The CX-5 is competitive in the small SUV class, with taut and agile handling and quick, well weighted steering. But we found the ride to be choppy and the car is loud, suffering from pronounced road and wind noise. Both the 2.0-liter and the much more responsive 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines returned a best-in-class 25 mpg overall in our tests. The 2.0 is slow at launch and requires prodding to keep up with traffic. The six-speed automatic is fairly smooth; a six-speed manual is available on FWD versions. The interior is roomy, versatile, and well put together, with straightforward controls, but some cheap touches are evident. First year reliability has been well above average.
A subscription to ConsumerReports.org includes Consumer Reports road test reports (based on over 50 different tests).
Mazda Blog Content
2014 Subaru Forester is the first small SUV to ace tough new crash test
The redesigned Subaru Forester is the only small SUV out of 13 tested to earn a top score of Good in the new small overlap crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Both the Forester and...
Safest, least expensive mom-friendly cars
Quality, safety, and value are the top factors for new-car buyers and are certainly not lost on moms looking to buy the right family car. Hitting all these attributes in a vehicle that is also kid friendly can be a...
Talking Cars: Our latest show covers Tesla, small SUVs, and a sideways track tour
Watch our automotive experts chat about new road test results and answer reader questions in the third episode of "Talking Cars with Consumer Reports." This podcast was recorded at our Connecticut Auto Test Center, within our always-busy photo building. Senior...
Best SUVs for third-row seating space
Automakers tout the size of their SUV's third-row seats claiming they are accessible and usable. And while SUVs are pitched as a hipper alternative to the minivan, they still can't rival the big people movers. We took a look at...
Coming soon: A wider variety of diesel-powered cars
Over the years, with Consumer Reports' extensive testing, we've found that diesel engines provide a significant fuel economy advantage, typically reducing consumption by 30 percent over a conventional engine in an equivalent model. We're encouraged, since at the New York...
