2024 Mazda CX-5

Mazda has a good thing going with its compact CX-5 SUV. The five-seater is the brand’s bestselling vehicle in the U.S., and it earned a Top Safety Pick award for 2023. For 2024, there’s a new Carbon Turbo trim and newly standard equipment across the lineup. According to Mazda, standard stop/start raises the base engine’s city and combined fuel economy ratings by 2 mpg — to 26 and 28, respectively; the vehicle gets a Mazda-estimated 31 mpg on the highway.

Trim Levels
All-wheel drive is standard across the CX-5 lineup. Standard safety features include adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind spot monitors with rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure steering assist, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection.

Mazda breaks the CX-5 lineup into two families: The 2.5 S trims are powered by a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 187 horsepower and 185 pounds-feet of torque. The 2.5 Turbo variants have a turbocharged 2.5-liter generating 256 hp and 320 pounds-feet on premium gas, or 227 and 310 on regular. Both engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The base CX-5 is the 2.5 S Select. In addition to the aforementioned safety equipment, it includes 17-inch aluminum wheels, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver seat and manual passenger seat, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and keyless entry and start. A 10.25-inch infotainment system has Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity and feeds a six-speaker sound system.

The 2.5 S Preferred adds real leather seating in black or tan, as well as a power-adjustable passenger seat, power liftgate and power moonroof.

Above that sits the 2.5 S Carbon Edition, which is available in an exclusive Polymetal Gray paint color and features black 19-inch wheels and exterior trim. Inside, buyers have a choice of black leather with red accent stitching or a full red interior. The Carbon Edition also gets a 10-speaker Bose audio system, which now comes with two USB-C ports up front.

The 2.5 S Premium adds three drive modes (Normal, Off-Road and Sport) that alter settings for the AWD system, transmission and stability control. The Premium also gets LED daytime running lights, adaptive headlights that turn with the steering wheel, and heated mirrors.

Opt for the 2.5 Premium Plus to get a head-up display, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel. For 2024, the Premium Plus features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and charging, as well.

The 2.5 Carbon Turbo CX-5 offers a color palette distinct even from that of the naturally aspirated Carbon trim both outside (Zircon Sand Metallic — tan — and Rhodium White) and inside. Where the 2.5 S Carbon offers a choice, the Carbon Turbo is upholstered in brown leather with black synthetic-suede inserts. Brown stitching on the doors, armrests and elsewhere add further pop to the interior.

The 2.5 Turbo Premium doesn’t just add a turbocharger to the 2.5 Premium. It also borrows some equipment from the 2.5 Premium Plus — namely the heated steering wheel and heated rear seats. It also features a gloss-black grille and automatic power-folding mirrors.

At the top of the line sits the 2.5 Turbo Signature, which is loaded with Nappa leather and real wood trim, ambient lighting and navigation. Silver 19-inch wheels and metallic exterior trim set it apart visually, and the Signature also includes front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera.