2020 Mazda CX-5 Pros vs Cons

When all of its advantages are taken into consideration, the 2020 Mazda CX-5 seems like it would come with a more expensive price tag than it really does. For a reasonable cost, consumers can equip themselves with this well-built, thoughtfully designed SUV. It comes with multiple trims, so people can decide whether they want something more basic or a vehicle that shows great class. Mazda has done a stand-out job in incorporating powerful engine components, interior amenities, and advanced technological features in the CX-5.

What's New for 2020?

Mazda is keeping things mostly the same for the 2020 model year. Some very minor changes are that the key fob is slightly different than in previous years and the exterior badging has been updated. In the Grand Touring Reserve and Signature levels, people get to take advantage of a new touchscreen that measures eight inches. An important update is that the driver-assist package now starts at the base model, which can give budget-minded consumers more peace of mind.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2020 Mazda CX-5 – The Pros

1. Many Trim Options

With the CX-5, Mazda is giving its customers a choice of how many features they'd like to have included in their vehicles. The Sport is the base model, and it's followed closely by the Touring in what it offers. The Grand Touring comes with a little more luxury. At the top end of the spectrum are the Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims. These not only have many more amenities but also run on a different engine.

2. Plenty of Horsepower

The standard engine under the hood of a 2020 Mazda CX-5 is a 2.5-liter, SKYACTIV-G model. It has four cylinders and 16 valves. Since it's capable of generating 187 horsepower, it has some zip, and torque is 186 pound-feet.

An enhanced engine is found on the Signature and Grand Touring Reserve Mazdas. This engine is the same size as the other one, with a displacement of around 2.5 liters, but it's a turbo version that can output 250 horsepower. Torque is even higher, at 320 pound-feet.

3. Solid Fuel Efficiency

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 can achieve up to 31 miles per gallon on the highway. City mileage is pretty respectable as well, at an estimated 25 miles per gallon. These numbers are for the lower three trims with front-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive option drops each stat slightly by only about one mile per gallon. On the top two trims, estimated city/highway mileage is 22/27 miles per gallon.

4. Responsive Shifting

Mazda has paired both of its engines with a SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission. Drivers can engage Sport Mode when they want to have a quicker response. There is also a manual shift mode that can be fun to use when one prefers to have more control over shifting. Otherwise, things are smooth when letting the vehicle do all the work.

5. Many Standard Safety Features

What the company has done so well in recent years is to build its cars and SUVs with advanced safety mechanisms. Since the industry does have the capability to do this, it makes perfect sense as to why Mazda would want all of its customers to be protected by driver-assist technology.

Safety features include smart city brake support that can hit the brakes if it detects pedestrians or another car in its path as well as blind spot monitoring. High beam control is automatic, so this eliminates the need to manually switch between high and low beams on a country road with minimal traffic. With the advanced cruise control system, drivers can set up their Mazdas to maintain a certain distance with the car in front of them. The cruise control system can even bring the car to a stop if traffic is very busy or something unexpectedly happens on the road.

6. Easy-to-Use Back Seat

In SUVs, the rear area is more than just a place to hold passengers. In the 2020 Mazda CX-5, the back seat is configured as a 40/20/40 bench so people can decide whether they want one, two, or all three seats up or folded down. The rear seatbacks can recline to make it more comfortable for passengers, and the seats can be folded down in a second with just one touch of a button.

7. High-End Touches

Little elements like leather-wrapped gear shifters and steering wheels add to the overall ambience in the cabin. These leather elements are standard on the CX-5. For seating, leatherette is used on the Touring, and leather is used on the higher trims. The top two trims have heated and ventilated front seats in addition to heated rear seats and a steering wheel with a heating element. This makes it easy to set things up just right according to one's preferences.

8. Convenient Access

The Sport trim of the CX-5 comes with a remote keyless entry system, along with push button start. This means that people no longer have to dig around for their keys and pull them in and out of pockets and bags every time they start the engine. It only takes one jump up to the Touring level to start seeing Mazda's Advanced Keyless Entry and Start System. With this system, the key fob just has to be within several feet of the vehicle in order for the doors to automatically unlock and lock when somebody touches the door handle. The system works similarly if the SUV is equipped with a power liftgate.

9. Large Touchscreen

For a vehicle that's not technically a luxury model, it's nice to have a sizable touchscreen included on all trims. The lower trims use a seven-inch touchscreen, which gets increased in size to eight inches on the pair of trims at the top end. The screens have bright and vivid colors and are easy to read, and Mazda has carefully calibrated the screens to have good sensitivity.

10. Available All-Wheel Drive

Mazda has made AWD available on all of its trims, which is a contrast to some other companies that have excluded base models from having this benefit. In case of difficult conditions, the CX-5s can come with Off-Road Traction Assist to boost each tire's ability to effectively grip the terrain.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2020 Mazda CX-5 – The Cons

1. Not That Much Cargo Space

When most people think of an SUV, they expect to have ample cargo space to fit all types of items. In the 2020 Mazda CX-5, it might be a tight fit. Behind the second row of seats is 30.9 cubic feet, and there is a maximum of 59.6 cubic feet of storage when the back seats are lowered. This is great compared to many sedans, but it does fall short when looking at SUVs as a whole.

2. Top Two Trims Limited to AWD

The Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims only come with all-wheel drive. This is likely to be great news for some, but not all. There are many customers out there who just don't need to have all-wheel drive. Those who live in warm climates and/or urban areas may not ever need to utilize all-wheel drive, but the way these trims are configured forces them to have it.

3. More Powerful Engine Costs More

As mentioned before, the top two trims of the 2020 Mazda CX-5 run on a more powerful 250-horsepower turbo engine. This enhanced capability comes with a significant price jump. There's no way to detach the better engine from the other benefits that come with the Grand Touring Reserve and Signature models; it's a package deal.

4. Base Model Doesn't Have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

A major detraction from the Sport CX-5 is that it doesn't have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility. One can still use a smartphone in the car through the Bluetooth connection, but it's not quite the same as having that seamless integration that so many people have become accustomed to. Note that voice commands, HD Radio, and SMS text message support are standard across all trims.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

The compact SUV market is packed with options. For a vehicle like the 2020 Mazda CX-5, having competition is a good thing because it shows consumers just how smart of an option it is. The 2020 Mazda CX-5, even with the base engine, has more horsepower than the comparable Hyundai Tucson. In terms of stylings, the CX-5 feels more modern than a solid competitor - the Honda CR-V. This is thanks in part to its simple elegance inside the cabin and more curvy exterior.

Conclusion

If anyone is searching for a reliable SUV that's not too big but still feels strong and capabl, the 2020 Mazda CX-5 should be something that he or she will want to consider. It has everything it takes to be a contender in the market: a reasonable starting price, an upscale interior, versatility with cargo space, and available all-wheel drive. Plus, its engine is powerful, and the company has given its customers two options to think about.