Used 2016 Mazda CX-5 SUV Consumer Reviews
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New Mazda Fan
rickypicky, 05/06/2015
2016 Mazda CX-5 Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 01/16 (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
36 of 38 people found this review helpful
Sold my 2015 Honda CR-Vibrator back to the dealer and purchased a new 2016 Mazda CX-5 Touring. So far, I love this car! Seating is much more comfortable than the CR-V. The engine has the right oomph for me. Really fun to drive. First tank of gas got around 30 MPG. Titanium Flash Mica (deep dark brown metallic) exterior with parchment interior is a great color combo.
After 30 Days
Keith Marshall, 04/20/2016
updated 04/23/2018
2016 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
35 of 37 people found this review helpful
I shopped around for a new car after owning a Toyota 4Runner for 15 years and my top choices were a BMW X1 or X3, Hyundai Tucson or Sante Fe Sport, Mazda CX-5, Volkswagon Tiguan and Nissan Rogue. I drove the CX-5 first in late 2015 and it was very nice, I didn't get it then because I didn't technically need a car so I kept my old 4Runner. However in March she finally gave out on me after 310k miles. My first choice was actually the Hyundai Tucson, the new style was excellent and I really enjoyed the look of the interior, CarPlay and the panoramic sunroof. Luckily the auto show was in town and I got a chance to sit and play in every model on my list except BMW. The Hyundai's were great but I am 6ft 5in tall and they lack sufficient headroom and for some reason it felt smaller inside, I think technically they are just 1 in smaller in width but it felt cramped, needless to say the headroom killed those cars for me. I priced a BMW but since I like to own my cars and I couldn't get a great deal with all the bells and whistles I decided to move on in addition to being concerned about long term reliability. The other models were either poorly designed or just didn't have the reliability I wanted. During the show I kept coming back to the Mazda and sitting in it, the display model was Pearl White Grand Touring and it just looked so elegant. I ended up going to test drive 1 more time the next day and fell in love. I simply marvel at how good the Pearl White GT package looks. It's aggressive, classy and just reminds me of a quality car, I've pulled up next to Lexus and Audi's and I don't see a significant difference in how good mine looks compared to theirs. The next part is the interior, I think Mazda really stands out here, I would say they took ques from BMW and Audi because they went with a simpler is better approach. The buttons are now trimmed with an aluminum looking accent and it just says class. The center console has killed the manual parking break and that created a smoother and more elegant centerstack. I love the Iconnect but it does takes some getting used to, sometimes I wish the logic was a little different but overall its pretty intuitive. Once I learn the voice commands which I haven't tried, I bet it's much better or easier but I am so used to using the command switch it's second nature now. I love the climate control system, it's a set it and forget it, no more adjusting the air flow direction, I just set it at 72 and I am on my way. I also love the leather padding on the bottom portion where your leg rest. Everything screams simple luxury. I am not a driving afficionado but I will say, this car is fun to drive. I have never cared about turning corners and the like, I guess having a 4Runner you don't think about those things. However when I got in this thing I really loved driving it and now I look forward to trips for no reason. I love taking corners and accelerating out of them and the engine really responds. The body roll is minimal and the ride is very nice and smooth but it's firm as well. The only negative I have to say about this car is that I got the light colored interior and it looks super classy but I can see how keeping that clean will be a beast. The rear cargo area isnt great, big enough to do what you need to do and the 40/20/40 rear seat looks versatile. Overall I love this car and I keep watching videos about this car on youtube even though I already have it, lol. I forgot to mention all of the tech, blind spot, lane departure, adaptive cruise control, all of these things are so awesome, I don't think any CSUV can compare to this car as a package. I totally love it. Maybe 1 negative is the rear window but with blind spot monitoring and most CSUVs having this issue, I don't think it's a show stopper. Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars. After over 1 year I can say I only have 2 major drawbacks and they are probably minor, the leathers seats get scuffed easily and that sucks, I am single so I don't have passengers much so the car is pretty much prestine but my seat has too many scuff marks. The other issue is the road noise, from my understanding the 2017 model has fixed this with more sound deadening insulation so it's probably not a problem on the new cars but a used one you have to deal with it. I have the 18 in low profile tires so that is also an issue and it might not be as bad with the standard tires vs GT. Other wise this car is great, I love walking up to it and it looks so freaking classy.
