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Identifying the First-Gen Ford Mustang2024 Mazda CX-5 Review
The 2024 Mazda CX-5 is a compact SUV made for driving. We look at trim levels, interior quality, and more.
2024 Mazda CX-5 – mazdausa.com | Shop 2024 Mazda CX-5 on Carsforsale.com
What’s New for the 2024 Mazda CX-5?
The 2024 Mazda CX-5 is deep into its second generation and comes in eight trim levels with two engines, a single gearbox choice, and standard all-wheel drive. It might not be the most advanced compact SUV on the market, but it’s one of the very best to drive at this price and just so happens to also offer a premium interior with high-grade materials, excellent switchgear, and comfortable seating.
Mazda hasn’t added anything to the CX-5 for 2024 aside from axing the old base model and adding a new base Turbo model called the CX-5 Carbon Turbo. It gets unique paint, a turbocharged engine, and black trim.
Carsforsale.com Score
9.25/10
Powertrain
Score
9.5/10
Interior
Score
9.25/10
Technology
Score
9/10
Value
Score
9/10
The Breakdown
Great chassis
Fun turbo engine
Excellent interior
Older technology
No hybrid engine
Base engine could use more power
A drivers compact SUV
2024 CX-5 Specs
- 187 horsepower from base engine
- 186 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 8 available trims
- 29.1 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 59.3 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats folded
- 10.3-inch infotainment system
- IIHS Top Safety Pick+
- Basic 3-year Warranty
2024 Mazda CX-5 Powertrain 9.5/10
Few brands appear to place such a high priority on driving prowess as Mazda does. The CX-5 is sharp from behind the wheel and that’s true regardless of trim level or engine specification. The steering is tight and nimble and communicates very well with the driver. The suspension and chassis limit body roll and the brakes feel excellent too.
In base form, the CX-5 comes with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. It’s not exactly fun but it moves the CX-5 about without much strain. According to the EPA, it also gets up to 24 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway. Those figures are fine but the truth is that many competitors like the Kia Sportage and Honda CR-V offer attractive hybrid options that get more miles per gallon.
What those brands don’t offer is a car that handles and goes as well as the CX-5 turbo. In any Turbo trim the CX-5 leverages a turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter engine and it makes 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. To achieve that power figure one will need to fill this Mazda with premium fuel though. That’s a worthy tradeoff as the turbo engine is sincerely sporty and playful. It gets up to 24 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway.
Notably, both versions of the CX-5 powertrain use a six-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. Both add to the experience behind the wheel as the gearbox is quick enough and delivers power in a satisfying way and the AWD system cleverly moves power to the most appropriate tire for the type of driving that’s underway.
2024 Mazda CX-5 Interior 9.25/10
Mazda doesn’t just give the CX-5 great on-road manners. It also offers customers one of the most upscale cabins at this price point. In fact, it’s so nice that were the badges removed we might mistake it for a certain German luxury brand. The console is elegant and simple, the dash design is straightforward and all of the controls are easy to find. The switchgear feels good under the fingertips and the soft-touch materials are above average in this class. The seats are more comfortable than those in the CX-50 but there is just a touch less space overall in the CX-5.
The rear seats likewise offer good support and we really like the sculpted nature of the padding which holds onto outboard passengers better. Those who end up stuffed in the middle of the back seat might not fare so well though. Behind the third row, you’ll find 29.1 cubic feet of cargo area. That’s more storage than one might expect from the CX-5 and no doubt it’s technically above average. Keep in mind though that the shape of the cargo isn’t very boxy so using all of the space might take some clever packaging.
2024 Mazda CX-5 Technology Features 9/10
Mazda still hasn’t made the leap to gigantic infotainment screens and it might be better for it. Instead, buyers across the whole lineup get a 10.3-inch screen with limited touch functionality. Instead,a dial and button interface serves as the main way to interact with the system. We like that as it’s easier to navigate during driving than a touch-only system likely would be. It’s also quick enough and easy enough to navigate that we think most buyers will really enjoy it.
