2018 Mazda CX-5 Road Test and Review

2018 Mazda CX 5 on the street800600 ・ Photo by Mazda

All-new just last year, the 2018 Mazda CX-5 is Mazda’s best-selling model. It’s also one of our favorites in the extremely competitive and fast-growing compact SUV class. Stylish, fuel efficient and built with exacting fit and finish, the CX-5 features a high-quality interior, room for five and many family-friendly features. It’s also one of the most fun-to-drive SUVs available for less than $30,000. Mazda is best known for its MX-5 Miata sports car, and the 2018 CX-5 shares the Miata’s ability to make driving more than just getting in and getting there.  

The CX-5 is the Jan Brady in Mazda’s SUV line up: larger than the CX-3 and smaller than the seven-passenger CX-9. It competes with a long list of popular rivals, including the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape and the Nissan Rogue.

Three Trim Levels to Choose From

Built in Japan, the 2018 Mazda CX-5 is available in three trim levels: Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. They’re all powered by a smooth and fuel-efficient 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard on all models, but all-wheel drive is offered across the board for an additional $1,300. Prices start at $25,125, including a $975 destination charge, for the Sport. The better-equipped Touring starts at $27,190 and the top-of-the-line Grand Touring has a base price of $30,620.

With options, our front-wheel drive CX-5 Grand Touring test vehicle cost nearly $33,000. Its $1,830 Premium Package added an extensive list of equipment features including memory settings for the driver’s seat, a power-adjustable passenger seat, heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel.

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One of the Best Interiors in its Class

With high-quality materials, interesting design and impeccable fit and finish, the driver-focused interior of the 2018 Mazda CX-5 is one of the best cabins in the compact SUV class. For 2018, Mazda has made a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob standard on all models. Those additions, as well as the CX-5’s piano black trim and soft-touch surfaces, makes it feel like a far more expensive vehicle. Other luxuries include paddle shifters, navigation, a heated steering wheel, sunroof, automatic climate control, a power driver’s seat, keyless entry and push-button start.

The heated leather front seats in our test vehicle were supportive and comfortable. They’re well shaped for long drives, but they also hold you in place when you toss the SUV into tight corners. Rear seat space is typical for this segment, which means four adults fit comfortably, but you can fit three pre-teens in the backseat without any complaints.

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Abundant Cargo Space

The CX-5's interior also offers plenty of storage space. There’s a sizable console bin between the front seats, large door pockets with slots for water bottles, and a cubby well-placed ahead of the shifter, which is perfect for your phone. The two large front cupholders are also well-placed behind the shifter so tall drinks don’t interfere with any of the controls. There are also a couple of cupholders, as well as a storage bin with a USB port, in the rear seat’s fold-down armrest.

Open its power liftgate and the CX-5 offers 30.9 cubic feet of space behind its rear seat, which is average for this class but smaller than the best-selling Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Every CX-5 comes standard with a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat, which is easily dropped flat to expand that volume to 59.6 cubic feet. That’s about the same as you get in the Kia Sportage, but again, the Honda and Toyota offer more.

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Light on Infotainment Tech

The Mazda’s 7-inch infotainment screen is located where it should be, and it’s large enough for a vehicle of this size, but the navigation system’s graphics seem dated and the screen’s interface could be more intuitive. When you're moving down the road, the infotainment system is controlled with a large knob on the console behind the shifter. It’s an interface much like you’ll find in a BMW or Mercedes-Benz, but its operation is clumsier in the Mazda, because its menus and selections can be cumbersome.

When the CX-5 is stationary the screen is touch-sensitive and the system becomes much easier to use. Mazda should just make it a touchscreen all of the time. Bluetooth is standard, but the CX-5 isn't compatible with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Also, onboard Wi-Fi is not available, which may irk your children. 

