Each year, Consumer Reports tests cars and associates a score with each vehicle and ranks them by class. We know that buying a new car can be subjective in terms of interior options and colors, but some of the more objective facts, like total cost and reliability, are easier to assign numbers to and compare them against the competition. In 2025, the cheapest crossover SUV that earned a strong 84% from Consumer Reports was the Mazda CX-5, with the second place winner coming in far behind at 77%, which we’ll mention later.For 2026, the Mazda CX-5 has received a considerable refresh both inside and out. If you’re not into what’s been done for this year, there are plenty of 2025 models still at dealers and Mazda’s online builder is still active to peruse last year’s models. We find last year's model to be a bit more our-style with its available turbocharged engine and smaller infotainment screen.This feature discusses the 2025 Mazda CX-5 as it was rated by Consumer Reports. All prices listed are before destination. Consumer Reports Rating Metrics Explained MazdaAfter subjecting vehicles to its own testing, Consumer Reports gathers data from the manufacturer, owners, and government agencies to generate a score for each new vehicle on the market. The 2025 CX-5 received a total score of 84, with the 2025 Toyota RAV4 receiving a score of 77. Things like fuel economy, crash test scores, issues reported by owners, and its own laboratory tests are part of the equation which spits out an overall score for the cars tested. 2025 Mazda CX-5: The High Achiever 2025 Mazda CX-5 ExteriorMazda loves injecting a little bit of its sporting DNA into each of its cars, either by giving them excellent steering feel or offering peppy turbo mills to increase their “X-factor.” We have always praised the automaker for turning each of its buyers into driving enthusiasts with its lineup of fun-to-drive vehicles. Everything from its two-door roadster to its three-row SUV contains some part of Mazda’s philosophy of Jinba Ittai, Japanese for “horse and rider as one.” It’s no different in the CX-5, despite its place in the market and main use case as the family bus rather than a weekend warrior—er, samurai in this case.All this praise is derived from models with the 2.5 turbo engine, however. Not that non-turbo powered CX-5’s won’t get the job done, having more power on tap is never a bad thing and something we enjoy indulging in quite often. The base 2.5-liter’s 186 horsepower is plenty of oomph for what you’ll ask of it, providing peak torque (186 pound-feet) at a buzzy 4000 RPM.We enjoy the turbo’s extra horsepower and better low-end torque, which comes in at half the RPMs of the normally-aspirated engine, and the extra amenities inside that reward you for wrangling the extra horsepower. Mazda continues to punch above its weight class with great materials and overall quality. The tip-top Turbo Signature packs genuine leather seats, soft-touch dashboard materials, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and solid feel to the climate and radio controls—a possible point of contention if you don’t like semi-touchscreen infotainment.All 2017–2025 CX-5 models have a dial in the center console for controlling the infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto became available from 2019—up, with more recent years allowing touchscreen capabilities when using either system, but Mazda’s infotainment software can only be navigated via the center dial. I found it extremely easy to be a passenger in a Mazda3 on a 450-mile road trip with this type of system, but being the driver comes with its own perks, too.The back seats are a bit more cramped than the likes of the Toyota RAV4. The same goes for cargo space. It’ll be a tight fit if you’re still lugging around strollers or prone to stopping at every flea market in a 10-mile radius. The 2026 CX-5 stretches the overall length by an extra 4 to 5-inches, but since last year’s models can be scooped up at a discount, we recommend starting your search with this year first. The Competition ToyotaIn second place, with a total Consumer Reports’ score of 77, was the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The catch here is that Mazda doesn’t offer a hybrid CX-5, and if it did, it would probably have increased the gap between itself and the RAV4 Hybrid. Toyota’s hybrid system is employed by the CX-50, the stockier compact crossover that slots just below the CX-5, which made a better argument for itself than the RAV4 when it came to dynamics and quality. We threw in the 2025 Honda CR-V regardless of its Consumer Reports rating to illustrate other competition in the space.Mazda The RAV4 Hybrid’s 2.5-liter hybrid 4-cylinder pushed out 219 horsepower to all four wheels and achieves better fuel economy, 39 MPG combined, compared to the CX-5. All RAV4’s are exclusively hybrids for 2026, but like the CX-5 we’re discussing, 2025 models are plentiful across the US. Where we agree with this ranking is with the CX-5’s overall interior quality and dynamics. Mazda delivers on unparalleled quality for the price and dynamics befitting of small SUVs from German brands, both of which make great first impressions when you get behind the wheel.Contrasting that is the overall livability of the CX-5 compared to the RAV4 or the previously-mentioned CR-V, both of which make a great case for choosing the top-spec of mainstream vehicles rather than an entry-level luxury car. The usability of the Mazda falls short with just 29.1 cubic feet of cargo space, with that number increasing to 58.1 with the rear seats folded. The RAV4 Hybrid boasts 37.5 cubic feet behind the second-row, 69.8 with rear seats down, and the CR-V with an even larger cabin of 39.3 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 76.5 in total. Pricing & Driving Impressions Mazda2025 CX-5 models start at $29,050 for the base 2.5 S trim, with the most expensive trim, the 2.5 Turbo Signature, starting at $41,080. Eight trims can be paralyzing to comb through, with five containing the non-turbo engine unlike the top three which get the hopped-up motor. Average list prices live in the low-to-mid $30,000’s, with the highest we’ve observed at $41,420 and the lowest at $22,799 for used models.The RAV4 Hybrid started at $32,850 with average prices between $35,000–37,000. At top-trim levels, the RAV4 falls short of the CX-5’s materials and driving experience. It’s comfortable, and it mutes the road noticeably better than the Mazda but deflates like a balloon with any sort of spirited driving. Its sloshy springs and CVT paired with a hybrid powertrain tuned for economy rather than power does not bode well for canyon-carving. It’s at home when it’s sailing down the highway, disconnecting occupants from Swiss cheese roads, which is why they’re the weapon of choice for Ubers and taxis in New York City.The CX-5 is the better all-rounder between the two, with a powertrain tuned for maximum fun for the price. It’s a fantastic blend of stiff steering with a potent engine and premium-feeling cabin that all come together to deliver a pleasurable driving experience in a segment littered with vehicles not tuned for driver enjoyment. All that comes at a slight cost, but not in the finance department thankfully. It won’t hold as much stuff, nor will it be as comfortable on longer road trips than some others, but it’s perfect for what owners will be using it for all while making them excited about driving, something not too many mainstream SUVs can do today.
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