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Toyota Buyer turned Zoom Zoom convert
Kapsi, 10/05/2016
2016 Mazda CX-5 Touring 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
25 of 26 people found this review helpful
Come from a Toyota family - the one's who do not care much about driving and a car is an appliance to them. Test drove the CX-5 / Rogue and Tucson for 2016 models. Wife did the same. We felt the CX-5 was head and shoulders above the other two. Here are some important summary points: 1. Sport mode is very responsive, for a slight pedal pressure it will go, good for merging on highways and good for passing at higher speeds. 2. The suspension is stiff - a toyota mutes even the smallest bumps in road - not this one. And the suspension being stiff is great for handling / cornering. You get more confidence riding this. 3. Skyactive engine suffers mpg hit at higher speeds - This is true for many cars, check what speeds the EPA uses to estimate - if you always go 75mph category you may not get the rated EPA. But still this beats Rav4 / CRV on mpg. Only the Rogue is close but it has a CVT and handles like a Frankenstein. 4. Value for money is great - Mazda is no Toyota, for them to get customers they have to give more features. BSM / RCTA / Power seats at a sub 26,000 MSRP is much better value than Toyota for example. 5. Crash / Safety : Frequent member on CX-5 forums, some of the ones who have been in a car crash had rollovers and were able to get out of the car safely. They are all re-buying CX-5. Solidly built vehicle. We frequently get posts about 2015 users buying 2016 with their insurance money. 6. This has all the cargo you need, you may have that one occasion a year when you will miss the extra 5 cu.ft. of space in Rav4 or CRV but the daily driving experience will make up for it. 7. Real value is driving this on scenic highways through mountains and curvy roads - Scenic Hgwy 88 in Arkansas or something similar, it will put a smile on your face. This is a good gift for a dad / car driving enthusiast who wants a car - not an appliance which can also carry out the mundane tasks of commuting / kids to school etc.
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Surprising compliments on style
Joey, 02/13/2016
2016 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
15 of 15 people found this review helpful
This SUV is actually a sharp looking vehicle. But it was surely an adjustment for someone who has driven sports cars all of their life. Almost Everything about the car is awesome. Test drove Toyota, Buick, Honda and the handling is by far superior and the 8-level seat adjustment allowed this short lady to be comfortable and able to see the road clearly. Also Mazda was the only SUV to allow the seats to fold flat which was a big plus for me. But here are the downsides that I noticed. The tom-tom GPS sucks. It has gotten me lost five times and once in Chattanooga Tennessee. My portable five-year-old Garman GPS is more accurate than the TOM TOM. And voice command feature for the GPS gets it wrong routinely. The air-conditioner should have Vents for the second row seating. Living in Florida with the air on high in 95 degree heat gives minimal relief for rear passengers. Seat adjustment memory would be a nice feature for other drivers and me. The lumbar feature hits in the wrong place for short people. The sound system falls behind the other SUVs. I leased this vehicle and sadly at the end of my lease I will be looking for a different SUV solely because of the inaccurate GPS which has been updated three times. I travel a lot and cannot afford or waste time getting lost.
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Love my CX-5
Ellen Covella, 09/28/2016
updated 04/03/2019
2016 Mazda CX-5 Touring 4dr SUV w/Prod. End 01/16 (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
15 of 15 people found this review helpful
Coming down from both a large SUV and a LEXUS I find the CX-5 compatible. it's not fancy but has all the bells and whistles exactly where you need them. Instrumentation has everything layed out in a very simple format. The handling is exceptional and it's nice to have a car with real brakes again. The get up and go really is "zoom zoom". I find the seats and ride very comfortable though I would like more adjustments available on the drivers seat. Over time, the upholstery is a bit low end and I would prefer a more upgraded fabric. I also find that compared to Toyota, the dealer services are much more expensive for less.
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The fuel-efficient and modern SUV is here!
