What’s New for the 2025 Mazda CX-5?

Mazda’s CX-5 is a compact SUV that aims to deliver a more premium cabin and a sportier driving experience than many mainstream competitors, and it’s a favorite among shoppers looking for a compact SUV while trying to have a little bit of driving fun. With standard all-wheel drive and an optional turbocharged engine, the CX-5 enters the 2025 model year with minimal updates.

Related: Mazda Drops Prices on 2025 CX-5, 2.5 S Trim Now Below $30,000

What’s New for 2025?

How minimal are those updates? First, the base 2.5 S trim returns for 2025 with a starting price just under $30,000. To keep the lineup at eight choices, Mazda eliminated the mid-level 2.5 S Premium trim. Other than that, there are now two USB-C ports for those in the front seats. That’s it.

Trim Levels and Pricing

All prices below include a $1,420 destination fee, with price changes from 2024 in parentheses.

• 2.5 S: $29,990 (New for 2025)
• 2.5 S Select: $31,320 ($600 increase)
• 2.5 S Preferred: $32,670 ($600 increase)
• 2.5 S Carbon Edition: $34,020 ($650 increase)
• 2.5 S Premium Plus: $36,620 ($1,300 decrease)
• 2.5 Carbon Turbo: $38,420 (No change)
• 2.5 Turbo Premium: $39,220 (No change)
• 2.5 Turbo Signature: $42,020 (No change)

The 2.5 S Carbon Edition is available exclusively in a Polymetal Gray paint color; the 2.5 Carbon Turbo is available in either Zircon Sand Metallic (tan) for $450 or Rhodium White Metallic for $595. The base 2.5 S is only available in Deep Crystal Blue Mica, Jet Black Mica, Platinum Quartz Metallic or Rhodium White Metallic ($595). All other trims add Machine Gray Metallic and Soul Red Metallic as $595 options.

Powertrain Specs and MPG

CX-5s without “turbo” in their name are powered by a normally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 187 horsepower and 186 pounds-feet of torque. Turbocharged variants are more powerful, making a maximum of 256 hp and 320 pounds-feet when using premium gas, and 227 hp and 310 pounds-feet on regular. All CX-5s have standard AWD and a six-speed automatic transmission.

Fuel economy is best in the base 2.5 S, at an EPA-estimated 26/30/28 mpg city/highway/combined. Better-equipped versions with the non-turbo engine are rated at 23/29/25 mpg, and the turbocharged trims are the least fuel-efficient at 22/27/24 mpg.

Tech Features

All 2025 CX-5s include a standard 10.25-inch central display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity; when using those features, the display has touchscreen functionality. For all other functions, there is a console-mounted knob controller. In the Carbon Edition and above, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto function wirelessly and wireless device charging is included, as well. Built-in navigation is available on the 2.5 S Premium Plus and above (and standard on some higher trims).

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Mazda includes lots of standard safety tech in the 2025 CX-5, including forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure steering assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rain-sensing wipers and a rear-seat reminder.

In the 2.5 S Premium Plus and above, the safety suite adds front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, a head-up display, adaptive headlights and more. At the Turbo Premium level, Mazda adds traffic-jam assist, and the Turbo Signature trim includes automatic rear emergency braking and a driver attention monitor.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety last gave the CX-5 a Top Safety Pick award for the 2024 model, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2025 model a five-star overall rating in its crash tests.

We last performed a Car Seat Check with a 2021 CX-5; we found it had easy-to-use Latch anchors, but we had issues with front-passenger legroom with certain child-safety seats installed in the backseat.

Should You Buy a 2024 or 2025 Mazda CX-5?

With such minimal changes, affordability and availability will likely be the determining factors when deciding between a 2024 or 2025 CX-5. Updates are so minimal that lower trims of the 2024 model may be worth exploring to save slightly compared to corresponding 2025 trims — with the exception of the returning 2.5 S, which is now the most affordable CX-5. That’s if you can find a 2024 CX-5, however: There are only 886 new 2024 CX-5s listed on Cars.com as of this writing — and only 25% of those are turbocharged, so it’s good news for shoppers that 2025 turbocharged CX-5 prices are unchanged.

Cars.com editors enjoy the CX-5’s driving experience and commitment to driver engagement and enjoyment, but the in-car tech leaves a lot to be desired. While Mazda has enabled touchscreen functionality for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the screen itself is difficult to reach — especially while driving — and the alternative knob controller is a clumsy way to navigate features meant to be touch-activated. The controller is also distracting to use in its own right. That’s definitely something to try before you buy.

More From Cars.com:

• IIHS Reports Improvements in Seat Belt Reminders
• Study: These Small SUVs Do Great Job of Keeping You From Backing Into Stuff
• 2021 Mazda CX-5 Review: A Decent Compact SUV With Deal-Breaking Tech
• Research the 2025 Mazda CX-5
• Shop for a New 2025 Mazda CX-5 Near You

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