2023 Mazda CX-5 Performance, Price, And Photos

As the pioneer of fun-to-drive cars, does the 2023 Mazda CX-5 compact SUV live up to the “Zoom-Zoom” name…? The short answer is; Yes! It certainly does still live up to the fun-to-drive name known and expected by Mazda. With a potent turbocharged engine available, this is truly a fun SUV to hustle around town. Style, comfort, and power are all at luxury car standards, but the price of the CX-5 sure isn’t luxury car priced.

2023 Mazda CX-5

9.50 / 10

Key Features

Optional Turbo Power
Standard AWD
Classy Design
Luxurious Cabin Materials
Standard Safety Features
Good Fuel Economy

Specifications

Model: CX-5
Engine: 2.5-liter
Power Output: 187 - 256 HP
Torque: 186 - 320 LB-FT
Range: 336 Miles
Transmission: Six-Speed Automatic
Driveline: AWD

Pros

Potent Turbo Engine
Luxurous Designs
Well-Priced

Cons

No Hybrid
Dated Six-Speed Automatic
No Panoramic Moon Roof

2023 Mazda CX-5 Performance And Capabilities

The 2023 CX-5 is a very practical and fun SUV to drive and own. The standard 2.5-liter engine is class-competitive and gets the job done. However, if you opt for the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, you get thrilling performance from an SUV. The turbo offers a whopping 320 pound-feet of torque at only 2,500 RPM, which makes this SUV a blast to drive around town and dart from stoplights.

Both engines, turbo, and non-turbo offer decent fuel economy thanks to Mazda’s SKYACTIV technology. The CX-5 also comes standard with Mazda’s all-wheel drive system. That makes it one of the few SUVs in the segment with standard AWD and again helps this Mazda stand out from the crowd.

All is not perfect with the CX-5 powertrain though. No matter which engine you choose, you get a rather antiquated six-speed automatic. Almost every other vehicle in this class offers more gears for a traditional stepped automatic. And while this transmission is smooth and crisp, it does knock the engine out of its power band rather abruptly when it shifts. However, daily driving is this unit's strong suit, it’s very smooth and crisp in the way it shifts and delivers usable low-end power. We wish it just had more gear to compete with the class.

As stated above, the CX-5 comes standard with AWD. The Mazda AWD system handles snow and ice like a champion, rendering them non-existent. The AWD system also helps with cornering and handling. Best of all, it comes at no extra charge. This standard feature is typically reserved for luxury cars, not mainstream models, and again, nodding to the luxury theme of the CX-5, it’s standard.

2023 Mazda CX-5 Specs
Engine	2.5-liter turbo or non-turbo
Power	187 - 256 HP
Torque	186 - 320 Pound Feet
Transmission	Six-Speed Automatic
0-60	8.4 - 6.5 seconds
Weight	3,728 - 3,867 Pounds
Drive	AWD
Mileage/Range	336 Miles
Towing Capacity	2,000 Pounds

Exterior Design

The exterior design of the CX-5 hasn’t changed much since it was released a few years back. Little things like different headlights, taillights, and garnish pieces have been updated, but the overall silhouette has stayed the same. It’s an elegant design with plenty of character lines and detail. The headlights remind us of a BMW with a “halo” design.

A large grille houses a huge Mazda logo which contains the radar for the drivers’ assistance features. A large chrome piece accents the bottom of the grille, making it look 3D. An air dam below the grille and at the bottom of the bumper looks aggressive, yet classy.

However, we wish there were fog lamps. Moving around to the side, the mirrors are on the smaller side we think, but that doesn’t hamper visibility as the windows are large and blind-spot monitoring is standard (rare for this class).

The body lines are again aggressive and classy. Wheels range from small-looking alloys to gorgeous sparkling chrome wheels on the Signature trim. In the back, LED taillights set a premium tone and the hatch features a large Mazda logo. We really like the typeface that is used for the badging. It’s very classy and elegant. Taillights mimic the headlight halo design.

We would also like to point out that Mazda has some of the prettiest paint colors we’ve ever seen on a production car. The metallic flakes and clear coat are simply stunning and add so much depth to the paint. The car almost always looks wet and clean, even when it’s not. Mazda’s Soul Red Crystal Metallic is our favorite color, and it has the most depth and vibrance of any of the paint colors. The best way we can describe this paint is like a diamond, the depth and sparkles are simply gorgeous.

