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    2023 Mazda CX-5

    Used from

    $33,100 excl. on-roads

    8.1

    CarExpert Rating

    Safety Rating

    5

    Warranty

    5 years

    Fuel Efficiency

    6 - 8.2 L / 100km

    About the Mazda CX-5

    Last updated Dec 18, 2024

    The Mazda CX-5 is a mid-sized SUV stalwart. It's consistently a top seller in its segment, and goes head-to-head with strong competition such as the Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage.

    Four engines are offered, along with a choice between front- and all-wheel drive.

    Pros

    • Fun to drive
    • Comfortable ride
    • Attractive, well-made interior

    Cons

    • Some rivals have more space
    • Rivals have more technology
    • Infotainment options are compromised

    See Mazda CX-5 models from other years

    Mazda CX-5 News

    2023 Mazda CX-5 Price

    *excl. on-roads

    2023 Mazda CX-5 Specs

    See our comprehensive details for the Mazda CX-5

    See all 2023 Mazda CX-5 Specs

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    2023 Mazda CX-5 Dimensions

    1675mm
    1845mm
    4575mm

    The dimensions shown above are for the base model.

    See all 2023 Mazda CX-5 Dimensions

    2023 Mazda CX-5 Boot Space

    Boot space is a claimed 438 litres with the rear seats in place, and 1340L with the 40/20/20 folding rear bench sitting flat.

    2023 Mazda CX-5 Exterior

    Base models ride on 17-inch alloy wheels, and feature automatic LED headlights. Moving through the range brings bigger wheels, and the option of models such as the Touring with its body-colour mirrors, or the Touring Active and its more off-road focused look.

    The GT SP is designed to look sporty with 19-inch black alloy wheels, while the range-topping Akera features a more luxurious design.

    View 3 images

    2023 Mazda CX-5 Interior

    An update to the CX-5 at the start of 2022 brought about new interior options designed to better differentiate the models throughout the range. The cabin technology, however, remains the same.

    The CX-5’s interior is refreshingly simple in layout and finished with attractive, tactile materials.

    There are lovely knurled dials, elegant stitching details on the dash, doors and console, and soft-touch plastics on the top half of the dash and doors.

    It’s almost European in execution, especially the rotary dial for the infotainment system – shades of BMW – and the smaller dial next to it for volume, reminiscent of an Audi. Subtle metal-look highlights, including around the air vents, shifter, and switchgear, help to break up the black-on-black trim.

    The sides of the centre console are finished in padded leatherette, which is a thoughtful touch. Red stitching details can also be found here. If you want a breezier interior, the GT offers white upholstery.

    The new 10.25-inch Mazda Connect system is a big improvement over the 8.0-inch MZD Connect system found in lesser CX-5 models. The only downside is the lack of touchscreen functionality which means using smartphone mirroring can be a bit clunky, for example if you’re using Google Maps.

    The seats are comfortable, though they could stand to be a touch wider. While the CX-5 isn’t quite as commodious as a Toyota RAV4 in the back, there’s still ample headroom and legroom. The front seatbacks are soft, and there are map pockets and air vents for rear passengers.

    Those rear seats split and fold 40:20:40, which is handy when carrying long items but multiple passengers. If you’re carrying babies instead of bean poles, there are three top-tether anchor points for child seats plus ISOFIX anchor points for the two outboard seats.

    Like the back seat, the boot is a touch smaller than some rivals. Cargo space measures 442L up to the cargo cover, expanding to 1342L (measured to the roof) with the second row folded flat.

    2023 Mazda CX-5 Safety Rating

    All versions of the Mazda CX-5 wear a five-star ANCAP safety ratingbased on testing carried out in 2017.

    The CX-5 scored 95 per cent for adult occupant protection, 80 per cent for child occupant protection, 78 per cent for pedestrian protection, and 59 per cent for safety assist.

    Dual frontal, side chest and side head (curtain) airbags are standard across the range, as are:

    • Autonomous emergency braking (Forward/Reverse) with pedestrian detection (Forward)
    • Blind-spot monitoring
    • Rear cross-traffic alert
    • Lane departure warning
    • Lane-keep assist
    • Driver attention alert
    • Auto high-beam
    • Adaptive cruise control with stop/go (stop/go auto only)
    • Rear parking sensors
    • Tyre pressure monitoring

    2023 Mazda CX-5 Fuel Economy

    Combined fuel economy in the CX-5 with a 2.0-litre petrol engine is 6.9 litres per 100km. Moving to the 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol ups that figure to 7.4 litres per 100km with all-wheel drive.

    Opting for the turbo petrol ups fuel use to 8.2L/100km, while the diesel uses as little as 5.7L/100km on the combined cycle.

    All versions are fitted with idle stop/start technology, and all petrol versions are designed to run on 91 RON regular unleaded.

    Mazda CX-5Fuel TypeCombined
    2.5L, 6 sp automatic Unleaded 4x4 5d SuvUnleaded7.4 L/100km
    2.5L, 6 sp automatic Unleaded FWD 5d SuvUnleaded7.2 L/100km
    See all Mazda CX-5 Fuel Economy

    Cost of ownership

    What are the running and servicing costs of a Mazda CX-5?

