Which Mazda CX-5 Is the One for You?

If you’re interested in a compact crossover SUV, then you can’t go wrong with a stylish and sporty option like the Mazda CX-5. As your Seattle Mazda dealer, we’re incredibly pleased to be able to offer the CX-5 and the rest of Mazda’s lineup of impressive cars and SUVs for you to choose from, giving you a fantastic selection of options available. Speaking of options, the CX-5 is available with a tremendous range of features at numerous trim levels, which can make it difficult to look at everything it has and pick the right one to meet your needs. In fact, Mazda offers eight different trim levels for the CX-5 to provide you with a huge selection of options. Let’s take a look at each one to see what they feature and discover which one is right for you.

The 2.5 S

To kick things off, we have the starting trim: the Mazda CX-5 2.5 S, which gives us the standard features for this model. We find a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine here that provides 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, which comes paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. You get Mazda’s i-Activ All-Wheel Drive standard on all CX-5 models, including this one, plus it has 17-inch wheels, dual-exhaust outlets, and LED headlights. This starting trim looks gorgeous, and you have four different exterior colors available, including Jet Black and Soul Red Crystal Metallic.

Inside the 2.5 S trim, you’ll find two rows of seats for up to five passengers, with a six-way manually-adjustable driver’s seat and four-way front-passenger seat. The starting trim has black cloth seating, with a leather-wrapped gear selector and steering wheel, plus remote keyless entry, push-button start, and standard air conditioning. You get a gorgeous 10.25-inch full-color infotainment display, standard, with a four-speaker sound system and a 4.6-inch Multi-Information Display in the instrument cluster.

The 2.5 S Select

Moving up to the 2.5 S Select trim, you’ll find a lot of the same features and performance, though it does have a number of upgrades. For example, you get rear privacy glass on the S Select along with several additional exterior color options like Sonic Silver Metallic and Deep Crystal Blue. Inside, this trim comes with a six-way power driver’s seat and six-way manual front-passenger seat, plus heated front seats with leatherette seating in either black or beige. You get a six-speaker sound system in the 2.5 S Select and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air conditioning vents to ensure all of your passengers are comfortable.

The 2.5 S Preferred

From the outside, the 2.5 S Preferred is much like the Select, with the same performance, exterior features, and color choices. Once you move inside, however, you’ll find a number of key differences and upgrades for this trim. For example, with the 2.5 S Preferred, you get a power sliding glass moonroof with one-touch-open functionality, which looks stunning and makes for a very enjoyable driving experience. This trim has an eight-way power driver’s seat with two-position memory, which makes it easier to share your vehicle with another driver, a six-way power front-passenger seat, and leather-trimmed seats—you can choose between black and parchment leather upholstery.

The 2.5 S Carbon Edition

You can think of the Carbon Edition as more of a special version of the CX-5 rather than a full trim in terms of differences and upgrades from previous options, but it’s still worth mentioning. In general, the Carbon Edition is identical to the S Preferred in the majority of ways: you get the same performance, overall design, and fantastic features throughout. There are a few important distinctions, however, starting with the fact that the Carbon Edition comes with 19-inch wheels, a unique black grille, a black signature wing, and an exclusive Polymetal Gray Metallic exterior color. Inside, the Carbon Edition has many of the same features as the S Preferred, though it is available with a black or red leather interior, and it comes with exclusive red stitching details and black interior and door panel trim.

The 2.5 S Premium

The 2.5 S Premium continues the trend of small upgrades over previous trims, which lets you get exactly what you want without missing something or going overboard. In terms of performance, the S Premium introduces Mazda Intelligent Drive Select with both Sport and Off-Road modes, which gives you greater control over how your CX-5 handles in different conditions. You can tell you’re looking at the Premium trim from the outside due to LED daytime running lights, LED combination taillights, and Adaptive Front-Lighting. Plus, it has 19-inch wheels like the Carbon Edition. Inside, the Premium boosts your driving experience with paddle shifters on the steering wheel, along with a seven-inch LCD meter display in the instrument panel.

The 2.5 S Premium Plus

If you like the performance of the standard engine in the CX-5 but you want the nicest experience possible, then this is the trim to look at. The Premium Plus expands on what was previously offered with refined details like automatic power-folding side mirrors and a rear power liftgate with programmable height adjustment. Inside is where it really earns its “Plus” thanks to additions like heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Plus also features a Bose ten-speaker surround sound system with Centerpoint, along with a Windshield-projected Active Driving Display that provides you with additional information on the windshield while driving.

The 2.5 Turbo

Rather than simply providing you with a nicer interior or more exterior features, moving up to the 2.5 Turbo trim enhances the performance of the Mazda CX-5. You get a turbocharged engine in this model that delivers 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque, giving you a tremendous amount of power and making this crossover incredibly fun to drive. To go along with this boosted performance, the Turbo also features a unique front grille with a Gloss Black finish, plus additional Gloss Black details along the exterior. Inside, you’ll find a wireless phone charger, though it’s otherwise much like the Premium Plus.

The 2.5 Turbo Signature

This is essentially the ultimate version of the Mazda CX-5, and it represents everything you could possibly want on this crossover. In terms of performance, it’s essentially the same as the other Turbo model; from the outside, you’ll find a number of differences between them. For example, where the standard Turbo has Gloss Black exterior details, the Turbo Signature features a front grille with a Bright Silver finish, a bright signature wing, and numerous body-color details.

You’ll also find a number of key differences once you look inside the Turbo Signature trim, starting with a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror and LED lighting. This model comes with Caturra Brown Nappa leather-trimmed seats, with a black cloth headliner and genuine layered wood trim for added sophistication. The Nappa leather interior is unique for the Turbo Signature, plus you get a Mazda Navigation system and a traffic sign recognition system.

Find the Mazda CX-5 With Everything You Want

As you can see, the differences between trims can be pretty minor in some cases, but they can also have a big impact on your overall driving experience. Keeping track of all of the factors that make each trim distinct from another isn’t always easy, which is why it helps to have someone by your side to assist with keeping everything sorted. Here at Lee Johnson Mazda of Seattle, we pride ourselves on offering the best customer service around by helping people find the perfect vehicle with everything they’ve been looking for. Call or come visit us to learn more, and we’ll help you get a Mazda CX-5 with the performance and technology you want.