Exterior Colors
Soul Red Crystal Metallic	$595
Rhodium White Metallic	$595
Machine Gray Metallic	$595
Eternal Blue Mica	Standard
Jet Black Mica	Standard
Sonic Silver Metallic	Standard
Deep Crystal Blue Mica	Standard
Polymetal Gray Metallic	Standard

Exterior Dimensions
Length	180.1 Inches
Width	83.3 Inches
Height	66.3 Inches
Wheelbase	106.2 Inches

Interior Quality And Technology

The cabin of this Mazda is equally as gorgeous and luxurious as the exterior. Again, we see lots of hits of BMW in its design. Stitching and faux wood and aluminum accents are abundant and look great. They don’t look tacky like some other mainstream SUV models look with those accent pieces, these look well integrated and thought out. The steering wheel is a standard Mazda parts bin, which is perfectly fine. It works well and looks good.

The gauges are also standard Mazda, we wish a larger LCD was present, but the font is easy to read and the gauges themselves are logically laid out and lots of needles and dials are present. The center stack has a pop-up-style screen, which makes it easier for your eyes to find it. The vents are large and chrome-accented. Below them is the climate control system, with a standard dual-zone setup, on all but the base trim.

Everything in the center is wrapped up by the shifter and infotainment control wheel, both are conventional and easy to use. We’re glad to see a traditional shifter here and not some push-button gear selector. The click-wheel for the infotainment system is also very easy to use, and we like its tactile feel. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but they’re a wired connection.

We’re not complaining, just making a note. A nice-sounding premium Bose stereo is optional on higher trims. One thing we wish was available on this Mazda is a panoramic roof, only a standard-size moon roof is available.

In the back seat, legroom is generous, and the seats are wide and comfortable. Rear seats seem to be higher than those of the front, leading to better visibility. With the seats folded down, a generous amount of cargo room is present. The trunk area and rear seats are also nicely finished with soft carpeting surrounding everything.

Overall, we rank the interior of the CX-5 among the best in the class. It’s luxurious, purposeful, and comfy. Really, our only complaint about the interior is the lack of a panoramic moon roof. Other than that, this is a very accommodating, luxurious, and practical cabin.

Interior Dimensions
Headroom	39.7 - 39 Inches
Legroom	41 - 39.6 Inches
Cargo Volume	59.3 Cubic Feet
Seating Room	5

2023 Mazda CX-5 Price

Prices for the 2023 Maza CX-5 start with the class at $26,700 plus a standard destination fee for 49 states (minus Alaska with a fee of $1,320) of $1,275. We think the 2.5 S Preferred is the best overall trim, it offers most of the features needed and wanted by most drivers. Plus, it’s a bargain value starting at below $30,000.

Build your 2023 Mazda CX-5 here.

2023 Mazda CX-5 Prices

S	$26,700
S Select	$28,500
S Preferred	$29,590
S Carbon Edition	$31,100
S Premium	$33,000
S Premium Plus	$35,500
2.5 Turbo	$36,850
2.5 Turbo Signature	$39,650

Safety

The Mazda CX-5 is a very safe vehicle. The 2022 CX-5 earns an overall 5/5-star rating from NHTSA. As for the IIHs, the 2022 CX-5 earned a Top Safety Pick+ award. Almost every advanced safety feature is standard, with the exception of a 360-degree camera system. Pedestrian detection, automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring system, and lane departure are all standard. As expected, ABS, stability control, traction control, TPMS, and AWD are standard. This is a very safe SUV for families and new drivers alike.

Competition

The compact SUV class is very crowded with several options. The Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Mitsubishi Outlander come to mind, however, we think the Mazda should rank at the top of the class. It’s luxurious, comfortable, sporty, powerful, and practical. We really like the styling, inside and out, and although some features aren’t available, like a pano roof or wireless Apple Car Play, those are overlooked by the posh interior and power from the turbo engine. One thing we also like is that every CX-5 is still built in Japan. The 2023 Mazda CX-5 has a sure footing in the compact SUV class, and we think it’s a great option with a flavor for anyone who wants one.