Used Mazda CX-5 2012-2017 review

The first-generation Mazda CX-5 was a large SUV and was perfect for those who found the family SUV-sized Nissan Qashqai a fraction too small and the BMW X3, another large SUV, too expensive. However, this car is actually far better than the halfway house such a description implies, and it now makes for a really good-value used buy for those after something both good to drive and reliable.

The CX-5 was different from its rivals in that it was available only with a 2.0-litre petrol or 2.2-litre diesel engine, rather than a raft of downsized turbocharged petrol units, smaller diesels or hybrid engines. The petrol version had 163bhp and was available with front-wheel drive and a manual gearbox, while the diesel had 148bhp or 173bhp and the option of four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox.

At launch, the CX-5 was offered in SE L and Sport trims, both of which were well equipped. The SE L features dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control and 17in alloy wheels. Sport models add 19in wheels, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, a reversing camera and a more powerful Bose stereo. SE L Nav and Sport Nav models are available with sat-nav included, while SE L Lux models were introduced in 2013 and included a sunroof and heated leather seats.

The petrol engine needs quite a few revs to get going, but the diesels have loads of pulling power that, combined with precise steering, minimal body roll and lots of grip, makes for an SUV that is surprisingly entertaining to drive. That it manages all this without resorting to a very stiff suspension setup that can ruin a car's the ride is impressive. That said, we’d still recommend sticking with the SE L on its 17in wheels, rather than the Sport on 19in rims, for comfort reasons. Whichever CX-5 you choose, though, our biggest complaint is that there’s rather a lot of wind and tyre noise.

Unsurprisingly, because it was cheaper to buy than premium-badged SUVs of the same size, the CX-5 doesn't feel quite as plush inside. The dashboard design, for example, majors on clear, easy-to-operate controls rather than anything that looks too flashy. It's pretty painless to live with, and the fact that the infotainment screen can be operated via a rotary controller down by the gearlever makes it very easy to use on the move.

There's more room in the CX-5 than in the Qashqai. The boot, for example, will easily hold enough luggage for a family camping holiday, while the rear seats are just wide enough for three people to sit abreast. Head and leg room for all occupants are excellent.

As you’d hope in a family-friendly SUV, safety standards are excellent. In fact, the CX-5 was among the earliest mainstream cars to feature automatic emergency braking as standard across the range. It also outperformed the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 for occupant protection in Euro NCAP’s crash tests and achieved a maximum five-star overall safety score.

In early 2014, Mazda revised the CX-5’s suspension settings to improve ride comfort and reduce road noise, followed in 2015 by a facelift that resulted in improved equipment levels across the range. This included a larger, 7.0in infotainment screen that replaced the 5.8in system and more safety kit, such as the option of blindspot monitoring.

The first-generation CX-5 was replaced by the second-generation model in 2017.

If you're interested in buying a used Mazda CX-5, or any of the other cars mentioned here, check out our used car classifieds site here.

Used Mazda CX-5s start at £6000, for which you’ll be able to buy an early car with lots of miles on the clock. While the majority of CX-5s sold were diesels, it's possible to find examples with the 2.0-litre petrol engine, with little difference in price compared with an equivalent diesel.

Early cars that have covered less than 100,000 miles can be picked up for around £7000, while a four-wheel-drive diesel automatic starts from around £8000 (albeit with a six-figure mileage).

For a CX-5 with the 2014 suspension upgrades, you’re looking at £10,000 and upwards for a car that’s covered an average of 12,000 miles per year, while facelifted cars with the larger touchscreen and a similar annual mileage cost from £11,000. Later cars, that were produced not long before the second-generation model was introduced, come in at around £11,000 to £15,000.

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If you're interested in buying a used Mazda CX-5, or any of the other cars mentioned here, check out our used car classifieds site here.

MPG

Opt for a petrol CX-5 and you should see fuel economy close to the 47.1mpg combined figure, which isn't far from the four-wheel-drive diesel automatic at 51.4mpg. A front-wheel-drive diesel, meanwhile, has the best overall figure at 61.4mpg. All these figures were from the NEDC tests that were prevalent at the time.

CO2 emissions

One of the principles of Mazda’s Skyactiv engine technology is to minimise CO2 emissions. This, in turn, means a low annual tax bill; the 148bhp diesel comes in at only 119g/km. The more powerful petrol engine emits 139g/km, while the four-wheel-drive diesel model with the automatic gearbox produces the most CO2 at 144g/km.

Road tax

Road tax for all models registered before 1 April 2017 will vary depending on the CO2 emissions the engine produces (see above for more information), while examples registered after this date will have the same flat-rate fee – currently £155 per year for all petrol and diesel vehicles. To find out more about the current road tax costs, click here.

Servicing

Servicing is required every 12 months or 12,500 miles and Mazda offers fixed-price maintenance; this will give you a price menu of how much common maintenance operations such as changing the brake discs or pads are, and you can then use this to compare prices with independent garages in your area. Mazda also offers extended servicing plans to cater for different ownership and usage requirements, and the CX-5 should be about average for the class in terms of servicing costs.

There are no timing belts to worry about, while another advantage of the Skyactiv tech is that the diesel engine doesn’t require any kind of NOx treatment system to meet Euro 6 emissions standards. For used car buyers, that’s one less potentially expensive thing that could go wrong.

Insurance groups

The 2.0-litre petrol should be the cheapest to insure since it is in group 15, while the 148bhp 2.2-litre diesel is in 18. The most expensive will be the more powerful diesel option in Sport Nav four-wheel-drive form because that is in group 21.

Engine

As far as engines go, the 2.2-litre diesel in 148bhp tune suits the car well, is cheap to tax and is available with two or four-wheel drive, making it the obvious choice. If you prefer a petrol engine, the good news is that the CX-5 is one of the more economical options around.

Specification

We don't see much need in going beyond the regular SE L Nav model, because it comes with all the equipment you'd want and has a more supple ride than some of the higher trim levels such as Sport, which come with larger wheels.

Our favourite Mazda CX-5 2.2 Skyactiv-D 150 SE L Nav

The Nissan Qashqai may not be as spacious as the Mazda CX-5, but nor is it as expensive. Throw in the fact that it's good to drive, very quiet and doesn’t cost much to run and it's arguably the CX-5’s closest rival, with the related Renault Kadjar not far behind.

Other options worth considering include the Ford Kuga for something that is more fun to drive, the Honda CR-V if space and a versatile interior are your priorities and the Kia Sportage if you value a long warranty over driving enjoyment.

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If you're interested in buying a used Mazda CX-5, or any of the other cars mentioned here, check out our used car classifieds site here.