2018 Mazda CX-5 review

2018 Mazda CX-5 Review: 

The Mazda CX-5 is a two-row SUV that's a lot of fun to drive and has a more premium interior than many of its rivals. It's not quite a luxury car, but it features high-quality materials throughout the SUV, setting it apart from the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5. Blind-spot monitoring became a standard feature for the CX-5 in 2018, but it's otherwise unchanged after debuting a new generation in 2017. 

And while you can almost certainly get a good deal on a 2018 CX-5, this model year will start to feel dated to modern car shoppers. There is no Apple CarPlay® or Android Auto™, and many desirable driver aids are only available on higher trims or through special packages. This is still one of the most fun-to-drive SUVs you can find, but know that you're sacrificing some modernity to get it.

• Technology

• Comfort

• Cargo and storage

• Ease of use

• Driving

What tech does the 2018 Mazda CX-5 have?

Connectivity

There is not much in the way of good news here. Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ do not become available until the 2019 model year and the standard eight-inch screen is primarily operated by a rotary dial that can be cumbersome. And then there are the driver aids: Very few are standard, and even if your CX-5 comes equipped with them, Edmunds' editors haven't been all that impressed with their functionality.

Infotainment

The standard eight-inch screen displays information just fine. It is primarily controlled by a rotary dial that has a love-it-or-hate-it quality, so we really recommend you get behind the wheel of a CX-5 to see if it's right for you.

Driver Assist Tech

The CX-5 does not come with many driver aids as standard features, but most of them are available features. The bad news is that the tech doesn't always work great. Lane-keeping assistance was disappointing in Edmunds' testing and adaptive cruise was slow to react. It's still better to have the systems than not, but they symbolize the CX-5's dated nature.

How comfortable is the 2018 Mazda CX-5? 

Front Seating

The front seats are shaped nicely for comfort on long drives for most drivers. Edmunds' testing found the bottom cushion to be on the short side for taller drivers and the seat can feel confining on the sides for larger passengers. 

Rear Seating

Legroom and headroom aren't quite as generous as on some rivals due to the CX-5's sporty, sloped roof. The bench seating is also a bit flat, which can negatively affect comfort on long drives. On the plus side, the rear seatback adjusts.

Ride Quality and Interior Noise

The CX-5 is a lot of fun to drive, especially when turning. But as a result, its suspension is stiffer than that of some of its rivals. Wind and tire noise aren't much of a problem except at highway speeds, and even then, you won't need to raise your voice to talk to passengers. 

Does the 2018 Mazda CX-5 have good storage?

Cargo 

You get 29.1 cubic feet of storage space behind the second row of the CX-5 (a standard grocery bag is 1 cubic foot). That's near the bottom of the pile of compact SUVs. The floor sits higher off the ground than competitors like the Honda CR-V, making it a little more challenging to load it up. 

Storage

Small-item storage in the CX-5 is just fine. The door pockets up front are wide enough for a large water bottle, which isn't a given in compact SUVs. There are also a few decent pockets and bins to put keys, cellphones, and wallets. It's not the best out there, but it's also not the worst. 

How easy is the 2018 Mazda CX-5 to use?

Entry, Exit, and Car Seats

Getting in and out of the CX-5 is relatively easy, especially up front. That's less true in the second row, where the doors open more narrowly. That also affects car seat installation, especially if you're trying to get a larger car seat into the second row. Lower anchors are also shoved between cushions and can be tough to access. 

Interior Layout and Visibility

You'll find lots of physical buttons and knobs to control just about everything in the CX-5. There's a bit of a learning curve to figure out where all the buttons are, but they're easy to access once you get used to the layout. 

What’s the 2018 Mazda CX-5 like to drive?

Driving

The sole engine available for the 2018 CX-5 is: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder. It's peppy for a compact SUV, but if you want more power, the turbocharged engine introduced in 2019 really sets the CX-5 apart.

It's not just the engine that helps the CX-5 stand apart, though. Handling is a big part of the CX-5's appeal, making sharp turns and lane changes a piece of cake. You don't need to fly around mountain roads at high speeds to appreciate the CX-5 in this area; even making tight turns in parking lots feels easier in the Mazda. 

Towing

The CX-5 can tow up to 2,000 pounds when properly equipped,

Fuel Economy/Electric Efficiency

All that performance comes at the cost of some fuel economy. It's not terrible by any means, and Edmunds testing revealed the EPA estimate of 29 mpg with the non-turbo engine is achievable. It's a bit more challenging when you're behind the wheel of the turbocharged engine. 

EPA Fuel Economy Estimates