Mazda CX-5: A Decade of MotorTrend TestsMazdaIn its more than a decade since it first hit the road, the Mazda CX-5 has gradually staked a claim as one of the top compact SUVs on the market. The automaker's latest 2026 model showed off the CX-5's first top-to-bottom redesign since 2017, featuring a newly sculpted exterior, spacious and premium-looking cabin, and upgraded technology. There's also a hybrid model right around the corner.Sitting at a base price of $31,485, the CX-5 competes with the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, Kia Sportage, and Honda CR-V, but it draws from its signature Mazda sporting DNA to keep its loyal followers coming back and entice new buyers interested in something different from the norm (zoom-zoom, anyone?)."There's no such thing as a Mazda Miata SUV, but the CX-5 might be the next-best thing," wrote Buyer's Guide editor Alex Leanse. "The CX-5 arrived for model year 2013, showcasing Mazda's elegant design language and penchant for engaging driving dynamics. It has since become the Japanese automaker's top-selling model and is positioned in the crowded compact crossover segment as a sportier, more upscale alternative to mainstream rivals. Now in its third generation, the CX-5 has become larger and more technology-focused while retaining the connected feel that has long distinguished it."AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen we first drove the then-all-new 2013 model, we summed up the CX-5 as "a modern-looking midsize SUV from a company well-known for their sedans. The CX-5 looks bold but not aggressive. Style wise, it should please a wide variety of buyers. The fuel economy and starting price are nice selling points, too."Since that time, MotorTrend has extensively tested the CX-5—everything from long-term reviews to side-by-side comparisons to huge multivehicle tests with fellow buzzy competitors—and that same obsessive testing continues to this day. Below is a brief look back at some of our most in-depth past coverage of the CX-5, everything from that first drive to a recent comparison test. Let's get into it.1) 2013 Mazda CX-5 First DrivePhoto credit: MotorTrend"The Hiroshima-based automaker is focusing its efforts on engines, transmissions, body, and chassis development to achieve performance and efficiency goals. The 2013 CX-5 is the first offering with Mazda's entire suite of Skyactiv technologies in one vehicle." Read the review.2) 2013 Mazda CX-5 Long-Term VerdictPhoto credit: MotorTrend"Over the course of a year, there has been no other vehicle parked in our garage that I've complimented as much as my CX-5, nicknamed Blue. The variety of positive remarks was never extraordinary, but the number of times I repeated them was. Every time someone asked, 'So, how do you like the CX-5?' I replied, 'I like it a lot,' and began listing its many attributes." Read the review.3) 2012/2013 Compact Crossover SUV ComparisonPhoto credit: MotorTrendLike seemingly all Mazdas, the CX-5 focuses on the sporty side of driving first and everything else second. "Sweet, sporty chassis. Great steering feel, good balance, loads of grip. Really does feel like the Mazda3 of CUVs." ... "Great steering; feels like it's lifted straight from a '3. This really is just a lifted, vertically stretched hatchback." Read the comparison4) 2015 Mazda CX-5 Touring FWD Long-Term VerdictPhoto credit: MazdaAdvertisementAdvertisement"This year, we've driven a score of compact crossovers in addition to our long-term Mazda CX-5, and in many cases, we've been very pleased with the amount of cargo room they offer. But the CX-5 also offers something extra: that ultra-small car feel drivers value so much. Although some newer offerings have more refinement or flashier technology, we found ourselves charmed by the CX-5 and its spirited performance, maneuverability, and overall dependability every time we hopped in." Read the review5) The Big Test: 2016/2017 Small CrossoversPhoto credit: MotorTrend"To us, both the Mazda CX-5 and the Honda CR-V represent the best value in the segment because of how well-rounded they are. Both are excellent to drive, roomy, and feature-rich for similar as-tested prices in the low $34,000 range. For those who value the journey over the destination, we'd give the nod to the CX-5, as it's incredibly enjoyable to drive, luxurious, and comfortable." Read the comparison6) 2017 Honda CR-V vs. 2017 Mazda CX-5: Head vs. HeartPhoto credit: MotorTrend"In terms of size and sales, Mazda has always been an underdog, but one that routinely punches well above its weight class. The CX-5, in particular, has been a perennial MotorTrend favorite in its class, though it's never won an SUV of the Year award. The Honda CR-V, however, has. The SUV sales leader (and I mean among all SUVs, not just in the compact class), the CR-V is a dominant force in the industry, thanks to its combination of practicality, reliability, and versatility. The Mazda, though, is more