The Mk2 CX-5 is a slick, premium alternative to German SUVs – and yours from just £6000
Mazda has sold more than five million CX-5s since its plush family crossover was launched in 2012 – and more than 100,000 of those went to UK buyers, the vast majority being the second-gen car that came here in 2017.
This right-sized SUV has in fact accounted for 25% of Mazda sales. It’s a car that does almost everything well, being comfortable, pleasant to drive, luxurious and economical-and now it has value on its side, with used examples starting at £6000. And what if we told you it might even be a better all-rounder than the third-gen CX-5, which has just arrived?
The Mk2 CX-5 is really a heavy facelift of the Mk1, but it came with some useful improvements that make it well worth the extra cost.
Its MX-5-influenced ‘Kodo’ design still looks sporty and modern, with sharp creases that are especially eye-catching in Soul Red; a 2023 facelift added distinctive LED headlights and fashionable flat paint finishes.
Inside, the CX-5 is the measure of contemporary German rivals. The material quality, from seat trim to switchgear, is to be appreciated, while the ergonomics and driving position are spot on.
The standard 7.0in infotainment set-up from earlier cars looks a little dated now, but the 10.25in version fitted from 2019 is more comparable to those found in a new equivalent – with the advantage that it can be operated via a satisfyingly clicky rotary dial, like in an old BMW.
In terms of practicality, a long wheelbase makes the CX-5 as roomy as a Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Tiguan, and it’s got a relatively high ceiling so even tall adults will be fine in the back. Plus there’s a two-step reclining mechanism that allows the seatbacks to be canted, trading some boot space for extra rear-seat comfort. With 506 litres of boot capacity up to the beltline, a usefully flat floor and individually folding rear seats, you can take bulky loads without ditching the back seats entirely.
With everyone and the kitchen sink on board, the CX-5 continues to impress. It’s an enjoyable thing to thread down a B-road, thanks to direct, chatty steering and a capable chassis with good body control in corners, plus a fantastic manual gearchange should you wish. It is also surprisingly cosseting on the motorway, with well-suppressed wind noise and suspension that settles down to minimise fidgeting and vibrations. Only the slightly lumpy low-speed ride is a disappointment.
Petrols outnumber diesels on the used market, but an oil-burner is probably the one you want for family-hauling duties. While smooth, both the 163bhp 2.0-litre and 191bhp 2.5-litre petrols are thirstier than hybridised rivals: expect 40mpg from the front-wheel-drive 2.0-litre and 35mpg from the four-wheel-drive 2.5.
Out of town, the naturally aspirated petrols can also feel a bit gutless in a family-size SUV, so the 2.2-litre diesel is far nicer to drive. The 148bhp front-wheel-drive version is torquey and good for 55mpg on a longer run, while the 181bhp four-wheel-drive version will give more like 50mpg.
Crossovers of this ilk are so often bought with the head, but the CX-5 is one of those rare examples that appeals to the heart, too. It’s not quite an MX-5 on stilts, but it is impressive for blending hatchback-like driving dynamics with stylish looks, a cosseting interior, decent running costs and useful practicality credentials.
What we said then
28 June 2017: “This CX-5 is great to look at, better to sit in, good to drive, cost-effective to run and brilliantly sized. It comfortably eclipses the bulk of a running order that previously outranked it, and in doing so it provides buyers with arguably the most compelling mainstream alternative to the segment’s current benchmark.”
An owner’s view
Sergei Pokrovskii: “I had heard about the problems with the 2.2-litre diesel engine in the first-generation CX-5, so I stretched my budget to an early second-generation Sport Nav. I’m pleased I did because the interior is far nicer – the white leather trim in my car looks and feels particularly upmarket. I haven’t had any problems 50,000 miles in, and I’m consistently getting more than 50mpg.”
Buyer beware
Engine: Historically troublesome 2.2-litre diesel engine was mostly sorted out by the time it found its way into the Mk2 CX-5, but it still has a tendency to suffer costly diesel particulate filter problems if driven exclusively in town or on very short journeys.
Vehicle Excise Duty: Most CX-5s will be £200 per year to tax, but the flagship Takumi diesels and 2.5-litre petrols will be £620 until they hit five years old, when it will reduce to £200 annually.
Infotainment: It’s a very intuitive system to use, but the rotary dial might take some getting used to. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were added in 2019.
Gearbox: Both manual and automatic transmissions are mechanically reliable, but the latter can be sluggish and will knock off as much as 5mpg. It was standard on the 2.5-litre petrol but optional on other models.
Electrics: Mostly holding up well, but watch out for phantom bugs such as the electric door mirrors not working or continually folding in and out. Mirrors have also been known to work themselves loose.
Air conditioning: Check the air-con blows cold – sensors, stuck buttons and dodgy coils can stop the system working properly.
Also worth knowing
In 2018 the high-powered diesel went from 173bhp to 181bhp, then in 2023 the petrols were boosted with mild-hybrid assistance without a noticeable change in fuel consumption.
Trims ranged from SE-L to GT Sport Nav, with SE-L Nav, Sport and Sport Nav in between. All had lots of kit, but Sport and above give a real premium feel.
In 2023 the range was restructured to Centre-Line, Newground, Exclusive-Line, Homura and Takumi – Homura being the sporty-looking one while Takumi is more blinged-up.
Reasonable insurance groupings (14-27) should help to keep running costs down.
How much to spend
£6000-£9999: Higher-mileage (80k-plus) early cars, mostly low-spec diesels.
£10,000-£14,999: Later, higher-spec models with a choice of powertrains, including the rare 2.5-litre petrol.
£15,000-£19,999: 2023 facelifts with a more modern exterior and better-insulated interior.
£20,000-£39,999: Late, low-mileage CX-5s, with the last cars still unregistered on dealer lots.
One we found
Mazda CX-5 2.2 Centre-Line, 2023, 57,000 miles, £15,990: You don’t get leather seats or big wheels with base-level Centre-Line trim, but it’s significantly cheaper on the used market. This one has a full Mazda service history and six months left on the manufacturer’s warranty.
