Road Test: 2023 Mazda CX-5 2.5 Turbo AWD
Compact Crossover with Turbo Pizzaz
Fun to drive. That’s a good place to start when summing-up the Mazda line-up of crossover/SUVs, its one remaining sedan and, of course, the delightful MX-5 Miata.
Clean Fleet Report spent a week recently in the 2023 CX-5 Turbo AWD and are pleased to say, even though Zoom-Zoom is no longer its marketing slogan, Mazda made sure this compact crossover continues the fun-to-drive heritage.
Turbo Option
The 2023 Mazda CX-5 has a base non-turbocharged Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 187 horsepower (hp) and 186 pound-feet of torque (lb.-ft.). Clean Fleet Report opted for the turbocharged version that uniquely offered either 227 hp and 310 lb.-ft. of torque when using 87 octane or 256 hp and 320 lb.-ft. of torque when pumping 91 octane. So, based on your budget and the need for more oomph, going for high-test could be worthwhile.
The CX-5, regardless of engine choice, comes with Mazda’s i-Active all-wheel drive (AWD), which uses instantaneous driving data to anticipate wheel slippage, improving traction in various conditions. The smooth shifting 6-speed automatic transmission, with paddle shifters, Sport and Off Road modes, was never at a loss to find the right gear.
The EPA rates the CX-5 2.5L Turbo AWD at 22 mpg city/27 highway/24 combined. In 450 miles driving through Southern California, we averaged 25.6 mpg, but a somewhat better 29 mpg on a 94-mile all-freeway run with the adaptive cruise control set at 65 mph. Fuel economy and performance numbers reported by Clean Fleet Report are non-scientific and represent the reviewer’s driving experience using the dash gauge computer. Your numbers may differ.
Hitting the Road
The 2.5L Turbo provides strong acceleration, with 0-to-60 times around 6.1 seconds, which was more than plenty for entering freeways and passing 18-wheelers. The car’s 3,856-pound weight was well-balanced, providing a solid, safe and confident feel. What engine noise is heard, when accelerating hard, has a sporty note to it. Otherwise, the cabin is quiet with little wind or tire noise.
The ride was smooth with agile handling, which is not surprising as it comes from the company that makes the fantastic handling MX-5 Miata. The list of suspension and chassis technology includes Toyo A36 all-season 225/55 tires on 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, independent front and rear suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars, a nicely weighted and adjusted electric power-assist steering, dynamic stability and traction control and the G-Vectoring Control Plus system. When cornering, the G-Vectoring Control Plus system adjusts engine torque to shift weight, increase steering response, and applies a bit of the anti-lock brakes to ease cornering.
Kodo: Soul of Motion Exterior Design
Design cues for the 2023 CX-5, which employ Mazda’s Kodo: Soul of Motion design theme, include a distinctive and attractive front end that has Mazda’s signature grille, which does not suffer from being overly large. A nice touch on the 2.5 Turbo grille are rows of black horizontal wings except for four of them, which are red. If opting for the top trim CX-5 2.5 Turbo Signature, the grille is bright chrome. With the narrow sleek LED headlights, daytime running lights and turn signals, the front end seems to be peering. The Adaptive LED Headlights automatically adjust to the driving conditions for safer night driving.
The long hood, laid-back windshield and short overhangs front and rear complete the sporty profile. The shark fin antenna, roof rails, integrated spoiler over the raked power lift gate and bright twin exhaust ports finish-off the rear along with LED tail lights. Painting the wheel arches the body color gives the CX-5 Turbo an upscale look.
The AWD opens the possibility to go off-roading, but with only 7.9 inches of ground clearance, the extra traction will mostly be called upon for sloppy on-road conditions. If you are planning to leave paved surfaces, take a look at the CX-50, which Mazda says is a “rugged and capable crossover SUV, purpose-built for active lifestyles.”
Clean Fleet Report’s CX-5 Turbo AWD was painted in an eye-catching Deep Crystal Blue Mica, which under certain light has a metallic flake sparkle. Other exterior colors, some with an added charge, include Soul Red Crystal Metallic, Sonic Silver Metallic, Machine Gray Metallic, Rhodium White, Jet Black Mica, and Eternal Blue Mica.
A Class Above Interior
Mazda set out a few years ago to reposition itself to be more upscale than its mainstream competitors, which aren’t considered premium brands. The CX-5 Turbo interior is simple with an all-black color scheme and aluminum accents, steering away from faux wood or carbon fiber. Mazda gives buyers four seat covering options with cloth on the 2.5 S model, leatherette on Select and Preferred, and leather as on our 2.5 Turbo. The Signature trim gets nappa leather.