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Looks More Expensive Than It Is

Now in its second generation, the CX-5 is distinctively styled with sporty proportions and a wide athletic stance. With its large upright grille and squinted headlamps, it resembles Mazda’s larger CX-9, but its more aggressive fastback roofline and tighter dimensions give the CX-5 a more youthful style. Overall, it’s one of the most attractive designs in the compact SUV class.

Detailing is exceptional, with LED headlamps and LED fog and daytime running lights, and our CX-5 test vehicle looked fantastic in its unique paint color of Machine Gray Metallic. It costs an additional $300 but beautifully highlights the SUV’s voluptuous curves. The Grand Touring’s standard 19-inch wheels are handsome and give it an aggressive stance. Its rear view is just as strong with an integrated rear spoiler and dual chrome exhaust tips, while its expansive glass and thin pillars maximize outward visibility.

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Impressive Safety and Fuel Economy

The CX-5 has also has received the highest safety ratings. It has a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and when equipped with the available Adaptive Front Lighting System, it’s rated a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Parents with infants or toddlers will appreciate the easy-to-reach LATCH connectors in the outboard seats and three easily accessed upper tether anchors.

The CX-5 is also one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs and it runs on less expensive regular-grade gasoline to keep costs down. With front-wheel drive, it's rated for 25 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. With the optional all-wheel drive system those numbers fall by 1 mpg. I averaged 27 mpg during a week of mixed driving around Los Angeles in our front-wheel drive test vehicle. Still, there are more fuel-efficient options in this class, including the Honda CR-V, which is rated 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, which the EPA estimates at 34 mpg in the city.

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Advanced Safety Systems and Technology

Mazda has expanded the CX-5’s long list of standard safety systems for 2018. This year, blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert is standard on all models. All CX-5s also get a rearview camera, while Touring and Grand Touring get standard automatic high beam control, a lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, radar cruise control and Mazda’s Smart City Brake Support system, which automatically applies the brakes to lessen the severity of a collision between 2 and 19 mph. These features are also available on the base Sport model for an additional $625, which is a good value. The CX-5 also offers rear parking sensors, remote start and adaptive headlamps, which turn with the steering wheel to help you see around corners.

Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control system is also standard on all 2018 Mazda CX-5 models. The software system, which operates without notice from the driver, increases the SUVs stability by quickly reducing the engine’s torque to help its front tires grip the road.

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Class-Leading Driving Dynamics

The CX-5’s six-speed automatic transmission isn’t exactly state-of-the-art, as many of its competitors offer more gears. On paper this is a problem, but not out on the road. The transmission is well-tuned and well-matched to the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Plus, it has a manual mode so you can choose your own gears using the standard paddle shifters. There's also a Sport mode that increases the engine’s throttle response and automatically recalibrates the transmission to hold gears longer.

With 187 horsepower, the CX-5 isn’t the most powerful SUV in the compact class, but it’s quick and responsive. The engine is smooth and lively and it likes to rev to its 6,250 rpm redline. Acceleration is strong for the class, with a 0-60 mph time of 8.1 seconds, although it’s slightly slower than the Honda CR-V. It also lives up to Mazda’s reputation for building fun-to-drive vehicles with exceptional dynamics. In the turns, the CX-5 features outstanding balance and athletic handling, and its responsive steering is among the best in the segment. It also feels solid and delivers a smooth ride.

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Final Thoughts

While the CX-5's Sport trim level is an exceptional value, the CX-5 Touring is the one to get. You’ll appreciate the additional features over time, like the 19-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, upgraded upholstery and rear air conditioning vents. Plus it gets a long list of standard driver assist systems for additional safety.

Although some may find the Mazda’s infotainment technology to be a bit dated, the CX-5 otherwise offers one of the finest interiors in the segment, the highest safety ratings and a class-leading driving experience. If you’re looking for a comfortable, fun-to-drive and fuel-efficient compact SUV, the 2018 Mazda CX-5 is a very desirable overall choice.

Photo by Mazda