Jeremy, 11/09/2015
2016 Mazda CX-5 Sport 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 01/16 (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
I recently purchased the Sport version of the CX-5. I'm normally not the type of person who purchases new vehicles, instead preferring to wait a year or two and buying quality used. But after doing a lot of research on Mazda's Skyactiv engine technology, and then taking a test drive of the CX-5, I was sold. This vehicle oozes value. First off, it's worth noting that the biggest difference between the 2015 and 2016 versions of the CX-5 from a driving standpoint is the interior design. The 2016's new controls layout is incredibly intuitive. Like using an iPhone, or any other Apple product for that matter, it just makes sense, requiring no learning curve. The new display for 2016 is beautiful, and I find that I am looking for excuses to drive a little out of my way each day to spend more time in the vehicle. Once you use the control wheel on the center console the idea of using a touchscreen while driving will seem absurd and downright dangerous. Besides the interior design, all the other technology features work great, from keyless entry to the blind zone alert (an awesome feature). My vehicle doesn't have the technology package, so no adaptive cruise control, etc. It's fun to watch the tachometer while you accelerate the vehicle. Shifting is actually imperceptible, and it's interesting how quickly the transmission shifts, keeping engine RPMs very low. The transmission design and programming not only contributes to the amazing gas mileage (averaging 30+ city during break-in....expect this to go up), but there is also no engine noise inside the cabin. If I had to think of a complaint, it's that the base is so strong in the center channel Bose speaker that it makes the rearview mirror vibrate sometimes. The interior is very functional, but I think that most cars in this class are pretty similar with respect to cargo and seat space. I have the sand-colored interior, which looks great paired with the black exterior. Where the CX-5 really sets itself apart from its competition (beyond Skyactiv) is in the styling. This SUV is really a stand-out in the parking lot! The lines look beautiful from any angle, and the finishing details on the exterior are closer to a luxury vehicle than competitors in this class. One final thing to note is the CX-5's weight. The CX-5 is pretty light compared to some of its competitors. And it is the first SUV I've ever driven that has suspension dynamics of a car. The cornering is excellent. In my humble opinion, this car is a no-brainer. Buy a new CX-5 and keep it until Tesla makes an Model X priced for the masses. Gasoline vehicles aren't going to get better than this.
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Great Car!
phillyguy60, 03/28/2015
2016 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 01/16 (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
31 of 33 people found this review helpful
One month in to my purchase of the 2016 GT, Titanium Flash with Leather Parchment Interior. Nice combination. Overall, excellent car. I moved down in size from my 2004 Explorer, which I loved, so some of my comparisons are going to a smaller, but more responsive vehicle. It's the best handling vehicle I've ever owned. I waited until late Feb, hoping that the snow would be over, but LOL, here in NJ, it's still snowing at the end of March. This guy puts my Explorer to shame in the snow handling-wise. I always felt the Explorer (w/ on-demand 4WD) was slipping out from under me. Not so with this. Slightly "jiggly" ride on uneven surfaces.
You know that smiling grill Mazda has?
R.A. Freund, 02/23/2016
updated 08/30/2016
2016 Mazda CX-5 Sport 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
30 of 32 people found this review helpful
I’ve now got 8 months and 9600 miles on my CX-5. let me say I am very, very satisfied. loving it!., So let’s get down to it. The CX-5 (Grand Touring Tech) is everything the reviewers have said it was and everything Mazda advertised it to be. Quite, comfortable ride. Firm but not harsh and the handling… way better than I have the nerve to test. It is a pleasure to drive. The inside is simple, clean and ergonomic. Everything is easy ( almost – see nits) and it has a luxury interior that rivals my wife’s Volvo XC-60, a very comparable car in a different price stratosphere. Even at an equal price I’ll take the CX-5 over the XC-60 in nearly every category that matters. I shopped the CX-5 against the top rated in it’s price class: the Honda CR-V and the Ford Escape. I disqualified the CR-V for lack of blind spot indicators, a “must have”. Next was the Explorer. This was tough because honestly Ford has really nailed this. The price was spot on and it had an incredible ride with what seemed like a bit more power than the CX-5. But they really missed on the the styling. The rest of the Ford line up is much more stylish. The escape still looks like a fleet car to me. You know that smiling grill Mazda has? The CX-5 was closer to the look and the fun of the Mazda 3 a car I also own and passed along to my son. A month or two ago someone pulled up next to me and