• Fuel economy lags behind rivals’ claims
• No plug-in hybrid to boost efficiency further
• Diesels offer decent fuel consumption

What are the running costs?

The engines Mazda has are generally a bit larger than its competitors. This explains why you can expect slightly worse MPG and higher CO2 emissions. If you’re a company car driver looking for the cheapest CX-5 in tax, you may still want to consider the petrol model. That’s because the much lower price outweighs the higher emissions, potentially saving you around £10-£20 per month.

Under the WLTP fuel efficiency testing methodology, Mazda’s figures are much closer to those of rivals, but they are nevertheless hampered by the lack of a plug-in hybrid option. These are reflected in the miles per pound costs, with a pricey looking span of 5.1 - 6.4mpp across the line-up.

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The 184hp diesel is your best bet for maximising fuel consumption, while the most impressive petrol model is the lowest powered 2.0 Skyactiv-G. Sticking an automatic gearbox in it does increase consumption, though, while the most powerful in the CX-5 line-up, the 2.5-litre Skyactiv-G, only comes with an automatic transmission. Don’t buy this one if you’re after low running costs – it struggles to better 30mpg in real-world driving.

Servicing and warranty

Maximum service intervals are 12,500 miles or 12 months – whichever occurs first.

A three-year service plan starts from a little under £700 for petrol CX-5s and a little over £700 for diesels. These payments can be bundled into your monthly finance payment too.

Reliability

• Mazda has a strong record in this area
• Only one official recall for the CX-5
• Well-constructed, feels resilient

Much of the CX-5’s mechanical components are shared with other Mazda models. And while the firm hasn’t always enjoyed the rosiest of reliability records, this certainly seems impressive here.

According to the DVSA vehicle inspectorate, there has only been one official recall of this generation of CX-5 since its launch in 2017 and that contained a potential soot build-up around some engine internals. That should be remedied on all models, with a Mazda dealer being able to confirm it for specific vehicles.

Elsewhere, the generally high quality of the plastics is matched by the accuracy of their assembly and the robustness of all the buttons and knobs on the dashboard. It feels like it’s built to stand the rigours of family life.

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