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The Mazda CX-5 has been a staple in the highly competitive compact SUV segment, and it does battle with industry heavyweights like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Subaru Forester. It is one of Mazda’s most popular models, often accounting for a massive share of the brand’s total annual sales.
The CX-5 has seen several key updates to maintain its competitive edge over the years, and was completely redesigned for the 2026 model years. Aside from significant interior and technology upgrades, the new model now features a massive 15.6-inch touchscreen. We looked into what owners thought of this new model as well as the recently discontinued variant.
Below is a detailed breakdown of owner satisfaction data over the past five model years based on J.D. Power and Kelley Blue Book (KBB) surveys.
The Mazda CX-5
Jared Rosenholtz/Autoblog
View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article
Owner satisfaction surveys provide a broad overall view of a vehicle, and include everything from the driving experience, to build quality, reliability and even what the dealership experience was like. Value-for-money, performance, comfort and practicality all play a part in determining the final score, and J.D. Power conducts these surveys annually to determine which models are the most deserving of your hard-earned cash.
The CX-5 is now in its third generation, with the second gen models (2017-2025) finally bowing out. Now powered solely by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the new CX-5 is far more technologically advanced than its predecessor, but the more powerful turbocharged engine is now only offered in the CX-50 SUV.
J.D. Power Scores
Mazda
The J.D. Power surveys over the past five years show that the CX-5 has been a solid and reliable vehicle, with scores staying in the ‘Great’ category almost across the board. The introduction of the latest model has not seen a dip in any area, that is partially thanks to the shared tech and well-developed platform of the new CX-5.
Kelley Blue Book Consumer Reviews
Mazda
Kelley Blue Book also subdivides its results into sub-segments including performance, styling, value, and reliability. The overall scores were very consistent with the second-generation models, no doubt due to the mature platform and fuss-free mechanical components.
The new CX-5 has dipped slightly overall, but this is to be expected for most first year models, and as the manufacturer deals with the teething issues, the scores tend to trend upwards over the production run.
Mazda CX-5 Owner Satisfaction
Mazda
View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article
Overall, satisfaction with the Mazda CX-5 has remained impressively stable over the past five years. On J.D. Power, the CX-5 has comfortably hovered in the low-80s in J.D. Power ratings, which are categorized as “Great”.
Resale value has improved steadily over the years, a good sign that the CX-5’s reputation as a solid and durable vehicle is not a temporary anomaly. However, the driving experience scores are slightly lower, likely reflecting the age of the CX-5’s powertrain. Its 187-hp 2.5-liter engine and six-speed automatic may be reliable, but many new rivals offer more power and performance these days.
KBB consumer ratings remained solid at 4.4 out of 5 for most of the second-generation CX-5’s production run, but the newest model has seen a slight drop overall, which should improve as the new model heads into its second full year of production.
Mazda CX-5 Pros and Cons
Owners consistently praise the CX-5 for its upscale, near-luxury interior material quality. They also frequently highlighted the remarkably quiet cabin, excellent crash safety ratings, and the engaging handling that makes it more fun to drive through corners than an average family SUV.
The primary complaints have revolved around the mediocre fuel economy, slightly cramped rear passenger legroom, and less total cargo capacity compared to some rivals. The 2026 CX-5 has at least remedied the interior space issue as it now offers more space for rear passengers as well as slightly more cargo room.
Mazda CX-5 Versus Rivals
Honda
View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article
When compared to its top competitors, the J.D. Power scores show the Mazda CX-5 to be just below the the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, which often score 84/100 overall. Superior cargo area, rear-seat space, (aside from the latest generation CX-5) and fuel-efficient hybrid powertrains are where its rivals score higher, while the CX-5 dominates in the aesthetic and driving dynamics departments.
Consumers cross-shopping the CX-5 against the Toyota RAV4 or Kia Sportage often note that the Mazda feels like a class above in terms of cabin insulation, soft-touch materials, and overall smoothness.
Ultimately, the CX-5 holds its ground as the affordable luxury choice of the compact SUV segment. It sacrifices a bit of practicality and gas mileage in exchange for sharper styling, and a premium driving experience. In its latest iteration, the CX-5 remains a well-balanced choice in its segment, all it lacks is a hybrid powertrain which could boost both performance and fuel economy. As it turns out, a hybrid CX-5 is on the cards for 2027…
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The CX-5 has seen several key updates to maintain its competitive edge over the years, and was completely redesigned for the 2026 model years. Aside from significant interior and technology upgrades, the new model now features a massive 15.6-inch touchscreen. We looked into what owners thought of this new model as well as the recently discontinued variant.
