Mazda CX-5: FAQs

The Mazda CX-5 is one of Australia’s most popular vehicles. The mid-size five-seat SUV has been on sale in Australia since early 2012 and is now well into its second generation.

The cost of maintaining a Mazda CX-5 depends to a certain extent how much you drive. That’s because it has service intervals of 10,000km or one year – whichever comes first.

While annual servicing is becoming the industry standard, the kilometre figure is short compared to many rivals as carsales pointed out here.

So, drive only 10,000km per year and you’re on par with other brands, but drive more than that and you will be going back to the dealer more often and therefore spending more money. Perhaps a significant amount, according to RedBook.

The last time carsales compared the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V was in September 2017, not long after both had gone through substantial overhauls.

On that occasion the Honda was the winner because it offered seven seats against five (still an advantage), a five-year warranty (now matched by Mazda) and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connection (ditto).

Underlining the impact of the original CX-5, the Mazda won medium SUV mega-tests in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The Honda CR-V was only present one year of the three in 2013.

The 2014 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring was also recently awarded carsales best used medium SUV for 2020.

Great question, especially considering there are now so many of them to choose from.

The entry-level Mazda SUV model is the compact Mazda CX-3, then comes the stylish new Mazda CX-30, popular Mazda CX-5, seven-seat Mazda CX-8 and flagship Mazda CX-9.

All Mazda SUVs should be considered as passenger hatches, wagons or people-movers with a raised ride height. Although Mazda has talked up its latest all-wheel drive system, they are not real off-roaders – especially those versions only equipped with front-wheel drive.

They are uniformly decent vehicles rated highly by carsales. The Mazda CX-3 and Mazda CX-30 are really for couples because of their tight back seat, the Mazda CX-5 is the affordable family choice and the Mazda CX-8 offers both petrol and diesel and front- and all-wheel drive options for big families.

The Mazda CX-9? Well, it won the 2016 carsales Car of the Year award and is the closest thing Mazda has to a luxury large car. In fact, the Azami model is the most expensive vehicle Mazda sells in Australia.

But back to the Mazda CX-5. It’s a huge seller for good reason: it’s the right size and right price for most people, is a decent drive and offers reliability and quality as well. So maybe not the best, but the best choice for many people.

As reported here, Mazda made small but significant changes to the Mazda CX-5 for 2021 to improve off-road traction.

It added a feature dubbed Off Road Traction Assist, which is basically an electronic rear diff lock that helps the all-wheel drive version of the Mazda CX-5 negotiate off-road obstacles.

It’s doesn’t transform the Mazda CX-5 into a Toyota LandCruiser rival but it does add that little bit of extra surety in mud, gravel, sand and snow.

For more info on Mazda’s i-ACTIV all-wheel drive system, check out this snow test of the CX-5 and other Mazda models here and here.

By the way, the Mazda CX-5 also works pretty well in the dirt. Check out carsales’ crossing of the Simpson Desert here.

Yes, like all Mazda models the Mazda CX-5 retains its value as a used buy. That’s because the CX-5 is built to high Japanese quality, is relatively simple and reliable and good to drive.

It’s an important reason the 2014 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring was awarded carsales best used medium SUV for 2020.