2023 Mazda CX-5

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 will be offered in a total of 8 trim levels, with the base S trim carrying a price tag of $27,975. The crossover gets AWD as standard, along with a standard six-speed automatic transmission as well. The base model provides features such as a height-adjustable steering wheel, LED headlamps with automatic high-beam control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and automatic rain-sensing wipers, among other features. The Select trim gets the driver a power-adjustable seat with heating and the front passenger a height-adjustable seat with heating as well. Apart from that, two-zone automatic climate control is standard, along with faux leather upholstery with faux suede inserts.

Likewise, as you go on climbing the trim levels, the SUV goes on getting additional creature comfort and convenience features such as a power-operated liftgate, sunroof, black-and-red leather upholstery, steering-sensitive adaptive headlamps, and heating and ventilation for the front and rear seats along with the steering wheel. The Turbo trim gets the turbocharged motor along with trim-specific cosmetic upgrades, all the features of the previous trim levels, and a wireless charging pad. The Turbo Signature finishes the long lineup of trim levels with features such as wooden interior trims, LED cabin lighting, inbuilt navigation, and premium leather upholstery.

Other than practicality, fuel economy has been the USP of a majority of the compact crossovers in the market, and the Mazda CX-5 doesn’t disappoint here. The 2023 CX-5 has mpg ratings of 24 mpg in the city and 30 mpg out on the highways with its base motor under its hood. The combined gas mileage is rated at 26 mpg. With a fuel tank capacity of 15.3 gallons, the crossover has some commendable driving range numbers to offer.

The Honda CR-V has been one of the most fuel-efficient crossovers in the segment, and it continues to do so with the latest model as well. It has a city mileage rating of 28mpg and overwhelming highway mileage of 34mpg. With its small 14-gallon gas tank, the CR-V offers close to 400 miles of city driving range. The Hyundai Tucson also fares better than the Mazda CX-5 with its 26mpg of city mileage and 33mpg of highway mileage ratings. The Subaru Forester has identical EPA ratings to the Tucson but its sizable 16.6-gallon fuel tank beats almost every other rival in the segment in terms of driving range.

On the inside, Mazda has kept the CX-5 as driver-oriented as possible to justify its athletic handling. All the controls are well within the reach of the driver, and the front seats get an elevated seating position along with narrow pillars to improve all-round visibility at all times. The front seats are comfortable and offer commendable support, and the driver’s seat gets standard height adjustability right from the base trim onwards.

The rear seats are sculpted, making them tigernier than average, while the tight legroom takes things southwards. The base trim gets cloth upholstery, while creature comfort features such as premium leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient cabin lighting, heated and ventilated front seats, and power adjustments gradually start appearing as you move up the trim ladder. The CX 5 cargo space is disappointing at 20.9 cu-ft when compared to its rivals.

The Honda CR-V has one of the most practical and robust cabins out there, but you’ll find plenty of exposed hard-plastic surfaces inside the cabin. Irrespective of that, the CR-V offers excellent headroom and legroom for both the front and rear passengers, with a cavernous cargo capacity of 39.2 cu-ft. The Hyundai Tucson’s cabin looks way more premium than the cabins offered by its rivals here and doesn’t compromise on space either. The cargo capacity on offer is excellent too, at 38.7 cu-ft. The Subaru Forester gets an aged yet comfy cabin with lots of space on offer for the passengers. However, it falls slightly short in terms of cargo capacity.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 will get a well-equipped infotainment system as standard. The system will offer a big 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display placed atop the dashboard. In the features department, the system will offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, along with other features such as Mazda Connected services, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi hotspots, and HD Radio. Optional features include a premium 10-speaker Bose audio setup, a couple of rear USB ports, navigation, and satellite radio.

