Used Mazda CX-5 cars for sale

Used Mazda CX-5 pros and cons

Is a used Mazda CX-5 a good car?

The Mazda CX-5 is a car that appears almost ageless — it’s like the Paul Rudd of SUVs. It helps that Mazda has carefully evolved the styling over two generations since 2012 (here we’re talking about the second-generation model, which was first introduced in 2017) and also that the CX-5 has been gently updated every couple of years, helping it to stay fresh. 

On the outside, it’s just as handsome as Paul Rudd too, with slim headlights and a big grille. Mazda hasn’t changed the exterior much since 2017, other than offering some new paint options, so if you buy an older one and put it on a personal number plate, people might think you have a brand new car. 

The interior is also smart, although it perhaps doesn’t look as sleek as some others and can look quite plain in a dark colour. There are comfortable, supportive front seats though, and lots of soft-touch materials, plus neat air vents which smartly line up across the dash.

On top of the dashboard, the 2022 update also brought along a 10.3-inch infotainment system. The menu layout and graphics aren’t as slick to look at as some others, but it’s easy enough to use and you can use it as a touchscreen, or use the handy little control wheel down by the gear lever, which is much better when you’re on the move. There’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto too. 

The back seats look more plain than the fronts, but there’s enough space for tall passengers to get comfy. The CX-5 is bigger and roomier than, say, a Nissan Qashqai, but if you need the ultimate in SUV space, consider a Skoda Kodiaq instead. 

Again, in the boot, the CX-5 must give way to the massive Skoda. The Mazda can haul 506 litres of stuff up to the luggage cover, but the Kodiaq (even the old model) beats that by more than 200 litres. The Mazda’s back seats do split in three to fold though, and there’s 1,620 litres of space, and a flat floor, if you fold everything down. Higher-spec models also came with an electric bootlid. 

There’s a choice of a 2.0-litre petrol engine, a 2.5-litre petrol, and a 2.2-litre diesel with two power outputs. In the most recent round of updates, that smaller petrol engine was uprated to 165hp, while the 2.5-litre has 194hp (uprated from an earlier 184hp version). The 2.2-litre diesel was originally available in 150hp form, but more recently it’s only come as a 184hp engine.

The 2.0-litre petrol can manage a creditable 40mpg in the real world, whereas the more powerful — and very smooth — 2.5-litre engine will only do around 30-35mpg at best. If you’re a regular long-haul driver, the diesel will do much better, at close to or just over 50mpg. The 2.0-litre petrol is only available with front-wheel drive, but the 2.5 and the diesel can be had with four-wheel drive. A manual six-speed gearbox is standard on the basic models, while a six-speed automatic is optional, and standard on the 2.5. The manual has such a sweet shift action that you’d only go for the auto if you have to. Both the 2.5 petrol and the diesel can tow a maximum 2,000kg if you need to. 

Basic models come with 17-inch alloy wheels, but everything else rides on 19-inch rims. The CX-5 is actually quite sporty and satisfying to drive, but that does mean that it’s a little more bouncy around town than the likes of the Kodiaq or the VW Tiguan. The Mazda is much more fun to drive than either of those, though. Impressively, the CX-5 scored Volvo-like safety ratings when it was tested by Euro NCAP back in 2017, and Mazda has kept the car’s safety systems up to date since then.

The Mazda CX-5 is a stylish, sporty, and safe alternative to the mainstream SUV choices, and it comes with Mazda’s enviable reputation for reliability too, so it’s an ideal used SUV purchase.

What to look for when buying a used Mazda CX-5

Mazda’s reliability reputation means that the CX-5 is in good stead here, and the only commonly reported issues are a fiddly sat-nav system that sometimes refuses to recognise postcodes, and issues with the cabin heater taking ages to warm up on a cold day. 

The CX-5 finished seventh in the Driver Power survey’s Top 50 Cars To Own list, with owners rating the car’s reliability very highly indeed. Mazda also finished seventh, as a brand, out of 32, with 25% of owners reporting an issue with their cars. 

Mazda CX-5 FAQs