2023 Mazda CX-5 Signature: First Drive

The CX-5 has essentially carried over unchanged for the 2023 model year, with the only difference being the availability of our test car's rhodium white paint.

The CX-5 punches above its weight in terms of how it drives. If you need the room of a crossover but still want something that can feel sporty, the CX-5 is the best one to drive this side of the Porsche Macan. You won't feel like you sold your soul.

It's also great looking, elegant and classy. It looks like it costs far more than it actually does.

The interior is a bit of a mixed bag, with a lot of premium-feeling materials and an infotainment system that uses a knob instead of a touch screen, but also outdated HVAC controls and gauges, along with a steering wheel that appears a generation behind.

• Excellent to drive
• Great price for the level of equipment
• Good looks

• Some of the interior can feel outdated
• Backseat room and storage space falls behind competitors
• Mazda's own CX-50 is newer, slightly larger, more stylish, and nearly the same price.

Mazda has always done things a little differently, so the CX-5 used to be available with two choices of naturally aspirated engines, a 2.0 and a 2.5. The 2.5 was really the only good choice, since the CX-5 with the 2.0 was too slow. The 2.5 was fine for accelerating off the line, but wasn't great at accelerating for a pass at highway speeds.

The Turbo and its 70 additional horsepower solves that. There is no thinking that this does not have enough power, it's downright quick and feels especially strong in the mid-range. That's linked to a six-speed automatic. That might not sound like enough gears in these days of 8 to 10 speed gearboxes, but it's plenty.

The steering is delightfully well weighted and the CX-5 actually handles well, too, some of that Miata spiriting spilling into this crossover. Really a delight.

The CX-5 Turbo Signature is the top of the line version of Mazda's small crossover. That means it comes standard fully loaded, and has a wireless charger, navigation, CarPlay and Android Auto, 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque, Napa leather seats, adaptive LED headlights, 19-inch wheels, heated seats front and rear, and more.

The Signature comes in at $41,655 fully equipped, which makes it a real bargain when you consider there are crossovers from Volvo, Acura, BMW, and others that cost thousands more but have similar or fewer features.

This is a nice place to be. The seats are comfortable and supportive, and Mazda, thankfully, still likes to use buttons and knobs instead of hiding everything in touch screen menus.

The infotainment system is an update from Mazda's older version, so the menus are simplified. It can still take more steps than you'd expect to accomplish a simple task.

Parts of it also feel dated. The HVAC controls look cheaper than the rest of the car, the gauge cluster is mostly analog except for the center dial, and the shifter is the old physical kind, not one that relies on electronics to make a shift.

The CX-5 is less roomy than many other cars in its class, however I was able to fit a forward-facing car seat just fine while my wife sat shotgun. The rear fold down armrest holds two cupholders and, cleverly, also the rear heated seat controls.

Like the back seat, cargo space is also not the biggest in its class. Remember, this is based on the smaller Mazda3. However, even if it is small for the class, it can still swallow groceries or a stroller without a problem.

The CX-5 looks sleek and compact, or at least as sleek and compact as a crossover can look. There are a lot of nice details, like the grille and the body color cladding over the wheels. It's been around for a while, too, but it still looks current.

That said, Mazda's design language is changing and the new CX-50 looks more modern, so the CX-5 will surely begin to seem dated soon.

In 2019, the CX-5 received the 2.5T, the first turbo engine for the model. It was a needed boost, providing 256 hp, nearly 70 hp more than the naturally aspirated version, and 320 lb-ft of torque. The CX-5 never had an issue accelerating, but was a little slow to gain speed if you needed to make a pass on the highway. The turbo fixed that, feeling meaty throughout the rev range with a very noticeable increase in the mid-range. The engine actually has some character, too, which is a welcome addition to the class.

The interior is comfortable, with excellent seats that are supple and supportive. Everything you touch inside is pleasant. The ride quality is also great, firm but not jarring, compliant but not overly soft. This is an easy place to spend hours.

Mazda is one of the last believers in buttons and knobs. It's just so much better than hiding everything in a touch screen. The infotainment system, which takes more than a little inspiration from BMW's iDrive, is easy to use and intuitive.

It also has safety tech like blind spot warnings, lane departure warnings, and more.

The CX-5 ranks well in most categories in an IIHS crash test, with ratings of good or average in nearly every test. However, the new front overlap test, pictured here, was a different result, with the CX-5 earning a "poor" rating.

The CX-5 is a great choice for the person who needs a family crossover but cares about a few things more than others. If you want something that feels premium, has character, and looks great, and are able to sacrifice some interior room and storage space, it's a good choice.

Ironically, the biggest competition for the driver who needs a crossover like the CX-5 comes from within Mazda, with the CX-50. The CX-50 is slightly larger with a fresher interior, has the same engines, and costs nearly the same. Really, the choice is down to which one fits your life more. But after a week with the CX-5, I wish I had one instead of our current family car. It's just that good.