Mazda CX-5 SUV
New from £30,140
Is the Mazda CX-5 SUV a good car?
Read our expert review
Words by: Catherine Kent
"Mazda may be known for its two-seat MX-5, but the family-friendly CX-5 is the brand’s best-seller. Now Mazda has now given the stylish SUV an update with a more assertive look, new tech and a more minimalist interior. But should you buy one over a Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai or Ford Kuga? The new CX-5 roomy, stylish and well-equipped, yet it also is a car of contradictions. On the one hand it sticks to Mazda’s defiant principles of a large (and unfathomably underpowered) petrol engine, while on the other it has followed the crowd by swapping buttons for a touch-screen. The result might be a compromise too far for Mazda fans and, while those looking for a practical family car will appreciate the space, the CX-5 doesn’t keep up with the competition."
Green Rating
Despite receiving several reminders, Mazda failed to respond to our sustainability questionnaire and therefore gets zero stars at brand level. So, does the CX-5 itself do any better? Mazda says its updated e-Skyactiv G engine used in the CX-5 to be more efficient at higher speeds, but it is still a large petrol engine which guzzles a lot of fuel. The CX-5 does feature a mild hybrid system and meet all the minimum emissions regulations, but it is still a big, heavy SUV which will have a larger environmental impact than smaller models.
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Running costs for a Mazda CX-5
3/5
At the time of writing Mazda hasn’t confirmed UK pricing, but we expect it to be in the region of £31,000 to £35,000, making it more keenly priced than the outgoing model. This also suggests the CX-5 will undercut established rivals like like the Kia Sportage and Ford Kuga, but newcomers like the Chery Tiggo 7 offer a whole new level of value which the CX-5 could lose out to. At launch the CX-5 will be available with just one engine and the option of front- or all-wheel drive. During our test drives we managed around 40mpg from the former and 35mpg from the latter. These numbers are close to Mazda’s official claims, but they are disappointing for a modern car and will likely be even lower if you do a lot of inner-city driving.
Reliability of a Mazda CX-5
3/5
Mazda generally has a decent rep for reliability as a brand but tends to rank lower than Japanese rivals like Toyota and Honda. However, at model level reliability varies with the CX-60 scoring particularly poorly in What Car?’s 2025 reliability survey. While a lot of the latest CX-5 builds on tried and tested foundations, the transition from physical controls to a touch-screen interface is new for Mazda (Chinese-built Mazda6e aside), so we will have to wait to find out how the software fares. Mazda seems confident, though, and recently increased its standard warranty from three years to six years/100,000 miles. One benefit of the new screen-powered interior is the CX-5 will be able to receive over-the-air updates, so you can benefit from any system improvements without having to take your car into the dealership.
Safety for a Mazda CX-5
4/5
The CX-5 comes with a reassuring five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP and a full suite of safety systems as standard including emergency braking, lane keeping assistance and cruise control (although our test car was stuck in speed limiter mode so we couldn’t try this out). Other features include blind spot monitoring and what Mazda calls ‘Proactive Driver Assist’ which slows the CX-5 down if it detects a car or a corner ahead when you take your foot off the accelerator. Mazda has wisely included a physical button to mute all the warnings if you find them overly intrusive. However, this is one of the few physical buttons in the entire car as Mazda has ditched its renowned tactile controls in favour of one big do-it-all touch-screen requiring you to look away from the road or use voice control. Mazda says it is intuitive and safe, but we beg to differ.
How comfortable is the Mazda CX-5
4/5
This latest CX-5 is longer, wider, taller and therefore roomier than before. Parents will particularly appreciate the large boot and wide-opening rear doors offering plenty of room to juggle children and car seats. Passengers, meanwhile, can enjoy seemingly acres of head- and legroom. We found the electrically adjustable seats in our range-topping Homura test car were supportive in all the right places, though the tan leather wasn’t as soft as in previous Mazdas. The story continues as you start digging around and there’s an abundance of flimsy materials which are not quite as plush as they first appear. This is a shame as Mazda generally aces interior quality and there’s clearly been some cost-cutting at play. Out on the road the CX-5 does a decent job of insulating you from the outside world, though, and it soaks up lumps and bumps well. At a gentle cruise the CX-5 is a relatively refined and relaxing place to be, however, put your foot down and the engine’s crescendo disturbs the peace. This will quickly become tiresome if you live somewhere hilly or regularly join motorways with short slip roads.
Features of the Mazda CX-5
3/5
The CX-5 offers a choice of four trim levels: Prime-Line, Centre-Line, Exclusive-line and Homura. All models get a decent number of features, including a digital driver display and Google-powered infotainment. On all but the top-grade versions you’ll get a 12.9-inch central touch-screen featuring customisable widgets and a permanent temperature bar, while Homura trim adds a larger 15.6-inch display. The touch-screen is quite grainy and not the most responsive, though, and we’ve seen slicker systems in Chinese rivals. Come on Mazda, please just bring back physical dials! From Centre-Line upwards the CX-5 swaps wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for wireless plus it gains handy features like a head-up display and a powered tailgate. Moving further up the levels you gain goodies like a Bose sound system, a 360-degree camera, ambient lighting and an optional panoramic sunroof.
Power for a Mazda CX-5
2/5
In true Mazda style it has taken an unusual approach by fitting the CX-5 with a large petrol engine featuring the mildest of mild hybrid assistance and just 141 horsepower. Mazda says this increases durability and efficiency when driven at higher speeds. However, accelerating to said speeds is as incredibly loud and laboured process, so you’ll need to factor in plenty of time when overtaking or joining slip roads. Meanwhile at lower speeds, the system is less efficiency, and we saw sub-40mpg from both front- and all-wheel drive options. It’s a shame Mazda has dropped its satisfying manual gearbox as the now standard automatic CX-5 is considerably less engaging than its predecessor. In better news, Mazda DNA is evident in the way the CX-5 handles with light, precise steering and predictable, smooth brakes. We are also expecting Mazda to add a hybrid option to the line-up in due course, which we hope will feel nippier and be less thirsty.
Lease deals
These deals are based on terms of 8,000 miles, for a 36 month lease with a 6 months initial payment.
£393.99
Monthly payment
£2,363.94
Initial payment
£391.73
Monthly payment
£2,350.38
Initial payment
£419.99
Monthly payment
£2,519.94
Initial payment
£430.80
Monthly payment
£2,584.80
Initial payment
Standard equipment
Expect the following equipment on your Mazda CX-5 SUV. This may vary between trim levels.
Your questions answered
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