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Mazda CX-7 vs Mazda CX-5

2012 Mazda CX-7
2012 Mazda CX-7
$22,190MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2026 Mazda CX-5
2026 Mazda CX-5
$29,990MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2012 Mazda CX-7
$22,190MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2026 Mazda CX-5
$29,990MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

Years produced

2007-2012

Years produced

2013-Present

MSRP

$22,190

MSRP

$29,990

Listings

15

Listings

5039

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

Expert reviews

7.2 out of 10

Pros

  • Crisp exterior and interior design that leads the compact SUV segment

  • Standard AWD, a generous safety suite, and low starting price make it a strong value

  • Noticeably improved rear passenger space and cargo room

Cons

  • Underpowered engine feels even more sluggish with the added weight of this redesign

  • No hybrid option until 2027, so expect poor fuel economy

  • Aging six-speed automatic can't match the refinement of competitors' eight-speed transmissions

Reviews Summary

Reviews Summary

Mazda's compact SUV gets its first full redesign in nearly a decade, and the results are a mixed bag.

The 2026 CX-5 is longer, wider, more spacious, and more technologically advanced than its predecessor, with a striking new exterior, standard all-wheel drive (AWD) across the lineup, and Google built-in as standard. But the carried-over 187-horsepower engine and six-speed automatic transmission feel like relics from a different era, especially when every key competitor now offers a hybrid option with significantly more power and better fuel economy.

Verdict: The 2026 CX-5 is one of the best-looking and best-equipped compact crossovers you can buy, but its sluggish and thirsty powertrain and odd interior quibbles hold it back from greatness. Buyers who prioritize style, interior quality, and value will love it; those who want efficiency or performance should wait for the hybrid in 2027.

No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

2.5L 161 hp I4

Engine

Drive Train

FWD

Drive Train

Seating Capacity

5

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

161 hp @ 6000 rpm

Horsepower

MPG City

20

MPG City

MPG Highway

27

MPG Highway

2012 Mazda CX-7
2012 Mazda CX-7
$22,190MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2026 Mazda CX-5
2026 Mazda CX-5
$29,990MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2012 Mazda CX-7
$22,190MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2026 Mazda CX-5
$29,990MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

Years produced
2007-2012
2013-Present
MSRP
$22,190
$29,990
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews

4.6

4.8

Expert reviews

7.2 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons

Pros

  • Crisp exterior and interior design that leads the compact SUV segment

  • Standard AWD, a generous safety suite, and low starting price make it a strong value

  • Noticeably improved rear passenger space and cargo room

Cons

  • Underpowered engine feels even more sluggish with the added weight of this redesign

  • No hybrid option until 2027, so expect poor fuel economy

  • Aging six-speed automatic can't match the refinement of competitors' eight-speed transmissions

Summary

Mazda's compact SUV gets its first full redesign in nearly a decade, and the results are a mixed bag.

The 2026 CX-5 is longer, wider, more spacious, and more technologically advanced than its predecessor, with a striking new exterior, standard all-wheel drive (AWD) across the lineup, and Google built-in as standard. But the carried-over 187-horsepower engine and six-speed automatic transmission feel like relics from a different era, especially when every key competitor now offers a hybrid option with significantly more power and better fuel economy.

Verdict: The 2026 CX-5 is one of the best-looking and best-equipped compact crossovers you can buy, but its sluggish and thirsty powertrain and odd interior quibbles hold it back from greatness. Buyers who prioritize style, interior quality, and value will love it; those who want efficiency or performance should wait for the hybrid in 2027.

Video
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
2.5L 161 hp I4
Drive Train
FWD
Seating Capacity
5
5
Horsepower
161 hp @ 6000 rpm
MPG City
20
MPG Highway
27
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