New & Used 2026 Mazda CX-5 for Sale near Essex, ON

Is the 2026 Mazda CX-5 a good car?

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 earns an expert rating of 7.17/10. The standout strength is Safety at 9/10.

It is a stronger fit if you care about style, interior presentation, and value, because the redesign brings a sharper exterior, a more modern cabin, standard Google built-in, and more rear-seat and cargo space than before. The trade-offs are clear, though: the carried-over 187-horsepower engine and six-speed automatic feel dated, and the added weight makes the CX-5 feel slower than you’d expect in everyday driving.

For shoppers who want a compact SUV that feels more substantial and upscale than its price suggests, it makes a compelling case. 41.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

Is the 2026 Mazda CX-5 reliable?

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 is positioned as a familiar, carryover-mechanical SUV with a redesigned body and updated cabin, which supports a generally reassuring ownership profile. Mazda also backs it with a standard three-year basic warranty and a five-year powertrain warranty, both with unlimited kilometres in Canada.

Its powertrain is described as a carryover setup, and the six-speed automatic is smooth enough in normal driving, which suggests a conventional and well-understood mechanical package. The main long-term ownership concern for used buyers is that the underpowered engine and dated transmission may feel increasingly frustrating over time, especially if you do a lot of highway driving or carry passengers and cargo regularly.

What should I look for when buying a used 2026 Mazda CX-5?

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base GX trim gets the essentials, but the GS adds the most appealing everyday upgrades, including 19-inch wheels, a power liftgate, a head-up display, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 10-way power driver’s seat with memory. The GT adds leather seating and a more premium feel, though its wheel treatment is less appealing.
• Powertrain: You get a carryover SkyActiv-G 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder with 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic. It is smooth, but it feels underpowered in this larger, heavier redesign.
• Safety package: Every trim includes adaptive cruise control with speed limit assist, automatic emergency braking with turn-across traffic detection and head-on collision mitigation, rear automatic emergency braking with rear cross-traffic alert and pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, blind spot monitors, vehicle exit warning, driver attention alert, traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors, and dynamic guidelines for the rear-view camera. The GT adds adaptive front-lighting, and the Premium Package adds front cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, Cruising & Traffic Support with Lane-Change Assist, a driver monitoring system, and a 360-degree View Monitor.
• Infotainment: All trims get a 12.9-inch touchscreen, Google built-in, a 10.2-inch fully digital instrument cluster, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the GX, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the GS and GT. The GT Premium Package adds a 15.6-inch screen.
• Fuel efficiency: Natural Resources Canada rates it at 9.9 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 7.9 on the highway, and 9.0 combined.

Which 2026 Mazda CX-5 trim should I buy?

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 is offered in 3 trim levels: GX, GS, GT.

Here's the short version:

• GX: This is the entry point, and it gives you the redesigned CX-5 with standard all-wheel drive, Google built-in, and the full safety suite. It makes sense if you want the lowest price and are comfortable with the most basic equipment.
• GS: This is the best-value trim. It adds the features that make the CX-5 feel properly upscale in daily use, including 19-inch wheels, a power liftgate, a head-up display, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 10-way power driver’s seat with memory.
• GT: Choose this if you want the most premium standard feel, including leather seating and the available larger-screen and camera upgrades through the Premium Package. It is the right pick if you want the most fully equipped CX-5, but it is not the value leader.

The safety package is standard across the lineup, so you do not need to move up a trim just to get the core driver-assistance features.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2026 Mazda CX-5?

This is a favourable time to shop if you want a newer compact SUV with strong equipment and a decent amount of market choice.

• Deal availability: 41.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 538 listings available.

Is the 2026 Mazda CX-5 safe?

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 comes with one of the most comprehensive standard safety suites in its class.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

Every trim includes adaptive cruise control with speed limit assist, automatic emergency braking with turn-across traffic detection and head-on collision mitigation, rear automatic emergency braking with rear cross-traffic alert and pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, blind spot monitors, vehicle exit warning, driver attention alert, traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors, and dynamic guidelines for the mandatory rear-view camera. Seven airbags come standard across all trims.

The GT trim adds adaptive front-lighting. The Premium Package adds front cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, Cruising & Traffic Support with Lane-Change Assist, a driver monitoring system, and a 360-degree View Monitor camera system.

Should I buy a 2026 Mazda CX-5 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2026 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

• Choose the 2026 if: 41.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals. It also brings a full redesign, standard Google built-in, standard AWD, and a much more modern cabin.
• Consider the 2025 if: It is a sportier, more engaging compact SUV with a premium feel.
• The bottom line: Buy the 2026 if you want the newest CX-5 with more space, better tech, and strong value in the used market. If you are more price-sensitive and want a proven older version with a sportier personality, the 2025 remains worth a look.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 29, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.