The Mazda CX-5 is the crossover you buy when you want something that actually feels good to drive. The steering has weight. The chassis rotates in a corner. The six-speed automatic does not drone like a CVT. It is the answer for people who need an SUV but do not want to give up on enjoying the act of driving.
The CX-5 has fewer reliability problems than most competitors, but it is not perfect. Early models had infotainment screens that delaminated, some 2.5-litre engines with cylinder deactivation burned oil, and the 2017 first-year refresh had teething issues. Here is what the years actually mean.
2013–2016 (first gen): The infotainment ghost
The first-generation CX-5 (2013–2016) is mechanically excellent. The 2.0-litre SkyActiv engine in the 2013–2015 base models is underpowered (155 horsepower) but durable. The 2.5-litre SkyActiv (184 hp) that became standard in 2016 is the one to get — it makes the CX-5 feel adequately quick instead of merely adequate.
The six-speed automatic is Mazda's own design, not a CVT, and it is one of the best conventional automatics in any mainstream car. It locks up early, shifts quickly, and does not hunt for gears. It is the opposite of a Nissan CVT — you will never think about it because it just works.
The problem with 2013–2016 CX-5s is the infotainment screen. The touchscreen develops what looks like spider-web cracks under the glass. It is not a crack in the glass — it is the anti-glare coating delaminating from the LCD panel. The screen still works, but it looks terrible, especially in sunlight. Mazda issued TSB 09-035/17 covering screen replacement for affected vehicles. The TSB is expired. A replacement screen from Mazda costs about $800 plus labour. There are aftermarket options for less. If the screen in a CX-5 you are looking at has been replaced under the TSB, you are fine. If not, negotiate the price down by the cost of replacement.
Rust on early CX-5s is less of a problem than on older Mazdas — the SkyActiv-era cars got much better corrosion protection — but still check the rear wheel arches and the bottom of the doors. Ontario cars that were not oil-sprayed will show rust here first.
Verdict: 2016 with the 2.5L is the one to buy from the first generation. Check the infotainment screen. The 2.0L is too slow — skip it unless the price is exceptional.
2017: The good car with the bad first year
The second-generation CX-5 launched for 2017 and immediately raised the bar for compact SUV interiors. The materials, the switchgear feel, the noise isolation — it felt like an Audi Q3 for Honda CR-V money. Mazda was making a deliberate push upmarket, and the 2017 CX-5 showed it.
But it was a first model year. The 2017 had issues: the power liftgate control module would fail and the gate would not open, the fuel filler door actuator would stick in cold weather, and some cars had wind noise from the driver's door seal that Mazda fixed with a revised seal in 2018. None of these are mechanical failures — the engine and transmission are the same proven units — but they are annoying enough to make you prefer a 2018.
Verdict: The 2017 is a good car with a few first-year gremlins. If the price is right and the liftgate works smoothly, it is fine. The 2018 is safer with fewer of these issues.
2018–2021: The sweet spot, with one asterisk
The 2018–2021 CX-5 is the one to buy. Mazda worked out the 2017 gremlins, the 2.5-litre turbo engine (GT and Signature trims) became available for 2019, and the interior kept improving. The 2.5T makes 250 horsepower on premium fuel (227 on regular) and 310 lb-ft of torque — it transforms the CX-5 from "nice to drive" to "genuinely quick." The turbo models get about 9 L/100 km combined, which is reasonable for the power.
The asterisk: the 2.5-litre naturally aspirated engine in 2018–2020 models with cylinder deactivation can burn oil. The cylinder deactivation system shuts down two cylinders under light load to save fuel. The problem is that when the deactivated cylinders come back online, the sudden temperature change can cause oil to seep past the rings. Mazda issued TSB 01-012/21 covering oil consumption testing and potential repair. Not all 2.5L engines with cylinder deactivation have the problem, but enough do that you should check.
How to check: ask the seller about oil consumption. If the response is "I never check the oil," assume it burns some. Check the oil level on the dipstick — if it is low, the car is using oil. Mazda's official threshold for "excessive" is 1 litre per 2,000 km, which is generous. Most owners would say 1 litre per 4,000 km is too much.
The 2.5L turbo does not have cylinder deactivation and does not have this problem. The turbo is the engine to get if you can stretch the budget.
Verdict: 2018–2021 2.5T GT or Signature is the best CX-5 you can buy used. The naturally aspirated 2.5L is fine if you check the oil consumption history. Avoid any CX-5 that has been burning oil without documentation of the TSB fix.
2022–2024: The polished version
The 2022 refresh brought a revised suspension, updated styling, and the CX-50 as a parallel model for buyers who wanted something more rugged-looking. The CX-5 itself benefited from continuous refinement — the ride quality is better than the 2017–2021 cars, the noise isolation is Lexus-quiet, and the infotainment finally got a widescreen display. Used 2022–2024 CX-5s are still expensive ($28,000–40,000) and mostly under factory warranty.
The short list
- Best cheap CX-5: 2016 2.5L GS. The last of the first gen, proven powertrain, $12,000–16,000.
- Best value overall: 2018–2019 2.5L GS or GT. Second-gen refinement, pre-oil-consumption fixes for most. $18,000–24,000.
- Best CX-5 period: 2019–2021 2.5T Signature. Turbo power, Nappa leather, real wood trim. $26,000–34,000.
- Do not buy: 2013–2015 2.0L — too slow. Any CX-5 with a delaminated infotainment screen and no replacement history. Any 2.5L with cylinder deactivation that has been burning oil.
The CX-5 is the crossover for people who actually like driving. The 2.5T is the one to hunt for. Browse our Mazda inventory or ask us to find a specific CX-5 for you.