The leather front seats are heated and ventilated, with the driver getting 8-way power (with lumbar and memory) and the passenger 6-way power adjustments. The seats, with height adjustable shoulder belts, were supportive and comfortable. Along with the adjustable heated, leather-covered steering wheel, which held the cruise control and audio controls, it made for a comfortable driver setting.
The rear passengers were treated to leather seats, with the outbound places heated. Reading lamps, air vents and a center foldable armrest with cup holders completed the picture. The cargo area is has 29.1 cubic feet of storage space, but increases to 58.1 cubic feet when the 60/40 rear seat is folded flat. The rear seat can be folded when loading through the power lift gate by using the handy releases in the cargo area.
The dash has a simple, clean, logical layout with plenty of soft touch materials. Three easy-to-read round gauges with black faces, white letters and a silver surround are part of a 7-inch multi-information display for the speedometer, odometer, average fuel economy and many other readings.
The 10.25 inch horizontal color display, standard on all CX-5 trim levels, is not a touchscreen. Rising from the dash it is home to navigation and the Bose premium audio system. With 10 speakers, the sound quality is excellent for the AM/FM/HD radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and anything connected to one of the four USB ports. The Mazda Connect system includes Bluetooth, voice recognition, Aha, Pandora and Stitcher radio integration.
You control the system through the Commander wheel located on the center console, or the controls on the steering wheel. We find the Mazda audio interface requires additional extra steps to accomplish tasks that on other vehicles are done much easier and simpler. Mazda says its system is safer to use than one with a touchscreen or channel preset buttons, and that we should “give it three weeks” for it to become easy-to-use. We are confident that for owners it quickly becomes a by-touch operation.
Convenience comes by way remote keyless door locks, push button start/stop, power windows, power sliding glass moonroof, rearview camera, carpeted floor mats, dual zone automatic heat and air conditioning, auto-dimming rear view mirror with Homelink, tilt and telescopic steering column, rain-sensing windshield wipers with a de-icer, folding power and heated side mirrors with turn indicators, remote release for the fuel door and hood and an electronic parking brake.
Safety
The 2023 Mazda CX-5 comes with standard safety features of four-wheel anti-lock brakes, eight airbags, driver attention alert, anti-theft engine immobilizer, hill launch assist, a tire pressure monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, lane keep assist and rear cross traffic alert.
In crash testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2023 CX-5 received five stars (its highest rating) for overall crash protection, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the CX-5 its highest rating of Top Safety Pick.
Pricing and Warranties
The 2023 Mazda CX-5 comes in eight trims. All prices include the mandatory delivery, processing and handling fee of $1,275.
2.5L Non-turbocharged
- S $27,975
- S Select $29,775
- S Preferred $30,865
- S Carbon Edition $31,775
- S Premium $33,675
- S Premium Plus $36,775
2.5L Turbocharged
- Turbo $38,125
- Turbo Signature $40,925
The 2023 CX-5 comes with these warranties:
- Powertrain – Five years/60,000 miles
- New Vehicle – Three years/36,000 miles
- Roadside Assistance – Three years/36,000 miles
Observations: 2023 Mazda CX-5 2.5L Turbo AWD
With eight trims and two engine choices, Mazda hopes there is a 2023 CX-5 to meet many buyers’ needs. Slowly, over the past few years, Mazda has been taking its brand upscale and into the near-premium category with improvements in exterior and interior design, interior material upgrades and engine options. Importantly, they have not lost any of the fun-to-drive DNA that comes with the Mazda name.
The front cabin comfortably seats two, with the rear capable of carrying three adults, two for longer trips. The rear cargo capacity is large enough for two but may be a tight squeeze for all the gear necessary for four. The suspension delivers a smoother and quieter ride than is expected in a compact crossover, and the handling, especially with the i-Active AWD system, makes it engaging to drive. If driven with efficiency in mind, long road trips can also see 30 miles per gallon.
Mazda designed the CX-5, its best-selling model in America, with couples, singles and families with small children in mind. There is more than a $10,000 jump in price from the base non-turbo model up to the turbo-equipped models, so test drive both to see which meets your driving needs.
The CX-50 may also be a consideration as it has a newer design on a newer platform, with a larger back seat and more cargo room. If a turbocharged engine is on your must-have list, note the base CX-5 turbo and the base CX-50 turbo are priced only a few hundred dollars apart.
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Story by John Faulkner. Photos by Mazda and John Faulkner.
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Disclosure:
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.
