New & Used 2026 Mazda CX-5 for Sale nearWilmington, NC

Compare 2026 Mazda CX-5 Trims

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 offers a range of trims from budget-friendly options to well-equipped models, all featuring AWD for enhanced capability.

• Starting at $30,151
• Best MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Most Popular: 2.5 S Preferred AWD

Trim Overview

Prices updated weekly from CarGurus listings.

Quick Compare Table

Listing prices sourced from CarGurus — updated weekly. OEM specs from manufacturer data.

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Trim Deep Dives

2.5 S AWD — "Who It's For"

The 2.5 S AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a budget-friendly option without sacrificing essential features.

• Avg. market price: $30,151 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 152 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View 2.5 S AWD listings

2.5 S Select AWD — "Who It's For"

The 2.5 S Select AWD is the pick for shoppers who want more luxury features without stepping up to the higher trims.

• Avg. market price: $31,480 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 2,200 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View 2.5 S Select AWD listings

2.5 S Preferred AWD — "Who It's For"

The 2.5 S Preferred AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-rounded package with premium features and a popular choice.

• Avg. market price: $34,424 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 2,934 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View 2.5 S Preferred AWD listings

2.5 S Premium AWD — "Who It's For"

The 2.5 S Premium AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a luxury experience with advanced features and comfort.

• Avg. market price: $36,691 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 586 listings
• View 2.5 S Premium AWD listings

2.5 S Premium Plus AWD — "Who It's For"

The 2.5 S Premium Plus AWD is the pick for shoppers who want the ultimate in luxury and technology for their adventures.

• Avg. market price: $37,625 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 1,055 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View 2.5 S Premium Plus AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — 2.5 S Preferred AWD

With 2,934 active listings, the 2.5 S Preferred AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse 2.5 S Preferred AWD listings

Best Budget Option — 2.5 S AWD

At $30,151 avg market price — below the lineup median of $34,424 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse 2.5 S AWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — 2.5 S AWD

The 2.5 S AWD offers the best fuel economy in the lineup with 24/30 MPG.

Browse 2.5 S AWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 8, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

Is the 2026 Mazda CX-5 a good car?

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 earns a 7.17/10 expert rating, and it’s aimed at you if you value style, interior quality, and value in a compact SUV. The standout strength is Safety at 9/10.

Mazda’s redesign gives the CX-5 a striking new exterior, a more upscale cabin, standard all-wheel drive, and Google built-in across the lineup. It also adds more space and a more modern tech setup, which makes it feel more premium than many rivals.

The trade-offs are real, though: the carryover 187-horsepower engine feels underpowered in this larger body, and the six-speed automatic is dated compared with the transmissions and hybrid powertrains you’ll find elsewhere in the class. That means the CX-5 makes the most sense if you care more about design, comfort, and value than outright speed or efficiency.

With 43.5% of listings marked as good or great deals, the market is giving you a decent amount of room to shop.

Is the 2026 Mazda CX-5 reliable?

The 2026 CX-5 is built around a carryover 2.5-liter engine and a familiar six-speed automatic, which should help keep its mechanical formula straightforward. Mazda also gives you standard all-wheel drive across the lineup, and the cabin and chassis updates suggest a more mature, refined package than before.

From a dependability standpoint, the powertrain is simple rather than cutting-edge, which can be a plus for long-term ownership if you prefer fewer complex systems. The downside is that the drivetrain is already working hard in this heavier redesign, so you may feel the strain more often in everyday driving.

Mazda also includes a broad standard safety suite, which adds peace of mind for used buyers. For long-term ownership, the main risk is that you’ll be living with a slow, thirsty powertrain rather than a more modern and efficient one.

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

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 93% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a vehicle history report and verify that the specific car you’re considering has a clean title and consistent service records. A pre-purchase inspection is worth prioritizing, especially if you want to check for signs of wear in the cabin, suspension, and braking components. Focus on overall condition, because the CX-5’s appeal depends heavily on how well its upscale materials and driving feel have been preserved.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base 2.5 S uses smaller 17-inch wheels and misses some of the nicer upgrades found higher up, while Preferred and above move to 19-inch wheels and add more premium equipment. The Preferred stands out as the best-value choice because it adds AWD, a power liftgate, a 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 naturally aspirated four-cylinder with a six-speed automatic and standard AWD. It’s smooth enough in normal driving, but it feels underpowered in this heavier redesign and is slower than many rivals.
• Safety package: Every trim gets 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 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.
• Infotainment: Most trims get a 12.9-inch touchscreen, while the Premium Plus upgrades to 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 every trim gets a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster.
• Fuel efficiency: The CX-5 is rated at 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined, and those figures are the same across the lineup.

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, and it gives you the core CX-5 formula with standard AWD, Google built-in, and the full safety suite. It makes sense if you want the lowest price and can live without the nicer comfort and convenience upgrades.
• Select: This trim adds wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it a smarter pick if you want a more convenient daily driver without moving too far up the price ladder.
• Preferred: This is the best-value trim. 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, which makes it the sweet spot for most shoppers.
• Premium: This trim brings a Bose 12-speaker audio system and SiriusXM satellite radio, so it’s the one to choose if you care more about cabin ambiance and sound quality.
• Premium Plus: This is the top trim, and 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 the most advanced highway-assist features.

The safety package is especially strong across the lineup, but the Premium Plus gets the most advanced driver-assistance hardware.

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

This is a favorable time to shop if you want a well-equipped compact SUV with strong deal availability and a healthy amount of clean inventory.

• Deal availability: 43.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 5,163 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 93.0% of listings are accident-free.

Is the 2026 Mazda CX-5 safe?

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

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

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.

The 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.

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:

• 43.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 93% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• It brings a full redesign, standard AWD, and Google built-in across the lineup.

Consider the 2025 if:

• It blends practicality with a more engaging driving character.

The bottom line: If you want the newest CX-5 with the most modern cabin, standard tech, and strong safety equipment, the 2026 is the better path. If you’re more price-sensitive and want a used compact SUV with a proven sporty personality, the 2025 is still worth a look.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 13, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.