2024 Mazda CX-5 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Aside from minor changes, the 2024 Mazda CX-5 looks the same as it did when the second-generation model debuted in 2017. The design, which reflects traditional Mazda styling cues, has aged well, and the CX-5 still looks modern and appealing.

Our test vehicle arrived in a new-for-2024 Carbon Turbo trim. It wore Zircon Sand paint, one of two new colors (the other is Platinum Quartz), and had exclusive Terracotta leather seats with black artificial suede inserts and a black headliner. Mazda uses Zircon Sand on several of its models, and it works well on the CX-5 Carbon Turbo, thanks in part to the model’s gloss-black exterior detailing. You can also get the new CX-5 Carbon Turbo in a premium Rhodium White paint color.

With the 2024 CX-5, Mazda has also improved the fuel economy of versions equipped with the base engine, eliminated a previously available machined-finish 19-inch wheel design, and added wireless charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to several trim levels.

The CX-5 lineup includes 2.5 S and 2.5 Turbo models. The S has a 187-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, while the Turbo benefits from a 256-hp (227-hp on regular gas) turbocharged 2.5-liter four. Every CX-5 has a six-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD).

Select, Preferred, Carbon Edition, Premium, and Premium Plus trim levels are available for the CX-5 2.5 S, and prices range from $29,300 to $36,500, plus a destination charge of $1,420. The Turbo models come in Carbon, Premium, and Signature trim, priced between $37,000 and $40,600, plus destination. The Carbon Turbo test vehicle had a rear bumper guard and an interior lighting kit, bringing the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) to $39,355 including destination.

Though this is a compact crossover, it looks and feels worth that amount, inside and out. Over the years, Mazda has upgraded the CX-5’s interior materials, seating, technology, drivetrain, suspension, and more. The result is an upscale crossover SUV at a mainstream price.

Check the specs of the 2024 Mazda CX-5 Carbon Turbo, and you’ll discover that if you pump it full of premium gas, it delivers 256 hp at 5,000 rpm and 320 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm. Use regular gas, and you’ll still enjoy 227 hp and 310 lb-ft, and the torque arrives 500 rpm sooner.

Stomp on the accelerator pedal, and the CX-5 Turbo doesn’t feel that powerful because it doesn’t instantly leap forward. Instead, this powertrain is more rewarding when you press down at a slower and steadier rate, allowing revs to build before you surf the wave of torque. Acclimate your driving style to the drivetrain’s character, and you’ll find the turbocharged 2.5-liter four a good match with the CX-5.

Unfortunately, it isn’t fuel efficient. The official EPA fuel economy rating is 24 mpg in combined driving, and we observed 22.9 mpg on our Southern California evaluation loop. That’s unimpressive from a compact SUV. If gas mileage is a priority, get the CX-5 2.5 S and skip the turbo.

From behind the steering wheel, the CX-5 feels tall and narrow, a distinctively different sensation from the CX-50, which seems low and wide from the driver’s side. Outward visibility is excellent in every direction, making it easy to maneuver the CX-5 in traffic, parking lots, and garages. Due to these traits, you can drive this Mazda with confidence.

In recent years, Mazda re-tuned the CX-5’s suspension for a smoother ride, stiffened the frame for responsive handling, and made all-wheel drive standard. The CX-5 also boasts Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control Plus technology, a subtle, brake-based system that enhances cornering while minimizing body motions. Collectively, these improvements nearly eliminate the CX-5’s formerly choppy ride and tippy handling, and the 2024 model continues to drive in a sophisticated manner.

On the highway, the CX-5 is remarkably quiet inside. In the city, it feels firm and connected with lively handling. On twisty mountain roads, it proves zippy, fun, and stable. You can even switch from Normal or Sport mode into Off-Road, and it can tackle well-traveled trails without much trouble, thanks in part to a decent 7.9 inches of ground clearance.

Got something to tow? As long as it weighs less than 2,000 pounds, the CX-5 can handle it.

Another reason the CX-5 is enjoyable to drive is the standard heated front seats. Redesigned a couple of years ago, they are comfortable and supportive. The driver’s seat provides six-way power adjustment, while passengers can manually raise the seat height if they wish. The sides of the center console are padded to prevent pain if your leg rests against it.

Leather is standard on all trim levels except the base 2.5 S Select, which has artificial leather. The top-shelf 2.5 Turbo Signature has exclusive premium Nappa leather. The 2.5 S Premium Plus and CX-5 Turbo models have a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, and ventilated front seats.

In its segment, the CX-5 is among the smaller models regarding interior room. But the SUV is comfortable, if snug, for four adults. The rear seat offers good support and a proper sitting position, and passengers face soft front seatback material that is kind to knees and shins. Rear air conditioning vents and a center fold-down armrest with cupholders and a storage tray enhance rider satisfaction.

