Is the 2026 Mazda CX-5 a good car?

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 earns a 7.17/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Safety at 9/10.

Mazda’s redesign gives you a larger, more spacious compact SUV with a striking exterior, a high-quality cabin, and standard all-wheel drive across the lineup. It also brings a more modern infotainment setup and Google built-in as standard, which makes the CX-5 feel more advanced than before.

The trade-offs are clear: the 187-horsepower engine and six-speed automatic are the weak links, and they hold the CX-5 back on acceleration and efficiency. If you care most about style, interior quality, and value, this is a compelling pick; if you want stronger performance or better fuel economy, you may want to wait for the hybrid.

34.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals, so there’s still some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2026 Mazda CX-5 reliable?

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 is built around a straightforward, carryover 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic, which generally points to a simpler ownership experience than a more complex turbo or hybrid setup. Mazda also gives you standard all-wheel drive across the lineup, and the model’s updated structure and expanded safety hardware suggest a solid foundation for long-term use.

The cabin and powertrain are described as familiar rather than cutting-edge, which can be a plus when you’re thinking about durability and day-to-day dependability. Mazda’s standard warranty coverage is average for the segment, so you should still plan on normal maintenance and a careful pre-purchase inspection.

For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that you’ll be living with a powertrain that already feels dated and inefficient, even if it is mechanically simple.

What should I look for when buying a used 2026 Mazda CX-5?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 93.1% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a vehicle history report, confirm service records, and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection if the listing has any signs of prior damage or heavy use. Focus your inspection on the cabin materials, infotainment operation, and how the powertrain feels in normal driving, since the CX-5’s value depends heavily on condition and equipment.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base trim uses smaller 17-inch wheels and misses some of the richer features you get higher up, while upper trims add more premium materials and a more upscale feel.
• Powertrain: You get a 187-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 186 pound-feet of torque and a six-speed automatic; it’s adequate, but it feels underpowered in this heavier redesign.
• Safety package: Standard equipment includes adaptive cruise control with speed limit assist, automatic emergency braking with Turn-Across Traffic detection and Head-On Collision Mitigation, rear automatic emergency braking with rear cross-traffic alert and pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors, vehicle exit warning, driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors, and dynamic guidelines for the rear-view camera.
• Infotainment: You get a 12.9-inch touchscreen on most trims and a 15.6-inch unit on the top trim, plus Google built-in standard, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto on Select and above, and wired phone projection on the base trim.
• Fuel efficiency: The CX-5 returns 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 combined mpg, and every trim shares the same efficiency because they use the same powertrain and AWD system.

Which 2026 Mazda CX-5 trim should I buy?

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 is offered in 5 trim levels: 2.5 S, Select, Preferred, Premium, Premium Plus.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: The 2.5 S gives you the essentials, but it sticks with wired phone projection and the smaller touchscreen setup, so it feels more basic than the rest of the lineup.
• Sweet-spot trim: The Preferred is the best value because it adds AWD, 19-inch wheels, a power liftgate, a head-up display, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 10-way power driver’s seat with memory.
• Premium/top trim: The Premium adds a Bose 12-speaker audio system and SiriusXM satellite radio, while the Premium Plus brings the larger 15.6-inch screen, a 360-degree View Monitor, a driver monitoring system, rear USB-C ports, and more advanced highway-driving tech.

The Premium Plus also adds a more advanced safety and camera package, so if you want the most complete CX-5, that’s the trim to target.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2026 Mazda CX-5?

This is a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop with some leverage if you’re patient.

• Deal availability: 34.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,349 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 93.1% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $36,325.14, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2026 Mazda CX-5 safe?

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

Every trim comes with a broad standard safety suite that includes adaptive cruise control with speed limit assist, automatic emergency braking with Turn-Across Traffic detection and Head-On Collision Mitigation, rear automatic emergency braking with rear cross-traffic alert and pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors, vehicle exit warning, driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors, and dynamic guidelines for the rear-view camera.

The top-tier Premium Plus adds an adaptive front-lighting system, front cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, Cruising & Traffic Support with Lane-Change Assist, a driver monitoring system, and a 360-degree View Monitor. Seven airbags come standard across all trims.

Crash test results from NHTSA and IIHS had not been published at the time of writing, so you should treat the CX-5’s safety reputation as promising but not yet officially confirmed for this model year.

Should I buy a 2026 Mazda CX-5 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2026 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2026 if:

• 34.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 93.1% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Mazda’s redesign gives you more space, standard AWD, and a much more advanced infotainment system.

Consider the 2025 if:

• It offers a stronger turbocharged engine and a more engaging performance character.

The bottom line: Choose the 2026 if you want the newest CX-5 with more space, better tech, and standard AWD. If you care more about acceleration and driving punch than redesign updates, the 2025 is the better fit for you.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from July 22, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.