2019 Mazda CX-5 Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　

What's new

More powerful engine for Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trimsNewly available 2.2-liter diesel engine on Signature trimApple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration addedNewly available ventilated front seats and surround-view parking cameraPart of the second CX-5 generation introduced for 2017

　　Sharp style and sporting performance remain hallmarks of the 2019 Mazda CX-5, a small crossover SUV designed for those who enjoy a spirited drive. Excellent handling and a high-quality interior also help make it one of our top picks for a small SUV.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Mazda CX-5 Sport 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$137/mo  for CX-5 Sport

　　CX-5 Sport

　　Sport 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $24,350 MSRPSport 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $25,750 MSRPTouring 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $26,615 MSRPTouring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A) (Most Popular) - $28,015 MSRPGrand Touring 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $30,045 MSRPGrand Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $31,445 MSRPGrand Touring Reserve 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $34,870 MSRPSignature 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $36,890 MSRPSignature 4dr SUV AWD (2.2L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $41,000 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　For 2019, the CX-5 is available in two new trim levels, Grand Touring Reserve and Signature. Both offer a broader list of premium features and conveniences this year and come standard with a new turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. This engine, which is lifted from the three-row CX-9, generates up to 250 horsepower and a stout 310 pound-feet of torque.

　　This turbocharged 2.5-liter engine goes a long way toward addressing what has been one of our key complaints about the CX-5 relative to its competitors: lack of power from the standard four-cylinder engine. And late in the model year, Mazda is bringing out another optional engine: a 2.2-liter diesel for the CX-5 Signature, which promises increased towing capacity and fuel economy. These engines come at a price, however, since they are limited to the top-of-the-line trim levels.

　　No matter which CX-5 trim level you pick, you'll be stuck with less cabin and cargo room than you'd have in several rivals. Overall, however, the CX-5 is a standout. It provides an excellent balance of sportiness, comfort and practicality, and its upscale interior conveys a sense of richness that you don't find in rivals. It's a smart choice.

　　Notably, we picked the 2019 Mazda CX-5 as one of zzdcar' Best Family SUVs and Best Family SUVs for this year.

　　

What's it like to live with?

Want to know even more about the Mazda CX-5? Learn about day-to-day ownership from our editorial experts' Best Family SUVs. How much did they like the CX-5's quiet and upscale interior? Was the cargo room sufficient for everyday use? And was this CX-5 reliable? Learn this and more from the test. Note that the 2019 CX-5 differs slightly from the 2018 model we tested — it did not have an optional turbocharged engine and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration — but our coverage is otherwise applicable.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

8.1 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring (2.5L inline-4 | 6-speed automatic | AWD).

　　NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2017, the current Mazda CX-5 has received some revisions, including this year's new smartphone integration. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's Mazda CX-5, however.

　　

Scorecard

Overall	8.1 / 10
Driving	8.0
Comfort	8.0
Interior	8.0
Utility	8.5
Technology	8.0

　　

Driving

8.0

　　Mazda's penchant for handling prowess is alive and well. If your commute involves many twists or turns, you might not consider any other crossover. Just don't expect to get anywhere fast; the engine's thrust is ultimately meek when you really push it. Otherwise, it's an easy vehicle to live with.

　　

Acceleration

6.5

　　The 2.5-liter engine provides underwhelming acceleration from a stop or while moving. Overtaking on the highway requires some planning. The 0-60 mph sprint on our test track took 8.7 seconds, which is decently quick. In the real world, however, it just doesn't seem as fast.

　　

Braking

7.5

　　It's easy to come to a smooth stop with the moderate pedal firmness and predictable brake effort. It took 121 feet to stop from 60 mph in our testing, which is an average stopping distance in this class.

　　

Steering

9.0

　　The steering is weighted a bit heavier than in most crossovers, reflecting the sporting intentions. It's never difficult to turn, however, and parking lot maneuvers are executed with ease. A slight buildup of effort at higher speeds helps you know exactly where the wheels are pointed.

　　

Handling

10.0

　　Here is where this SUV excels. Since it's sharp and communicative, you can take corners at speeds higher than rivals without squealing tires or feeling as if you're out of control. The car is unfazed by quick left-to-right transitions. It is the best-handling small crossover.

　　

Drivability

7.5

　　The automatic transmission doesn't immediately jump into the highest gear possible under moderate acceleration, which helps with everyday drivability. It's reluctant to downshift, waiting until you really give it the beans. In Sport mode, the transmission hangs onto gears until you totally back off the gas.