Beyond that, Mazda also includes a full suite of driver aids that improve the experience of living with the CX-5 through thoughtful technological progress. Every CX-5 gets adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automated emergency braking, and pedestrian detection.
The systems that we had a chance to test are top-notch. For instance, the adaptive cruise control is smooth and intuitive. It brakes nice and early so that there’s no worry about its effectiveness. In addition, the lane-keep assist is easy to trust as it doesn’t bounce between lanes. This sort of focus on safety is part of why the CX-5 is an IIHS Top Safety Pick + winner and boasts a five-star crash test rating with the NHTSA.
2024 Mazda CX-5 Trims & Pricing
Select – $30,675
The base CX-5 starts off with 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, faux leather upholstery, a 10.3-inch infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, six speakers, and a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat.
Preferred – $32,025
The Preferred adds a sunroof, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable passenger seat, driver’s seat memory settings, and a hands-free liftgate.
Carbon Edition – $33,325
Consider the Carbon Edition more of an appearance package than anything. It gets unique 19-inch wheels, exclusive gray paint, and black trim. In addition, it features a 10-speaker Bose sound system.
Premium – $35,275
The Premium includes 19-inch wheels, upgraded headlights and DRLs, Sport and Off-Road driving modes, a larger driver information display, and paddle shifters.
Premium Plus – $37,875
The top non-turbo CX-5 includes power-folding mirrors, a wiper de-icer system, a heated steering wheel, a wireless charging pad, wireless Android and Apple connectivity, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a 10-speaker Bose sound system, and a heads-up display.
Carbon Turbo – $38,970
This new trim gets the turbo engine along with the content of the Premium Plus and Carbon trims combined. It does feature one notable difference in that it comes exclusively in Brown Zircon Sand paint.
Turbo Premium – $39,175
The mid-range turbo CX-5 adds black exterior trim, black leather-trimmed seats with red stitching, a unique black grille, and unique interior trim.
Turbo Signature – $41,975
Finally, the Signature includes a surround-view camera system, body-colored exterior trim, silver wheels, a black headliner, integrated navigation, real wood interior trim, parking sensors, and rear automatic braking.
2024 Mazda CX-5 Overall Value 9/10
At the same time, it’s nowhere near the most advanced of compact SUVs on the market today and it’s overdue for a full update. Mazda also doesn’t meet or beat the most competitive companies on warranty coverage. It offers a very basic three-year or 36,000-mile limited warranty and five years or 60,000 miles of powertrain coverage.
The CX-5 is an excellent compact SUV that has a place on numerous best-of lists and has beaten other competitors head to head. It’s fun to drive, looks fabulous, feels more expensive than it is, and still features most of the modern tech that buyers want. Mazda is even offering attractive incentives on it right now.
CarsForSale.com Overall Score 9.25/10
2024 Mazda CX-5 – mazdausa.com | Shop 2024 Mazda CX-5 on Carsforsale.com
Mazda would do well to give the CX-5 a full update with a hybrid engine, more power from its base offering, and a longer warranty period. Frankly, I’d love to see it do that without expanding the size of the CX-5 at all. This SUV drives great in part due to its smaller size. Purists can’t ask for more interior space and complain that cars are getting bigger at the same time. Keep it small, keep it fun, and add more value.
2024 Mazda CX-5 FAQ
Is the Mazda CX 5 Reliable?
Looking back just a few years at data from the NHTSA, the Mazda CX-5 has relatively few complaints and recalls compared to many rivals. That would indicate that it is above the average when it comes to reliability.
Is the Mazda CX-5 all-wheel drive?
Yes. Every Mazda CX-5 features AWD.
Does the Mazda CX-5 have Apple Carplay?
Yes, every CX-5 has Apple CarPlay connectivity.
