Item: Used Mazda CX-5 2012-2017
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/used-review/n804">Nissan Qashqai</a>&nbsp;may not be as spacious as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mazda">Mazda</a>&nbsp;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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/kadjar/hatchback/used-review/n802">Renault Kadjar</a>&nbsp;not far behind.

Other options worth considering include the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/kuga/4x4/used-review/n895">Ford Kuga</a>&nbsp;for something that is more fun to drive, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/cr-v/estate/used-review/n790">Honda CR-V</a>&nbsp;if space and a versatile interior are your priorities and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/used-review/n429">Kia Sportage</a>&nbsp;if you value a long warranty over driving enjoyment.

<a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here</a>

If you're interested in buying a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/mazda/cx-5?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Mazda CX-5</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, check out our used car classifieds site <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">here.</a>&nbsp;

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<h3>Boot struts</h3>

Mazda issued a recall&nbsp;for boot struts that could fail due to water ingress. This affected CX-5s built from the start of production up to 26 December&nbsp;2015. You can find out whether your car has had this work carried out by contacting your local Mazda dealership.

<h3 dir="ltr">Vacuum pump</h3>

The vacuum pump that works as part of the braking system could wear out on examples made from&nbsp;26 January 2012 to&nbsp;21 January 2016&nbsp;and could result in reduced braking assistance. If your Mazda CX-5&nbsp;is affected by this, it will need to have a new pump fitted.

<h3 dir="ltr">Stalling engine</h3>

A software issue&nbsp;with the fuel injection system on examples built from 26 January 2012 to 21 January 2016 could result in the engine stalling.&nbsp;Speak to a Mazda dealer for further information, because you will need to go to have the software updated in order to prevent future issues.

<h3 dir="ltr">Soot build-up</h3>

A soot build-up in the intake shutter valve in the engine could cause problems on models made from 26 January 2012 to 30 June 2018. Contact a Mazda dealer to find out if this applies to your car, because the valve will need to be cleaned out and a software update performed to prevent this from occurring again.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Fuel injectors</h3>

The fuel injectors on some examples that were made between 26 January 2012 and 21 January 2016 might not have been tightened down correctly. Any&nbsp;Mazda dealer will be able to tell you if your car is affected by this and will check the tightness of the injectors for you if it is.&nbsp;

The first-generation CX-5 didn't feature in our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, however, in the latest one it did appear in, it finished 19th out of 23&nbsp;other large&nbsp;SUVs; that&nbsp;isn't as good as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/kuga/4x4/used-review/n895">Ford Kuga</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/cr-v/estate/used-review/n790">Honda CR-V</a>. The latest second-generation model finished in second place with a petrol engine and eighth place with a diesel engine.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mazda">Mazda</a>&nbsp;as a brand finished in 8th place out of 30&nbsp;manufacturers, which is impressive.

If you'd like to see the full reliability list, head to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey-brands/n23418">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>&nbsp;pages for more information.

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Estate

Mazda can be summed up in a single word: bold. Not only do its cars generally look like nothing else on the market, but it’s also invested heavily in innovative engine technology.

So, while many car makers have moved to smaller turbocharged engines, Mazda instead offers larger motors that are still efficient. For example, the entry-level petrol option in the Mazda 3 is a 2.0-litre unit –&nbsp;far larger than what you’ll find in most rivals – but it remains very clean.

Highlights of Mazda’s line-up include the MX-5 sports car, which has won our Convertible of the Year Award multiple times, and the CX-5 large SUV, which was named as our inaugural best car for dog owners.

MAZDA

CX-5

The first-generation Mazda CX-5 has always been one of our favourite large SUVs, and now it's a great&nbsp;used buy if you're on a tight budget.&nbsp;

Used Mazda CX-5 2012-2017

<h3>MPG</h3>

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&nbsp;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.&nbsp;

<h3>CO2 emissions</h3>

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&nbsp;petrol engine emits 139g/km, while the four-wheel-drive diesel model&nbsp;with the automatic gearbox produces the most CO2 at 144g/km.

<h3>Road tax</h3>

Road tax for all models registered before 1 April 2017&nbsp;will vary depending on the CO2 emissions the engine produces (see above for more information), while examples registered after this date will have&nbsp;the same flat-rate fee – currently £155 per year for all petrol and diesel vehicles. To find out more about the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2021-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a>.