The design and quality of the cabin elevate this Mazda over most of its mass-market rivals. Remove the Mazda logo from the steering wheel, and you might guess it was a luxury-branded vehicle. Storage space is good, too, though the cupholders are somewhat awkward to use.

Behind the back seat, the CX-5 supplies 30 cubic feet of cargo area. This is enough for a family of four heading out on a week-long vacation (see the accompanying photo). Fold the rear seat down, and you’ll have a maximum of 59.3 cubic feet of cargo space, which is less than most other crossovers in the compact segment.

Mazda doesn’t think touchscreen infotainment systems are a good idea due to driver distraction. We agree and appreciate how the CX-5 provides traditional switchgear for stereo volume, radio tuning, climate controls, driving modes, and more. Plus, the gear shifter is a classic PRNDL affair, totally eliminating confusion.

However, we live in a world where touchscreens are commonplace, from the ever-present smartphone in your pocket to self-ordering and checkout systems at restaurants and grocery stores. That puts Mazda’s approach at odds with emerging societal standards and norms.

Fortunately, the company has relented a bit, offering a setting that allows touchscreen operation of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while driving. Even better, those popular platforms now offer wireless connectivity in several CX-5 trim levels.

In a CX-5, you needn’t fuss too much with the 10.25-inch display. Adjust the settings to your preferences, and you’ll rarely venture far beyond the main menu and the Entertainment, Communication, and Navigation pages. On the center console, a large knob twists and toggles to navigate Mazda Connect’s menus, and surrounding buttons provide quick access to the Home, Entertainment, and Navigation pages. A Back button is also helpful, and a Star button allows you to program a direct path to a specific setting or feature within the system.

Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz pioneered this approach to infotainment systems decades ago. Notably, they’ve all abandoned the design in favor of touchscreens and conversational voice control systems. Mazda could do better in that latter regard, as the native voice interface isn’t as intuitive to use as Siri or Google Assistant. To avoid hassle, we recommend pairing your smartphone and running Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Mazda Connected Services offers access to remote engine starting, a find my car feature, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and more. It also includes automatic 911 dialing following a collision, provided you’ve paired your smartphone to the Bluetooth connection and opted into the service.

Several versions of the CX-5 have a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system with a couple of classy-looking tweeters nestled within the cloth-wrapped windshield pillars. This system is standard in the Carbon Turbo and sounds good, adding to the SUV’s premium interior.

Mazda wisely equips every version of the CX-5 with the advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) you most want to use. These include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assist.

As you move up the trim-level ladder, safety-related upgrades include adaptive headlights that help you to see better around curves and corners, a traffic sign recognition system, and Traffic Jam Assist technology offering low-speed adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist. Mazda reserves a driver monitoring system, surround-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, and automatic reverse braking for the CX-5 2.5 Turbo Signature.

Our Carbon Turbo test car didn’t have most of the upgrades, but the standard collection of ADAS performed well, in particular the lane departure and lane keeping systems. Neither is intrusive, as the former provides a subtle vibration through the steering wheel and the latter does a good job of discerning between intentional and unintentional lane departures. Also, the adaptive headlights are excellent on dark, unlit streets.

In the past, the Mazda CX-5 has enjoyed a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It has not earned that accolade in 2024, though when comparing the latest criteria against the SUV’s ratings, it isn’t clear why not. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the SUV five-star ratings across the board, except for a four-star rollover resistance rating.

With the 2024 CX-5, Mazda puts its money where its mouth is, backing up its marketing as a premium brand with style, quality, refinement, and dynamism. It’s not uncommon for compact crossover SUVs to eclipse the $40,000 price threshold. However, it is uncommon to get what equates to an entry-level luxury SUV for the same price.

Compared to vehicles like the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Lexus UX, and Mercedes-Benz GLA, the Mazda offers more for less. It is larger or better equipped for the same price (or both), and the turbocharged engine offers similar or better power except when compared to the significantly more expensive Mercedes-AMG GLA 35.

Where the CX-5 fails to impress is in its fuel economy, technological sophistication, and ownership benefits. Improvements in these areas could help the SUV stand apart even more from alternatives in the class.

For example, a Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid with SEL trim costs only a little more than our CX-5 Carbon Turbo test vehicle. It provides a turbocharged 261-hp PHEV powertrain with 33 miles of electric driving, gets 35 mpg in combined driving when used as a hybrid, includes complimentary scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, and has a more impressive warranty. Plus, the Tucson earns a Top Safety Pick rating for 2024, offers more advanced infotainment and ADAS technologies, and comes with a generous three-year trial subscription to connected services.

Mazda likely won’t address those issues, as the CX-5’s days appear to be numbered. Logically, the CX-50 should have replaced the CX-5 when it arrived in 2023. But since the CX-5 is Mazda’s best-selling model, it is understandably difficult for the automaker to let it go simply because the company is changing the names of its SUVs (begging the question, why?).

It would have been easier to make that transition had Mazda refrained from making incremental improvements to the CX-5, helping it to get better with age.