Available with the 2.0L petrol engine with either a 6-speed manual or front-wheel drive automatic transmission or the 2.5L petrol 6-speed automatic with all-wheel drive, the base model CX-5 is still loaded with equipment, looks near identical to every other CX-5 grade and is a superb buy for those on a tighter budget.

However, we’d recommend looking further up the food chain for what we feel is the sweet spot of the range.

Standard features:

• 17-inch steel wheels
• Headlamps (LED)
• Power mirrors
• Black cloth seat trim
• 7-inch full colour touch screen display (MZD Connect)
• Digital radio (DAB+)
• Six speakers
• Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio capability
• Internet radio integration (Pandora, Stitcher and Aha)
• Multi-function commander control
• Advanced keyless push-button engine start
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Parking sensors (rear)
• Rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA)
• Reverse camera
• Smart City Brake Support
• Apple CarPlay & Android Auto (from 2019)
• 8.0-inch display (from 2020)
• Dusk-sensing LED headlights with automatic high-beam (from
• 2019)
• Rain-sensing wipers (from 2019)
• Autonomous emergency braking in forward and reverse (from 2019)
• Lane departure warning with lane-keep assist (from 2019)
• Adaptive cruise control with stop/go function (from 2019)
• Driver fatigue monitor (from 2019)
• 17-inch alloy wheels (from 2021)

The most popular CX-5 in terms of sales, the Maxx Sport offers not only extra equipment but the choice of either the 2.0L petrol engine with a front-wheel drive and a 6-speed automatic transmission and the 2.5L petrol engine with all-wheel drive and a 6-speed automatic transmission or the 2.2L diesel power plant again with all-wheel drive and a 6-speed automatic transmission.

If you’re buying a Maxx Sport, our pick is the 2.5L petrol engine variant.

Maxx Sport adds:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Front fog lamps (LED)
• Headlamps auto on/off
• Wipers (front) 2-speed with rain-sensing function
• Rear-view mirror with auto dimming function
• Dual-zone climate control
• Rear seats with centre armrest storage and USB input
• Satellite navigation
• Rear air vents
• Auto-dimming rear view mirror (2018)
• Paddle-shifters (2020)
• Off-Road Traction Assist (from 2020 for all AWD models)
• Rear vents (from 2021)

The sweet spot of the range when new, we’d recommend climbing the CX-5 line-up just a little further now the used market has compressed the pricing differences between trim models.

Available with either the 2.5L petrol or 2.2L diesel, both with all-wheel drive and a 6-speed automatic transmission, the Touring still offers exceptional value for money.

Touring adds:

• Body-coloured power mirrors with heating and auto folding
• Active driving display (flip-up)
• Black maztex with black suede seat trim
• Advanced keyless entry
• Parking sensors (front)
• Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
• Windscreen head-up display (from 2018)

Now the used market has compressed the price differences between the various trim levels, the GT is our pick for the sweet spot of the CX-5 range.

Loaded with equipment and offering all the creature comforts you’ll ever need plus superb value for money, the GT, like the Touring, is available with either the 2.5L petrol or 2.2L diesel, both with all-wheel drive and a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Our tip, stick with the petrol engine.

GT adds:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Adaptive front-lighting system
• Remote-operated power tailgate
• Power glass sunroof
• Power adjustable front seats with memory function and heating
• Active Driving Display (windscreen)
• Black leather or Pure White leather trim
• Premium Bose 10-speaker (including subwoofer) sound system
• Optional 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine (from 2019)
• 10.25-inch infotainment screen (from 2021)

The top-spec CX-5 Akera ends up somewhere between mainstream SUVs of a similar size and those wearing prestige badges. It may not carry the badge of a Benz or BMW, but can certainly embarrass those upmarket marques when it comes to the levels of standard equipment especially in terms of safety.

Akera adds:

• Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) with stop/go function
• Adaptive LED Headlamps (ALH)
• Driver Attention Alert (DAA)
• Lane departure warning (LDW)
• Lane-keep assist system (LAS)
• Side camera
• Smart Brake Support (SBS)
• 360-degree monitor (from 2018)
• Higher speed threshold on AEB (from 2018)
• 7.0-inch TFT driver’s information display (from 2019)
• Adaptive LED headlights (removes adaptive front light system, from 2019)
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror with frameless design (from 2019)
• Ventilated front seats (from 2019)
• Heated steering wheel (from 2019)
• Heated rear seats (from 2019)
• Wood trim inserts (from 2019)
• Nappa leather seat trim (from 2019)
• LED Ambient interior lighting (from 2019)
• Black headliner (from 2019)
• 19-inch alloys in ‘brilliant dark’ finish (from 2019)
• Unique overhead console (from 2019)