　　

Comfort

8.0

　　Most people will find the comfortable cabin to be quite pleasant. Noise levels are low, and the climate control system excels. A few minor annoyances — a ride that's firm and a rear bench with little thigh support — keep it from being the ultimate passenger-friendly vehicle.

　　

Seat comfort

7.5

　　The front seats are shaped well and envelop the body comfortably, though the side bolsters squish to the side during hard cornering. The rear bench is flat on the bottom, which might make long-distance travel uncomfortable for rear passengers. However, the rear seatback reclines for added comfort.

　　

Ride comfort

7.5

　　The suspension setup that makes the CX-5 a world-class handler also gives it a ride quality that is firmer than what you'll find in other compact crossovers. But midcorner bumps barely faze the chassis, and it never feels floaty. Road imperfections are dealt with immediately.

　　

Noise & vibration

8.0

　　Noise isn't an omnipresent issue; wind and tire noise is really only evident at highway speeds. Even then, you won't have to raise your voice to talk to passengers. Engine noise is apparent from moderate to heavy acceleration. Sport mode hangs onto gears, prolonging the raucous note.

　　

Climate control

8.5

　　The automatic climate control system works well to keep temperatures constant, aided by the Touring's rear air vents. Heated front seats are toasty in the highest setting, and the heated steering wheel warms quickly. Controls for the rear-seat heaters are awkwardly located in the armrest.

　　

Interior

8.0

　　The cabin is very much driver-oriented, with excellent visibility and a superb driving position. The short center console and wide gap between the brake and dead pedals are a boon for tall drivers. It's slightly less friendly to backseat passengers since there's less room than in some rivals.

　　

Ease of use

8.5

　　All controls are within the driver's reach. The center display, which is controlled by an easy-to-use knob near the shifter, loses touchscreen ability while the car is moving and doesn't wash out in sunlight. The driver armrests aren't tall enough to rest your elbow and still grip the steering wheel.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.5

　　Step-in height is a couple inches taller than that of some vehicles in this segment, but most people will find it easy to enter the CX-5. The tall doors mean you don't have to duck. Exiting is also simple, but passengers sitting behind tall front occupants might have to scrunch their legs to leave.

　　

Driving position

9.0

　　The driver's seat offers a lot of vertical adjustment, from low-slung (for a crossover) to bury-your-head-in-the-roof. The front of the seat bottom raises fairly high, offering plenty of support on long-distance drives. The steering wheel also presents a nice range of tilt-and-telescoping adjustment.

　　

Roominess

7.0

　　The cabin feels spacious up front, and there's enough headroom for tall folks all around even with the sunroof. Rear passengers might feel cramped by the sculpted outboard seats, which also make it difficult for an adult to sit in the middle. Rear legroom is a little tight.

　　

Visibility

8.0

　　An elevated driving position, tall windows and narrow pillars make this an easy car to see out of. The exception is in the three-quarters view. The window is a bit smaller than those of competitors but presents a decent view to limit blind spots. A standard backup camera provides a high-definition rear view.

　　

Quality

9.5

　　There's not a single cheap-feeling trim piece in the CX-5. All materials, from the leather upholstery to rarely used switchgear, feel expensive. The only disappointments are the malleable side bolsters that rub against the center console in turns. Everything else is exceptional.

　　

Utility

8.5

　　The cargo area is a little small for the class, but you still get the capacity expected from a crossover. The rear seats fold nearly flat at a pull of the remote release latches. The cargo cover is cleverly attached to the hatch, so you don't have to bend over and shove items in. The rear seats are split 40/20/40.

　　

Small-item storage

9.0

　　Storage spaces abound, with every door sporting spacious pockets with water bottle cutouts. The center bin is deep but not especially wide, though there's a secondary bin in front of the shifter for extra storage. There's a shallow tray inside the rear armrest complete with USB ports.

　　

Cargo space

8.0

　　The cargo area is a bit smaller than those of competitors, but we were able to fit two large suitcases without impeding rear visibility. The loading height is a little taller than many in this class, and the door opening height is a little shorter. We dig the nifty retracting door-mounted cargo cover.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

7.5

　　Four slots on the outboard seats allow access to the LATCH anchors. It's easy to push past the slots, but the anchors are inset a bit. The tethers on the seatback are easy to reach, even with the cargo cover in place; push down on the plastic tab that keeps stuff concealed to access the tether.