    Mazda backs its range with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of roadside assist.

    Service intervals and prices for the updated CX-5 haven’t been revealed, but they’re unlikely to have changed from those of the pre-update model which required maintenance every 12 months or 10,000km.

    Five years of capped-price servicing in the pre-update model cost a combined $1805.

    How does the 2023 Mazda CX-5 drive?

    Our expert take on Mazda CX-5 drivability.

    The CX-5 remains arguably one of the dynamic benchmark in the mid-sized SUV segment, and it shines brightest with the turbo-petrol engine.

    This mid-sized SUV fun to drive on a twisty road, something that can’t be said for a vast number of its rivals. Steering is precise, well-weighted and communicative, and there's plenty of grip.

    The six-speed automatic might be down a gear or two on some rivals but it shifts smoothly and quickly, even in spirited driving. There’s really little point in flicking it to Sport mode or using the paddle shifters.

    Ah, but how does it fare in your daily commute? Quite well. The ride is a touch firm but it’s never uncomfortable, and bumps are dispatched with a well-damped poise even riding on the bigger wheel options.

    Out on a country road, the LED headlights provide excellent illumination and the Adaptive Front Lighting System is a splendid companion on a winding mountain road.

    The automatic stop/start system isn’t as intrusive as Volkswagen’s, and you have to depress the brake pedal quite firmly to activate it. Likewise, the lane-keep assist isn’t constantly making its presence felt, though that also means its overall performance is average.

    You can switch it off via a button on the dash, though it defaults to on.

    2023 Mazda CX-5 Colours

    What colours are available for the Mazda CX-5

    The 2023 Mazda CX-5 is available in the following exterior paint colours:

    • Soul Red Crystal metallic
    • Eternal Blue mica
    • Deep Crystal Blue mica
    • Jet Black mica
    • Rhodium White metallic
    • Sonic Silver metallic
    • Zircon Sand metallic
    • Machine Grey metallic
    • Polymetal Grey metallic

    2023 Mazda CX-5 Warranty

    Mazda backs its range with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of roadside assist.

    Service intervals for 2023 CX-5 models with petrol engines have been increased to 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.

    Service intervals for CX-5 models with the 2.2-litre twin-turbo diesel remain at 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first.

    Five years of capped-price servicing in the pre-update model cost a combined $1805.

    2023 Mazda CX-5 vs other SUVs to consider

    The CX-5 is one of the more style-oriented mid-sized SUVs on the market. It's fun to drive, and still offers enough space for the average family inside, but it's a bit tighter in the rear than a RAV4 or Subaru Forester.

    The RAV4 is unique in offering a hybrid option, although it can't match the luxurious feel of the CX-5 at the top end of the range.

    New to the class are the 2022 Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, which can't match the Mazda when it comes to driving fun but counter with spacious cabins and thoroughly modern infotainment screens.

    Should you buy the 2023 Mazda CX-5

    Is this the right car for you? Out experts buy or not guide.

    We’ve all heard it before. A person wants something a little sporty to drive, but their partner wants a practical SUV. Or perhaps they’re a couple on the same page about needing an SUV but both want something with a little more poke.

    Unfortunately, many vehicles in this segment are merely poky. That’s where the Mazda CX-5 stands tall, with one of the most powerful engines in the mainstream mid-sized SUV segment, and sharp handling.

    While the interior isn’t the roomiest in the segment, it’s a comfortable place to sit and has a high-quality look and feel.

    Mazda CX-5 FAQs

    The cheapest Mazda CX-5 is the MAXX (FWD) that starts from $33,100.

    The most expensive Mazda CX-5 is the G35 AKERA TURBO (AWD) that starts from $52,600.

    The best towing capacity of a Mazda CX-5 is 1800 kg offered by the following variants: MAXX (FWD), G20 MAXX (FWD), MAXX SPORT (AWD), MAXX SPORT (FWD), G25 MAXX SPORT (FWD), G25 MAXX SPORT (AWD), TOURING ACTIVE (AWD), TOURING (AWD), G25 TOURING (AWD), GT SP (AWD), G25 GT SP (AWD), AKERA (AWD), GT SP TURBO (AWD), G25 AKERA (AWD), AKERA TURBO (AWD), G35 GT SP TURBO (AWD) and G35 AKERA TURBO (AWD).

    The largest Mazda CX-5 is the MAXX (FWD) which measures 1840mm wide, 4550mm in length and sits 1675mm tall.

    The most powerful Mazda CX-5 is the GT SP TURBO (AWD) which has 170kW of power from its 2.5L TURBO DIRECT F/INJ engine.

    The Mazda CX-5 is built in Japan and shipped to Australia.

    The heaviest Mazda CX-5 is the TOURING ACTIVE (AWD) which weighs 2215 kg (kerb weight).

    The Mazda CX-5 may use different fuel/energy types based on the variant which includes Diesel or Unleaded Petrol.