asked " does that come with a 6?" "really doesn't need it", I replied. You have to love the three driving options for the smooth 6 speed transmission. We’ll call them standard , Sport and manual. I use them all. Most of the time i use the standard mode. The manual shifting is great fun, it helps control speed on down hills, keeps a lid on your speed in slow zones or use it if you just want to have some fun. Which brings us to “Sport”. This mode sets the shift points up into the 3500 to 4000 rpm range, it is very aggressive. Zoom, Zoom! I use "sport" mostly for maneuvering in heavy unforgiving traffic or on very hilly back roads. Switching back and forth between modes is just so easy that it becomes an extension of the way you drive. And now for some Nits: New Car Smell is no joke. I got a head ache and falling down dizzy. I didn’t know why. I went the ER. Blood tests & Ct scans were negative. No one asked me if I had just picked a new car with 3 miles on it and drove it 300 miles in 2 days. How about asking, “Has anything in your environment changed?” Such is the state of our health care system. Once “I” figured it out I drove with the sun roof open in the tilt position for a few days and that was that. The center post is too big. The CX-5 is not alone with this problem but there it is. Be careful checking to your right making left turns. You can hide a tour bus over there. Even with the CX-5’s perfectly positioned controls changing the volume for the navigator requires 4 to 5 steps. I have solved the problem by just not using the navigation audio. The Navigator has a program that tells you when you are directing it to condo or private complex. It tells you that you are navigating to a location requiring "special permissions". You click "OK" and then.. . well.. I still haven't figured out how to get back to the regular navigation screen. This is especially bad because it is condos and private complexes that are the most difficult to navigate. It is so frustrating that when that happens I have to navigate with my smart phone and google maps.
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Traded again!
James Walker, 05/17/2016
updated 07/14/2020
2016 Mazda CX-5 Touring 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
I did so much internet research and watched so many online reviews of crossover SUV's that I was sick of looking. The Mazda CX-5 had mostly positive reviews, and after almost 3 months of owning mine, the biggest negative I can think of is wind noise at interstate speed. It is very annoying. Everything else is about what I expected after my exhaustive research. I will admit that the Mazda and Kia were the only ones I drove, but I do not enjoy the car buying ritual. I would consider the same vehicle again if I had it to do over, not sure I would purchase this one again though. Manual shifting of the automatic is backwards, and navigation system is somewhat of a nightmare. My initial review was better than my updated one due to the time of ownership and miles driven. The more I drive it, the less I enjoy it. Update to 9 months of ownership: still not what I expected when I bought it. The front seats are the most uncomfortable seats I have ever ridden in. Very little padding plus they are flat like a stadium seat. Can't get any co-operation from Mazda or dealership to do something to help this obvious factory design mistake. Probably going to get rid of it and take my losses. Update 7/11/2017. Seats still a major problem. Attempted to trade it for a 2017 with redesigned seats only to discover that the car had lost about $10,000 of it s value in one year!! Could not even make a trade with a Mazda dealership without giving mine away. Sickening. Lesson learned. UPDATE: January 2018. Traded for a 2017 CX-5 after all. Seats are 100% better, and it drives great. Happy with my purchase now. No longer comes with a cd player, however. Update 7/12/19. I have never had a car in my life that was "loaded" so I traded my 2017 Touring for a 2018 Grand Touring. Very nice car. I intend to keep this one! UPDATE: Traded again, this time for a 2020 Mazda 6. Wish I had bought a 6 to begin with. Grand Touring Reserve. Nicest car I have ever owned! And the turbo rocks!!
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Had it for 2 weeks and I love it
Research Nerd, 07/30/2015
updated 08/01/2016
2016 Mazda CX-5 Touring 4dr SUV w/Prod. End 01/16 (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
Nothing I don't like about my 2016 CX5. I drive in traffic a lot, so I like the blind spot monitor. The electronics are very nice. I like the 7 inch screen and the control nobs. Car handles like an expensive sports car. This is my first 4 cylinder in about 15 years and I love the acceleration. Car is built well, interior is great, nothing I would change about this car. I didn't get the technology package, b/c I'd heard it wasn't worth the extra money. Plus Google Maps is good enough for me. Fuel mileage is getting better. I have 1200 miles on this car and I'm averaging 31 mpg (I do mostly highway driving, but some city), so I'm happy I'm above the 29 mpg average. This is my first Mazda, but it certainly won't be my last.
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