The 2020 Mazda CX-5 comes in a wide array of trim levels that are well-equipped for the price, but none includes an infotainment system worth writing home about.
We score the lineup at 6 out of 10, awarding it points for value and high-end features but docking one for the subpar interface.
Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring trims make use of the base inline-4, while Grand Touring Reserve and Signature versions swap in the more powerful turbo-4 and come standard with AWD.
The lineup begins at $26,135 for the base CX-5 Sport, which hits the basics with its alloy wheels, power-adjustable driver’s seat, cloth upholstery, air conditioning, active safety gear, and 7.0-inch screen with Bluetooth and two USB ports.
The Sport’s lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility would automatically make us step up to the CX-5 Touring for about $1,600 more. It adds synthetic leather upholstery, more seat adjustments, an upgraded audio system, automatic climate control, keyless entry and ignition, and heated front seats. A $1,700 option package with a power moonroof, power liftgate, Bose speakers, and a couple of other goodies may be a necessary extravagance for some buyers.
At about $38,200, the range-topping CX-5 Signature is priced near some luxury crossover SUVs. Luckily for you, it’s equipped like one. The interior is trimmed out in real Nappa leather and wood, while additional goodies include a surround-view monitor, a head-up display, cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, and 19-inch wheels.
The CX-5 makes use of a 7.0-inch touchscreen that boasts a crisp display, but that’s about where our praise ends. Its menus are unnecessarily complex, while the control knob in the center console is the only means of operation other than the fussy steering wheel controls and haphazard voice commands. It’s supposedly safer than a touchscreen, once you figure out how to use it. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration help but are still tedious with the center console knob.
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