Below is a detailed breakdown of owner satisfaction data over the past five model years based on J.D. Power and Kelley Blue Book (KBB) surveys.
The Mazda CX-5
Jared Rosenholtz/Autoblog
View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article
Owner satisfaction surveys provide a broad overall view of a vehicle, and include everything from the driving experience, to build quality, reliability and even what the dealership experience was like. Value-for-money, performance, comfort and practicality all play a part in determining the final score, and J.D. Power conducts these surveys annually to determine which models are the most deserving of your hard-earned cash.
The CX-5 is now in its third generation, with the second gen models (2017-2025) finally bowing out. Now powered solely by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the new CX-5 is far more technologically advanced than its predecessor, but the more powerful turbocharged engine is now only offered in the CX-50 SUV.
J.D. Power Scores
Mazda
Model Year | Total Overall Score | Quality & Reliability | Driving Experience | Resale | Dealership Experience |
2026 | 82 | 82 | 79 | 84 | 82 |
2025 | 82 | 82 | 79 | 84 | 82 |
2024 | 82 | 82 | 81 | 84 | 83 |
2023 | 81 | 82 | 80 | 81 | 82 |
2022 | 83 | 86 | 82 | 80 | 83 |
The J.D. Power surveys over the past five years show that the CX-5 has been a solid and reliable vehicle, with scores staying in the ‘Great’ category almost across the board. The introduction of the latest model has not seen a dip in any area, that is partially thanks to the shared tech and well-developed platform of the new CX-5.
Kelley Blue Book Consumer Reviews
Mazda
Model Year | KBB Overall Consumer Rating |
2026 | 4.2 / 5.0 |
2025 | 4.4 / 5.0 |
2024 | 4.4 / 5.0 |
2023 | 4.4 / 5.0 |
2022 | 4.4 / 5.0 |
Kelley Blue Book also subdivides its results into sub-segments including performance, styling, value, and reliability. The overall scores were very consistent with the second-generation models, no doubt due to the mature platform and fuss-free mechanical components.
The new CX-5 has dipped slightly overall, but this is to be expected for most first year models, and as the manufacturer deals with the teething issues, the scores tend to trend upwards over the production run.
Mazda CX-5 Owner Satisfaction
Mazda
View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article
Overall, satisfaction with the Mazda CX-5 has remained impressively stable over the past five years. On J.D. Power, the CX-5 has comfortably hovered in the low-80s in J.D. Power ratings, which are categorized as “Great”.
Resale value has improved steadily over the years, a good sign that the CX-5’s reputation as a solid and durable vehicle is not a temporary anomaly. However, the driving experience scores are slightly lower, likely reflecting the age of the CX-5’s powertrain. Its 187-hp 2.5-liter engine and six-speed automatic may be reliable, but many new rivals offer more power and performance these days.
KBB consumer ratings remained solid at 4.4 out of 5 for most of the second-generation CX-5’s production run, but the newest model has seen a slight drop overall, which should improve as the new model heads into its second full year of production.
Mazda CX-5 Pros and Cons
Owners consistently praise the CX-5 for its upscale, near-luxury interior material quality. They also frequently highlighted the remarkably quiet cabin, excellent crash safety ratings, and the engaging handling that makes it more fun to drive through corners than an average family SUV.
The primary complaints have revolved around the mediocre fuel economy, slightly cramped rear passenger legroom, and less total cargo capacity compared to some rivals. The 2026 CX-5 has at least remedied the interior space issue as it now offers more space for rear passengers as well as slightly more cargo room.
Mazda CX-5 Versus Rivals
Honda
View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article
When compared to its top competitors, the J.D. Power scores show the Mazda CX-5 to be just below the the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, which often score 84/100 overall. Superior cargo area, rear-seat space, (aside from the latest generation CX-5) and fuel-efficient hybrid powertrains are where its rivals score higher, while the CX-5 dominates in the aesthetic and driving dynamics departments.
Consumers cross-shopping the CX-5 against the Toyota RAV4 or Kia Sportage often note that the Mazda feels like a class above in terms of cabin insulation, soft-touch materials, and overall smoothness.
Ultimately, the CX-5 holds its ground as the affordable luxury choice of the compact SUV segment. It sacrifices a bit of practicality and gas mileage in exchange for sharper styling, and a premium driving experience. In its latest iteration, the CX-5 remains a well-balanced choice in its segment, all it lacks is a hybrid powertrain which could boost both performance and fuel economy. As it turns out, a hybrid CX-5 is on the cards for 2027…
Continue reading...