Mazda CX-5 Reliability: How Long will it Last?

Drew Blankenship
Feb 22, 2022

Mazda’s CX-5 has only been around for a decade, but it has already proven to be a rock-solid choice in the compact SUV market. After consulting many reliable auto sources, including Vehicle History’s owner reviews, we’re confident the average CX-5 will last between 200,000 and 250,000 miles.

2013 Mazda CX-5 profile

Key Points

  • Many owners of the Mazda CX-5 have reportedly reached over 200,000 miles. But since the model is relatively new, chances are with regular maintenance, you could see much more mileage in the vehicle’s lifespan than what’s been reported so far.
  • The Mazda CX-5 has lower than average annual maintenance costs when compared to other midsize SUVs, making it much easier to attain the longest possible lifespan of the vehicle.
  • According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Mazda CX-5 has received less than 1,300 complaints from consumers since production started in 2012.
  • According to real owner reviews, reliable auto websites, and Mazda forums, the average Mazda CX-5 will last between 200,000 and 250,000 miles.

2013 Mazda CX-5 - Photos by Mazda

Expect 200,000 Miles or More out of a Mazda CX-5, if it hasn’t been Beaten up Before You Get it

In almost a decade of production, the Mazda CX-5 has proven to be a dependable crossover that rivals even the big names at Toyota and Honda. Since its release in 2013, the CX-5 has steadily grown in popularity for its chiseled good looks and exceptional build quality.

After consulting Vehicle History’s real owner reviews, numerous reliable auto sources, and online Mazda forums, we found that, with proper maintenance, the average life expectancy of a Mazda CX-5 is between 200,000 and 250,000 miles.

However, there are many factors that will determine how long your Mazda CX-5 lasts, such as whether or not routine maintenance was followed.

2021 Mazda CX-5 - Photos by Mazda

Maintenance Costs for the Mazda CX-5 are Low, and Staying on Top of Repairs is Key to its Longevity

It is no secret that anyone wanting their vehicle to last a quarter-million miles or more needs to keep up with regular maintenance. Oil changes and having the car inspected by a mechanic on a regular basis are key to making any car last a long time.

The average annual maintenance cost is about $447 for CX-5 owners, compared to the $573 average annual repair cost for other SUVs in its class.

When it’s time to bring your CX-5 into the shop, it isn’t likely going to be anything too costly either. The probability of a serious issue with a CX-5 at the shop is only 8%, compared to 13% for similar SUVs.

It’s important to note that even if you don’t put a ton of miles on your CX-5, you should still take it in for regular maintenance. Most service items have both mileage and time limits before there is the potential for damage to the vehicle.

2016 Mazda CX-5 - Photo by Mazda

Mazda CX-5 is Low on Complaints, and Long on Lifespan, Able to Reach 200,000 Miles with Proper Maintenance

Considering a used Mazda CX-5? Luckily, you won’t be spending much time at the repair shop, because not many people have bad things to say about the SUV.

In the 10 years, Mazda has produced the CX-5, it has amassed just over 1,200 complaints with the NHTSA. When you consider vehicles like the 2016 Ford Explorer received that in one year, it is a remarkably low number.

Mazda has only been producing the CX-5 for about 10 years. And according to real owner reviews, reliable auto websites, and Mazda fan forums, the average CX-5 will last between 200,000 and 250,000 miles. Government statistics indicate it will take the average driver over 18 years to put that many miles on their SUV.

So, with a used Mazda CX-5 that has been properly cared for, you’re getting a reliable compact SUV that will last a long time while costing less than other vehicles in its class to maintain.