fun." Read the comparison7) 2017 Mazda CX-5 vs. 2018 Lexus NX 300: Crossing OverPhoto credit: MotorTrend"Firing the engine and heading out for a drive, the first thing that strikes you is how quiet the Mazda is. Isolation from the outside world is a luxury hallmark, and Mazda has made it a priority. Indeed, applying a professional-grade sound meter to both vehicles returned surprising results: Cruising at 65 mph, the average ambient noise in each vehicle's cabin is identical. When's the last time you got in a mainstream vehicle that was as quiet as a luxury car?" Read the comparison8) 2020 Infiniti QX50 vs. 2020 Mazda CX-5: Is Luxury Worth It?Photo credit: MotorTrendAdvertisementAdvertisement"Mazda's new turbo-four is smooth, powerful, and nearly lag-free, effortlessly whisking the CX-5 off the line like a proper luxury car's engine should. Its six-speed transmission—an anachronism in the age of nine- and 10-speed automatics, is biased toward efficiency, upshifting earlier than we'd typically like in the CX-5's default driving mode. Regardless, we found the transmission responsive, downshifting quickly when more passing power was needed and holding lower gears in Sport mode. The engine delivers a throaty growl under hard acceleration, but otherwise the cabin is relatively quiet, save for some tire noise at highway speeds." Read the comparison9) 2022 Mazda CX-5 Turbo First Test: Not Trying to Be Everything to EverybodyPhoto credit: MotorTrend"Don't overlook the 2022 Mazda CX-5 simply because the design is six years old. The truth? Age hasn't affected the CX-5 the way it does most cars on five- or six-year redesign cycles. It takes just one spirited drive to be reminded of how timeless good performance can be. And with the attractive CX-5, a backward glance in a parking lot has the same effect." Read the test10) Big Test! 2023 Honda CR-V vs. Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forester, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-5Photo credit: MotorTrend"The 2023 Mazda CX-5 hasn't been updated in a few years, but it continues to be a favorite among enthusiasts. It delivers the company's trademark 'zoom zoom' and offers the most powerful engine in its class—a 2.5-liter turbo-four with 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. It sacrifices other things, but Mazda puts the driver and emotion at the top of its list." Read the comparison11) 2025 Mazda CX-5 Carbon Edition First Test: More Style, No More SportPhoto credit: MotorTrend"The 2025 Mazda CX-5 Carbon Edition does its best to balance the automaker's three pillars of sportiness, luxury, and affordability. That's a lot of plates to spin, but in the near decade since Mazda started in its new 'sporty economical luxury' direction, it hasn't done a half-bad job. The 2025 CX-5 carries this pretty premium experience on nicely, even if it doesn't add much substance to the Mazda's baseline goods." Read the review.12) 2026 Mazda CX-5 vs. 2025 Mazda CX-5: What Changed?Photo credit: MotorTrendAdvertisementAdvertisement"Car companies hate to mess with success, and it doesn't matter if we're talking about automotive icons or just bestsellers. A new 911 has to look like a 911 but new, just like the 2026 Mazda CX-5 has to look like a 2025 Mazda CX-5 but newer." Read more13) 2026 Mazda CX-5 First Drive: Better in Every Way (Except One)Photo credit: MotorTrend"It seems like every review of every Mazda SUV goes something like this: 'Great to drive, nice interior, too bad the back seat and/or trunk is so small.' Mazda finally addressed that issue for its all-new, bigger 2026 CX-5, but the latest model also introduces a new interface that turns its back on years of Mazda tradition." Read the review.14) A 1,000-Mile Mazda CX-5 Road Trip Reveals the Good, the Beautiful, and the Very UglyPhoto credit: Mazda"Compressing a road trip like this into a few words, the 2026 CX-5's tech issues may not show on every drive, but they're frequent enough to leave a lasting impression. Over time, these bugs linger in an owner's mind and can occasionally crowd out some of the good stuff. In this case, the new CX-5's larger interior and still-stylish design comes to mind." Read the review.15) 2026 Mazda CX-5 vs. Honda CR-V vs. Volkswagen Tiguan Comparison Test: Which Compact SUV Is Best?Photo credit: Darren Martin - MotorTrend"The CX-5 makes the strongest first impression. Its cabin looks and feels like the richest of the three, helped by upscale-feel materials, attractive detailing, heated rear seats, and an airy center console area. Its huge, optional 15.6-inch touchscreen and excellent 360-degree camera (both standard on the Premium Plus) add to the premium presentation. But the Mazda's sharp interior style is offset by some frustrating controls. We found the infotainment system less intuitive than it should be, and the steering wheel buttons are confusing to decipher." Read the comparison.
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