2025 Mazda CX-5

See, there are a few aspects where the Mazda CX-5 shines. While one of that has been its design language, the next one is its drive experience. In this segment we usually expect a very soft, and dull driving experience. 

All thanks to the CVT gearboxes and small engines to churn out more and more fuel efficiency. But the Mazda CX-5 does the exact opposite! You get a large 2.5-liter turbocharged engine for the higher spec models while the base ones come with the naturally aspirated version of the same. 

Both the turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-4 and the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-pot motors are mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Here are the numbers at a glance-

Engine	Naturally Aspirated 2.5-liter Inline-4	Turbocharged 2.5-liter Inline-4
Horsepower	187 hp	256 hp
Torque	186 lb-ft	320 lb-ft
Efficiency(Combined)	25 MPG	24 MPG

All-wheel-drive is standard across all the trim levels, and that makes the experience a lot better. We love the grip and planted feel of the 2025 Mazda CX-5. The suspension is very well tuned and it feels confident in every level of speed. 

Moreover, the steering wheel is somewhat, sweetly-heavy! It doesn’t feel like feathers, and offers decent feedback to your hand. And it weighs up nicely as you get up to speed.

For the stiffer suspension setup, the 2025 Mazda CX-5 surely feels a bit less soft than the likes of the Honda CR-V or the Hyundai Tucson. Although, not by a significant margin. 

We find it very confident and solid on the road, and the driving experience is very close to premium European luxury cars, especially like BMW or Audi!

Once you get inside the 2025 Mazda CX-5, you’ll find leather and soft touch materials all around. Even on the sidewall of the center console and the upper surface of the dash, everywhere you’ll find soft touch treatments. Consider the beautiful stitches as a bonus!

The seats are fairly comfortable and the steering wheel feels premium out and out! The 2025 CX-5 gets Dual-Zone Automatic climate control as standard, alongside heated seats. Ventilated seats are also available but in higher trim levels. 

Up above, you have a sleek 10.25-inch touchscreen display that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Plus, you get a wireless charger as well. 

In the top trim, Mazda offers a 10-speaker Bose sound system, in case you love high-quality music inside your car! 

At the back, the rear seats feel very plush! The legroom is decent but the headroom is impressive. What we don’t appreciate is the lack of thigh support. On longer journeys, that is something very important! 

And how can we ignore the lack of space when compared to its current rivals? As we mentioned earlier, the 2025 Mazda CX-5 is smaller in terms of length and wheelbase. Once you get inside after being in any other SUV of the segment, you’ll instantly realize the cramped feeling of the interior. 

Plus, the black interior makes it feel a bit more claustrophobic. Although you have options to spec it to lighter shades as well.

Other than that, the armrest is quite wide, and it houses the climate controls for the rear passengers including heated seats. 

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 also gets a power-liftgate where you can adjust the height to your requirements or restrictions. The cargo space is about 29.1 cubic feet, which is almost 25% less than its rivals like the Toyota RAV4 & Honda CR-V.

However, space, practicality, and soft suspension are available in almost all the other competitors in this segment, including the RAV4 or the Kia Sportage! But what most of them lack, is quality. 

Once you check out the 2025 CX-5, you’ll realize how better the quality can actually be in the same price range.

Mazda’s design language always feels as if it combines a timeless approach with an advanced and elegant vibe. The 2025 CX-5’s design is not an exception either. To be honest, the design language hasn’t been significantly changed in recent times. Plus, there are barely any changes for this year either. However, the CX-5 still stands out as one of the most beautiful SUVs in the segment. 

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 comes with standard LED headlamps and DRLs. The headlamp setup improves upon the trim levels, for example, the second base trim has an auto-leveling function while some higher trims get an adaptive function with the headlamps. 

Other than that, the front fascia comes with a big grille, and if you get the sportier trims then it will be painted in gloss black.

The side profile looks clean, but we love the alloy designs. Even in the base trim, you get a set of decent-looking alloy wheels and we definitely appreciate that. 

However, the length of the 2025 Mazda CX-5 is not very comparable to the competition. At 180.1-inches of length, it is lesser than most of it’s competitor, and same goes for the wheelbase. And that affects the spaciousness too when compared to the segment rivals. 

Apart from that, the rear also looks bold, with LED tail lamp, blinkers and reverse light. Furthermore, the dual exhaust setup makes it way better in terms of aesthetics. 

Overall, I agree that it is a bit small in terms of dimension, but when it comes to overall design, the 2025 Mazda CX-5 just stands out like a premium crossover!

See, the 2025 Mazda CX-5 is not an all-new product, nor is it the most efficient one. What it offers may not suit the masses. And that is probably why it’s not the best-selling SUV even if it is a reliable SUV decorated with rich and durable materials. 

However, the CX-5 is one of the most selling products of the Mazda lineup, so it’s a hit! And those who crave performance sleeping under the blanket of a family car will find it attractive. 

In the age of being driven by Autobots instead of driving and enjoying the drive experience, the 2025 Mazda CX-5 offers an old-school experience in a modern-luxury platter. 

If you are someone who loves driving, the 2025 Mazda CX-5 is definitely the one for you. But even if you’re finding a car for just commuting, make sure you check out the CX-5 at least once before you finalize. 

That way, you’ll either choose the 2025 CX-5 or have an idea of the quality scale a manufacturer can offer in this segment and what they’re offering!