Some of the key interior features available with the 2023 Mazda CX-5 include:

• Two-zone automatic climate control
• Premium leather upholstery
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Power-adjustable front seats
• Driver’s seat memory settings
• Black headliner
• 10-25-inch touchscreen display
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto 
• Bluetooth
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Wireless device charging pad

The exterior design of the 2023 Mazda CX-5 is sure to attract eyeballs almost everywhere it goes, like most other recent vehicles from the brand. At the front, the big grille and the sleek headlamps give the CX-5 its necessary aggressive yet sporty appeal, while there aren't many cuts and creases on the front bumper. The side profile of the CX-5 remains fluid and simple, with a couple of sculpted character lines flowing in a subtle manner across the doors.

From the rear, the design looks as sporty as the SUV's front end, while the overall design makes the vehicle more compact than most of its rivals in the segment. The 2023 Mazda CX-5 dimensions make it appear smaller than the competition. As a result, Mazda launched the CX-50 to compete better with its bigger rivals. On paper, too, it is shorter in length than its rivals, which translates to less legroom.

The Honda CR-V tries to look like a bigger crossover than it actually is and its front-end design makes the crossover look sportier as well. From the sides, the CR-V gets a combo of big and small curves around the fenders that makes it look wider than the CX-5. The Hyundai Tucson gets the latest design from the brand, and its front-end design makes it look futuristic.

Despite the design upgrade, its 7.1-inch ground clearance makes it a city cruiser at the best. The Subaru Forester is the only wagon-style crossover on the market right now and its design has already been feeling dated for quite some time now. However, its towering ground clearance of 8.7 inches makes it a perfect getaway vehicle for adventure lovers.

Some of the 2023 Mazda CX-5 colors are: 

• Soul Red Crystal Metallic
• Rhodium White Metallic
• Machine Gray Metallic
• Eternal Blue Mica
• Jet Black Mica
• Sonic Silver Metallic
• Deep Crystal Blue Mica
• Polymetal Gray Metallic

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 received an overall five-star safety rating from the NHTSA. Also, the IIHS has awarded it the 2023 Top Safety Pick award. As a result, the CX-5 is a compact crossover with a high safety quotient. Apart from the basic safety techs, the CX-5 gets some ADAS techs as standard right from the base trim, which are forward collision mitigation, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control.

Some of the standout safety features of the CX-5 2023 include:

• Adaptive cruise control 
• Lane departure mitigation
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert
• Forward collision mitigation
• 360-degree camera system
• Parking sensors 
• Rear automatic braking

2023 Mazda CX-5 vs 2022 Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V gives the Mazda CX-5 a tough time when it comes to practicality and comfort. Inside the cabin, the CR-V is much more spacious than the CX-5 and offers a cavernous cargo capacity too. In terms of fuel economy too, the CR-V takes several steps ahead of the CX-5 as well. However, the CX-5 still impresses with its driver-oriented yet simple cabin, sporty handling, and smooth yet aggressive exterior design.

2023 Mazda CX-5 vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The Hyundai Tucson has been a great player in the segment since its launch but with every upgrade, it improved a lot as well. The latest upgrade of the crossover brought a futuristic design at a similar price point when compared to its rivals and it boasts a premium cabin as well that scores big on space. However, it still doesn’t entice in terms of fuel economy and performance and is at par with the rivals at the best.

2023 Mazda CX-5 vs 2022 Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is an aging but trusted crossover in the class that boasts the only wagon-style body in the class as well. Despite having a dated and bland cabin, the comfort levels are still excellent and the safety aspect of the vehicle still holds strong as well. Moreover, it gets the most practical AWD layout in its class and beats a majority of the rivals by a great margin with its overwhelming driving range figures.

If you consider driving alone with one co-passenger at the most, the Mazda CX-5 might be your soulmate. It doesn’t compromise much on anything apart from the rear seat legroom and the ride quality. It offers an exemplary suite of safety features with top-notch safety scores, a wide range of trim levels to choose from, and a handsome amount of features for the price with the trim level you choose to go ahead with. Overall, it makes a great value-for-money crossover, especially with the standard AWD system and the striking exterior design.