<h3>Servicing</h3>

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&nbsp;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.

<h3>Insurance groups</h3>

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.

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The Mazda CX-5 will appeal to newcomers to SUVs who want something spacious, but still want it to handle like something smaller and more nimble. As a used buy, it offers good value, but its recent drop in our reliability survey means it's no longer our top large SUV.


Used&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mazda">Mazda</a>&nbsp;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&nbsp;four-wheel-drive diesel automatic&nbsp;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.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">Check the value of a used Mazda CX-5 with What Car? Valuations</a>

If you're interested in buying a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/mazda/cx-5?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Mazda CX-5</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, check out our used car classifieds site <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">here.</a>&nbsp;

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<h3>Engine</h3>

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.

<h3>Specification</h3>

We don't see much need in going beyond the regular SE L Nav&nbsp;model, because it comes with all the equipment you'd want&nbsp;and has a more supple ride than some of the higher trim levels such as Sport, which come with&nbsp;larger wheels.&nbsp;

Our favourite&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mazda">Mazda</a>&nbsp;CX-5&nbsp;2.2 Skyactiv-D 150 SE L Nav

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all passengers</li> <li>Large boot with lots of clever storage solutions</li> <li>Good fuel economy and running costs</li> <li>All-round comfort</li> <li>High-quality interior finish</li></ul>

We define a large SUV as anything longer than 4.5 metres. These cars aren’t usually particularly cheap to buy or lease, so in return we expect a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard equipment and excellent cruising refinement. A few models in this class are two-wheel drive, but the vast majority have four-wheel drive for at least a modicum of off-road ability.

The Mazda CX-5 is firmly road-focused, but its 2.0-litre petrol engine is a strong, refined performer, making it looks good value for less than&nbsp;£25k. If you can stretch the budget a fair bit, the Audi Q5 provides a combination of comfort, driving prowess, quality and space that's hard to beat. Unlike some rivals, it can't be had with seven seats, though.

A more affordable, yet well-equipped alternative is the Peugeot 5008. It’s more than capable of coping with family life&nbsp;– and all versions have seven seats as standard.&nbsp;

Large SUV

The CX-5 is most commonly used as a family workhorse, so look for the usual telltale signs of a hard life in the form of scuffed bodywork and damaged interior plastics. Note that if it has been serviced within the Mazda dealer network, you’ll be able to obtain a digital copy of its service history from a dealer.

An unusually high number of stress fractures have occurred&nbsp;on the windscreens of CX-5s, which led to a supply shortage of replacement screens early in the car’s life. While the supply issue has been resolved, it does seem that CX-5 windscreens are more vulnerable than others.

The Bluetooth can also be a little temperamental when pairing with your smartphone, and the TomTom live traffic updates can stop working if the SIM card hasn't been used in a while. Finally, some diesels can suffer from fuel entering the sump if the engine is switched off when the diesel particulate filter (DPF) is regenerating. If you notice the engine oil level rise, this will be why. In the event of this happening, it’s important to have the oil changed.

The first-generation Mazda CX-5 was a large SUV&nbsp;and was perfect for those who found the family SUV-sized&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/used-review/n804">Nissan Qashqai</a>&nbsp;a fraction too small and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/used-review/n829">BMW X3</a>, another large SUV,&nbsp;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.&nbsp;

The CX-5 was different from its rivals in that it was&nbsp;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&nbsp;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&nbsp;Nav&nbsp;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&nbsp;pulling power that, combined with precise steering, minimal&nbsp;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&nbsp;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&nbsp;automatic emergency braking as standard across the range. It also outperformed the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/cr-v/estate/used-review/n790">Honda CR-V</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/rav4/4x4/used-review/n844">Toyota RAV4</a>&nbsp;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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/cx-5/estate/used-review/n947">second-generation</a> model in 2017.&nbsp;

If you're interested in buying a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/mazda/cx-5?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Mazda CX-5</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, check out our used car classifieds site <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">here.</a>&nbsp;

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Used Mazda CX-5 2012-2017 review

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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.,For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter hereIf 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. Page 5 of 5

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