Photos: Mazda

Owner Reviews

accountCircle Kiersten Dunithan on November 13, 2023
Guess I’m unlucky
I bought my 2016 CX-5 brand new, I’ve kept up on all the maintenance and sadly just a little over 100k miles the car unexpectedly overheated, no warning signs and now I’m looking at some costly repairs. Possibly head gasket failure. The water and oil mixed together which is never a good sign. It makes me sad reading that people are getting over 200k in miles out of theirs and I’m not. I loved my car until this happened.
accountCircle Scott B. on February 21, 2023
Best car I have ever purchased!
I bought my 2014 CX-5 with about 70k miles on it. I have owned it since 2018 and now have over 254k miles on it. No real mechanical issues to date. Basic maintenance is all it has received and it still has plenty of pep and continues to provide great fuel efficiency. Because of my success with my Mazda, 2 of my brothers and one of my nieces now also own a CX-5.
accountCircle Susan L on September 11, 2021
Completely Satisficed With The Lifespan Of The Mazda CX-5
The gas mileage was an important factor for me and I continue to get great results after 7.5 years of owning the vehicle. He ride is comfortable and repairs have been just standard maintenance with the exception of an electrical issue that was resolved. I still like the vehicle today and have no plans to replace it yet, and I am @ 83,000 miles.
accountCircle Sunil on September 28, 2022
Sadly I had a 6000$ service at 90k miles
While I love my Mazda Cx-5, I had to get my front differential assembly replaced at 90k miles which cost me 6000$ with few other additional items to be fixed. I can’t think of any other compact SUV that could give the same driving experience, however I decided to replace it with some electric car which costs less per mile.
accountCircle Alyssa S on August 12, 2021
Great, Reliable, And Sturdy Car: Mazda CX-5
I love everything about my Mazda cx-5. The performance is great and I never have any big issues besides what is normal maintenance. The AWD is a great feature, it gets me through the rough Cleveland snow without a problem. The comfort inside it is good, I never have a problem being comfortable even on long road trips.
accountCircle Shiva on May 15, 2023
Amazing compact SUV
I own a 2016 Mazda CX-5 bought brand new and I'm a very careful and gentle on gas pedal and lite on breaks. Have done regular maintenance around 8K Kms. Have changed tires only once around 70K kms and battery in Nov 2022, currently (May 2023) its at 95K Kms. Love the car and will definitely keep it for a long time.
accountCircle Steve M on July 20, 2021
The Mazda CX-5 Has A Great Value And Safety Rating
I have really enjoyed my car over the years. It rides smoothly, had a great Bose sound system, navigation, heated seats, and all the trimmings. Very low maintenance and no major repairs which is great! It is great on gas mileage too. Overall I cannot say anything bad about this car. One of my best ones so far.
accountCircle Kathy R on July 27, 2021
My Mazda CX-5 Is Reliable With Minimal Cost
My Mazda cx-5 is ideal for me. I like that it sits up higher than a sedan but I'd not overly large. Seating and ride ate comfortable. It is easy to maneuver and park and fits easily in a parking space or my one-car garage. It is been very reliable, does not require a lot of maintenance or repairs.
accountCircle Minnie L on December 20, 2021
"Mazda CX-5: Clean Builds And Solid Performance
The Mazda cx-5 is a great small SUV option. It is well built with good quality parts. The extra features, such as a blind-spot indicator or rain-sensing wipers, were great add-ons at that time compared to luxury brands. And it is very reliable. Runs well with regular maintenance.
accountCircle Sean O on November 6, 2023
Engine issue after 100,000
My 2016 worked flawlessly (and kept up on regular maintenance) until just about 6 mo after i passed 100,000 miles. Check engine light came On and a check showed one of the 4 cylinders was not keeping pressure… only fix was a new engine. Very disappointed in this abrupt turn
accountCircle Stacy G on June 21, 2021
"Mazda CX-5 Is Comfortable And Reliable "
I love my Mazda cx-5 it is comfortable, reliable, gets good gas mileage. I have not had a lot of maintenance issues with it. As long as you keep up on oil changes it is a good reliable car. I would recommend this car or any Mazda vehicle they are reliable cars.
accountCircle Dianne Burnett on June 27, 2022
$350,000 miles and still reliable
Mazda CX-5 2014, we bought it new and have over 350k miles. We’ve changed the spark plugs, serpentine belt, oil, unjoint and Brakes. Tires and air filters too have been changed too but that is all. All just normal matainance and we still drive it
accountCircle Greg S on September 12, 2023
2017 yr Most Reliable 243,000
243,000 miles and still runs like it’s bought brand new just routine maintenance brakes battery and plugs at about 200,000 miles. I don’t want to get rid of it but not sure how long these things last.
accountCircle M. on January 6, 2024
Best car I’ve had
2016 CX-5 never had anything needed beyond normal maintenance for 232,000+ miles. After that I heard a noise in what I beleive was the engine And decided to not worry about repairs… traded it in for
accountCircle EMG on July 15, 2023
Reliable
I bought a 2017 CX5 in April 2020 with just under 48,000 KM. Have added about another 40,000 Km in 39 Months. Other than the usual wear and tear issues (oil. Brake pads, tires) have had zero issues.
accountCircle Paul A. on May 9, 2023
Guess I'm Unlucky
Transmission failed on my 2016 CX5 at 34K miles. Warrenty covered, but still?!
avatar Drew Blankenship
Drew Blankenship is a former Porsche technician with nearly 15 years of experience. Born in North Carolina, the heart of NASCAR country, he grew up building and racing cars before later working for a local import tuning shop, Driven Performance. Fueled by long nights in the garage and some engine-tuning wizardry from the shop’s owner, by his 20s Drew was outrunning sport bikes in a 1992 Honda Civic hatchback with a power-to-weight ratio rivaling a Bugatti Veyron. He continued upgrading and repairing Japanese cars until a chance meeting with a Porsche master technician at Rezoom, a Porsche specialist shop in Tennessee. He was taken under the wing of a veteran Porsche driving instructor and learned everything to know about air-cooled Porsches. Today, he shares his mechanical knowledge on several popular auto websites, including Youcanic and Vehicle History.
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