　　

Towing

7.5

　　The standard CX-5 can tow up to 2,000 pounds, which is above average for the segment. The Signature trim-exclusive diesel engine can tow as much as 3,500 pounds, but that's a pricey upgrade. Competitors such as the Ford Escape and the Hyundai Santa Fe can also tow up to 3,500 pounds with their upgraded engines.

　　

Technology

8.0

　　The CX-5 is a heavy hitter on the tech front, with USB ports sprinkled throughout the cabin, multiple advanced safety systems, and a standard 7-inch touchscreen with an intuitive user interface. The driver aids are fairly sensitive, particularly the blind-spot monitor.

　　

Audio & navigation

8.5

　　The infotainment system is easy to use overall, though some virtual button iconography is hard to decipher. The nav system predicts inputs so users don't have to enter the entire address. The destination entry is disabled while moving, but you can select "Home" or browse through recent destinations.

　　

Smartphone integration

7.0

　　There are two USB ports in the front and two in the back on the Grand Touring trim, both underneath that row's central armrest. The plugs in front seem to pull less power than in rivals; it takes quite a while to recharge phones. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are new additions for 2019.

　　

Driver aids

7.5

　　All of the latest advanced safety features are available. The lane departure warning system emits a unique low-pitched buzzing sound that really gets your attention. The blind-spot monitor is overly sensitive, even triggering while you're passing vehicles several car lengths behind.

　　

Voice control

8.5

　　The voice control system seems to be totally based around natural speech recognition, with no prompts whatsoever. It's good at destination entry, calling people and tuning to terrestrial radio stations. We couldn't get it to tune to a satellite radio station, however.

　　

Which CX-5 does zzdcar recommend?

　　We say make the stretch to get the Grand Touring Reserve. Yes, it's pricey, but you get a great selection of premium features, none more premium than the new turbocharged four-cylinder engine that gives the CX-5 the wallop of power it desperately needs. If that trim is out of your reach, the Touring trim's practical combination of value, features and safety equipment should satisfy.

　　

2019 Mazda CX-5 models

　　The 2019 Mazda CX-5 crossover is offered in five trim levels: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve and Signature.

　　Sport, Touring and Grand Touring trims are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (187 hp, 186 lb-ft of torque) and equipped with front-wheel drive. Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims come with a more powerful turbocharged version of the same engine (227 hp — 250 hp on 91 octane gas — and 310 lb-ft of torque) and come with standard all-wheel drive. For the Signature trim only, a 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel engine is available (168 hp and 290 lb-ft). All three engines are paired to a six-speed automatic transmission.

　　Standard equipment for the Sport starts with 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, push-button ignition, a 7-inch touchscreen, manually adjustable front seats, 40/20/40-split reclining rear seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth, a four-speaker sound system and two USB ports. Low-speed forward collision warning and mitigation and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert are also included.

　　Adding the optional Sport i-Activsense package brings automatic headlights, automatic high beams, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, upgraded forward collision warning and mitigation with pedestrian detection, and automatic windshield wipers.

　　The i-Activsense safety features come standard on the Touring trim. You also get automatic wipers, keyless entry, a power-adjustable driver's seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear climate vents, simulated-leather upholstery, heated front seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, two additional speakers and two more USB ports.

　　The optional Touring Preferred package adds items such as a sunroof, a power liftgate, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and an upgraded 10-speaker Bose sound system.

　　The Grand Touring gets you all of the above, along with 19-inch wheels, adaptive headlights, LED foglights, heated side mirrors, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable passenger seat, driver-seat memory functions, an upgraded driver information display, a navigation system, and satellite radio. The optional GT Premium package adds a head-up display, power-folding mirrors, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a windshield wiper de-icer.

　　Moving up to the Grand Touring Reserve adds the Grand Touring's optional features as standard plus the more powerful engine and all-wheel drive. Finally, the top Signature adds ambient cabin lighting, premium leather upholstery, wood trim accents, a surround-view camera, and front and rear parking sensors.

　　Jump to:Related 2019 CX-5 articles

　　

2019 CX-5 Highlights

Type: SUVDieselSUV

　　Trim: SportTouringGrand TouringGrand Touring ReserveSignatureSport

　　

Base MSRP	$24,350
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$137/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	30.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles