Is the 2026 Mazda CX-5 a good car?

The 7.17/10 expert rating points to a compact SUV that makes a strong case on style, standard equipment, and value. The standout strength is Safety at 9/10.

Mazda’s redesign gives you a more striking exterior, a crisper cabin, standard all-wheel drive, and Google built-in across the lineup, which makes the CX-5 feel more modern and better equipped than before. It also gains more rear passenger space and cargo room, so it fits family duty better than the outgoing model.

The trade-offs are real: the carryover 187-horsepower engine feels underpowered, and the six-speed automatic is dated compared with the rest of the segment. If you care most about design, interior quality, and value, the CX-5 is compelling; if you want stronger performance or better efficiency, you may want to look elsewhere. Good and great deals account for 30.3% of listings, which gives you some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2026 Mazda CX-5 reliable?

The 2026 CX-5 is presented as a well-rounded, mainstream gasoline SUV with a familiar powertrain and a strong emphasis on standard equipment. Mazda’s own materials frame it as a vehicle that prioritizes driving engagement, premium feel, and broad safety coverage rather than cutting-edge efficiency.

On the mechanical side, the carryover 2.5-liter engine and six-speed automatic are straightforward, and the chassis tuning still favors composed handling and stable highway manners. The cabin also benefits from improved insulation, which should help the CX-5 feel more settled in daily use.

If you want a used CX-5 for the long haul, the main ownership risk is that you’ll be living with a dated powertrain and below-average fuel economy until the hybrid arrives.

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

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 93.6% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re comparing multiple trims or higher-mileage examples. Focus on overall condition, because the cabin uses some hard plastics in wear-prone areas and the vehicle’s value proposition depends heavily on how well it has been kept.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base 2.5 S gets the essentials, but the Select and Preferred trims add meaningful comfort and convenience upgrades. The Preferred stands out as the best-value choice because it adds a power liftgate, head-up display, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 10-way power driver’s seat with memory.
• Powertrain: Every trim uses the same 187-horsepower 2.5-liter engine with a six-speed automatic and standard AWD. The setup is smooth enough in normal driving, but it feels underpowered and dated, and the EPA rates it at 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 combined mpg.
• Safety package: Every trim 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. Higher trims add more, including a 360-degree View Monitor and a driver monitoring system.
• Infotainment: You get a 12.9-inch touchscreen on all trims except Premium Plus, which gets a 15.6-inch unit. Google built-in is standard, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wired on the base 2.5 S and wireless on Select and above, and all trims include a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster.
• Fuel efficiency: The CX-5 is rated at 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 combined mpg, and there is no hybrid option for this model year.

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:

• 2.5 S: This is the entry point if you want the lowest price and standard AWD, Google built-in, and the full safety suite without paying for extras. It makes sense if you mainly want the CX-5’s core design and value story.
• Select: This trim is the first step up if you want wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without moving too far up the price ladder. It’s a sensible middle ground if you care about convenience more than luxury.
• Preferred: This is the best-value trim. It adds the most meaningful everyday upgrades, including a power liftgate, head-up display, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 10-way power driver’s seat with memory.
• Premium: Choose this if you want a more upscale cabin and stronger audio. It adds leather seating, a Bose 12-speaker audio system, and SiriusXM satellite radio.
• Premium Plus: This is the top choice if you want the most technology and driver-assistance hardware. It adds the larger 15.6-inch screen, a 360-degree View Monitor with underfloor and parking views, a driver monitoring system, rear USB-C ports, and Cruising & Traffic Support with Lane-Change Assist.

The safety package is broad across the lineup, and the upper trims add useful extras rather than changing the CX-5’s core safety story.

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

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop patiently and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 30.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 3,315 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 93.6% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $36,242.53, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2026 Mazda CX-5 safe?

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

The 2026 CX-5 comes with one of the most comprehensive standard safety suites in its class. Every trim 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 mandatory 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.

Official 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 fully 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:

• 30.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 93.6% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Mazda’s redesign brings a more spacious, more modern CX-5 with standard AWD and Google built-in.

Consider the 2025 if:

• It’s the sportier, more desirable choice for buyers who value driving enjoyment.

The bottom line: Buy the 2026 if you want the newest CX-5 styling, more space, and a richer standard feature set. If you’re more price-sensitive and want the older model’s sporty personality, the 2025 remains worth a look, especially if you can find a strong deal.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 28, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.