Your Used Mazda CX-5 Buyer’s Guide

If you’re looking for a used SUV that’s reliable, fun to drive, and designed with timeless style that still looks great today, the Mazda CX-5 is a great choice. This upscale compact SUV has been around for over a decade, and there are plenty of previous model years that are worth buying used.

Here at DePaula Auto Group, we’re proud to be your go-to place to find a used Mazda for sale. In this buyer’s guide, we’ll give you a rundown of what you can expect to see when looking for a pre-owned CX-5 and what you should keep an eye out for while you browse. We’re here to help you shop smart, so you can drive home in a car you truly love.

A Brief Overview of the Mazda CX-5

The CX-5 was introduced for the 2013 model year and was immediately praised for the way it blends the versatility and utility of a compact SUV with the handling, comfort, and style drivers expect from a Mazda. On top of that, the model has been known from the start to deliver good fuel economy. These benefits have remained as the CX-5 has continued to evolve in the years since.

Because the CX-5 is a well-rounded model, it can serve a wide range of drivers. Whether you’re looking for a family SUV, a commuter car, or a road trip wagon, this model is worth considering. While newer models have more advanced tech, from infotainment to safety, older models are more affordable and still have plenty to offer.

Model Years of the CX-5

When you’re looking for a used model, it’s good to have an idea of what different model years bring to the table. Let’s take a quick look at the different iterations of the CX-5 over the years.

First Generation: 2013 to 2016

The CX-5 started out strong with its first generation, offering agile handling, fuel economy ratings that are still considered efficient by today’s standards, and sleek style.

Of course, there are drawbacks to choosing any vehicle from this time period—there are plenty of tech features that are must-haves for many drivers these days that are either absent or reserved for higher trim levels on the first-generation CX-5. On the 2013 model, for example, you need to upgrade above the base trim to get a color display screen, a backup camera, and Bluetooth connectivity.

On the safety front, every model year in this generation was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), except for the 2013 model, which was merely a Top Safety Pick.

Major changes in this generation include:

• 2014 – More powerful engine added to the lineup, and automatic braking added as an available feature.
• 2015 – Keyless entry becomes standard on the Touring and Grand Touring trims.
• 2016 – New, larger infotainment display added and center console controls updated.

Second Generation: 2017-2025

The second generation wasn’t a complete overhaul of the SUV, since the platform continued to serve its purpose well, but it is more stylish and modern-looking. All models across this generation sport at least an infotainment system with a display screen, but stick to the 2021 model year and newer if you want standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

This generation continued to get good ratings from a variety of organizations run by industry experts:

• Every model year of the second generation has been named an Editors’ Choice pick by Car & Driver.
• The 2018-2021 models were also listed on the Car & Driver 10Best list.
• The 2017-2022 model years were named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.
• The 2023 and 2024 model years were named an IIHS Top Safety Pick.
• Every second-generation model has a 5-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Major changes in this generation include:

• 2018 – More driver assists are standard across the lineup, including a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert.
• 2019 – A new turbocharged engine is added to the lineup. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto become available features.
• 2020 – Even more driver assists are made standard on all trims, and design changes reduce road noise and vibration.
• 2021 – Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, connected services, and a large 10.25-inch display are now standard on all trims.
• 2022 – All-wheel drive becomes standard, and styling is refreshed inside and out.

What’s Under the Hood?

Looking at the first two generations of the CX-5, there are three different engines to choose from (Actually, there are four, but we’ll skip over the diesel option, which was only offered in small numbers for the 2019 model year). Let’s take a look at each one:

2.0L SKYACTIV-G I-4 (2013-2016)

This engine debuted as the sole powertrain of the CX-5, though it was quickly joined by a more powerful 2.5L version. With 155 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque, this engine is the slowest option in the lineup, so if you’re looking to get a little oomph on your joy rides, you’ll probably want to avoid it. If you’re not concerned with thrills, you can enjoy solid fuel economy: 28 MPG combined when paired with front-wheel drive or 27 MPG combined when paired with all-wheel drive.

Further, this is the only engine in the history of the CX-5 to be offered with a manual transmission, so if you want a stick shift, this is the engine to pick.

2.5L SKYACTIV-G I-4 (2014 – Present)

With up to 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque, depending on the model year, this engine has more kick than the original while still delivering solid fuel economy. During the 2014 and 2015 model years, it delivered an estimated 27 MPG combined—just under what the 2.0L engine is rated for.

By the 2016 model year, a retuning brought the figure up to 29 MPG combined. For the 2024 model year, this engine was made more efficient yet again, delivering 28 MPG combined with standard all-wheel drive. This well-balanced engine is going to be the best pick for most drivers.

2.5L SKYACTIV-G Turbocharged I-4 (2019-2025)

If you want maximum power, the turbocharged engine for the CX-5 is the way to go. With up to 256 horsepower and 320 lb-ft torque, this option can deliver some serious power so you can accelerate quickly and make sure that getting there is more than half the fun.

Trim Levels

Each model year of the CX-5 is available in a variety of trim levels. These changed significantly from year to year and include so many specifics that we’re not going to cover them in depth here, but we will take a quick look.

From the 2017 to 2021 model years, you could see any or all of these trims, listed here starting with the most basic and climbing up to the most luxurious:

• Sport
• Touring
• Carbon Edition
• Grand Touring
• Carbon Edition Turbo
• Grand Touring Reserve
• Signature

For the 2022 model year, the trim levels were revised. Here is the new list, also in order for your convenience:

• 2.5 S
• 2.5 S Select
• 2.5 S Preferred
• 2.5 S Carbon Edition
• 2.5 S Premium
• 2.5 S Premium Plus
• 2.5 S Turbo Premium
• 2.5 S Turbo Signature

Find Your Used CX-5 With DePaula Auto Group

Now that you have an idea of what to look for, it’s time to start browsing. That’s easy to do here on the DePaula Auto Group website. You can search for used CX-5 models across all of our dealerships and use simple filters to narrow things down based on your preferences. If you have any questions, give us a call or drop by for a visit. We can’t wait to help you find the CX-5 of your dreams.