's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
• Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Kia and Hyundai both offer better warranty coverage than Mazda, and some other automakers that play in this segment offer complimentary maintenance.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

Specifications

Specifications

2022 Mazda CX-5 2.5 Turbo Signature
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $40,225/$40,745
Options: Snowflake White Pearl paint, $395; rear bumper guard, $125

ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 152 in³, 2488 cm³
Power: 256 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque: 320 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm

TRANSMISSION
6-speed automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.6-in vented disc/11.9-in disc
Tires: Toyo A36
P225/55R-19 99Z M+S

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 106.2 in
Length: 180.1 in
Width: 72.6 in
Height: 66.3 in
Passenger Volume: 104 ft³
Cargo Volume: 29-31 ft³
Curb Weight: 3832 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.2 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.9 sec @ 93 mph
100 mph: 17.7 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.7 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.4 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.6 sec
Top Speed (mfr's claim): 129 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 185 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.78 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 24 mpg

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 24/22/27 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

More Features and Specs