2023 Mazda CX-5 Interior and Cargo

An attestation to our earlier statement about premium materials, the base CX-5 2.5 S is the only trim to come with black cloth upholstery. The 2.5 S Select model offers the choice between Silk Beige or Black leatherette while the 2.5 S Preferred model gets genuine black leather upholstery - or Silk Beige leatherette. The 2.5 S Premium and S Premium Plus trims get leather - available in either Parchment or Black, while the 2.5 Turbo gets the black leather only. The Turbo Signature spec ups the ante significantly, however, with Caturra Brown Nappa leather and genuine layered wood trim inserts on the dash and doors. Reserved for the Carbon Edition are red leather seats and red stitching throughout the interior - although you can opt for black leather instead.

If an automaker wants their crossover to sit at the top of shortlists, it'll need to offer a decent amount of practicality. Generous trunk space is a box that needs to be ticked, and while the CX-5's trunk isn't the most cavernous of its kind, it's certainly manageable. Behind the second row lies 30.9 cubic feet that will gladly swallow up school bags and luggage. But it falls miles behind the CR-V's cavernous 39.3 cubes and the RAV4's 37.6 cubes. Dropping the rear seats unlocks more space, but at 59.3 cubes, this is still more than 17 cubes shy of what you'll find in the Honda.

In-cabin storage is accommodating thanks to a large storage bin in the center console and deep door pockets. The glove compartment is also big enough to store a few small items and a small tray in front of the gearshift is perfectly sized for smartphones.

Mazda has ensured that the CX-5 is well-laden with comfort and convenience features regardless of trim level. The entry-level S model gets remote keyless entry, push-button start, an electronic handbrake, a multifunction, manually tilting/telescoping steering wheel, and air conditioning. The driver's seat is six-way manually-adjustable and a leather-clad steering wheel and gear selector are standard. The S Select model welcomes keyless start, dual-zone climate control, a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, and rear air-conditioning vents. S Preferred trim adds a power sunroof, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a six-way power-adjustable passenger seat, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The Carbon Edition shares the S Preferred's specifications. S Premium gains paddle shifters and more infotainment features. Ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a head-up display are added to the S Premium Plus, while the Turbo is essentially an S Premium Plus with the turbocharged engine. The 2.5 Turbo Signature gets a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror, traffic-sign recognition, wood trim, and a black cloth headliner.

In terms of driver-assists, the base model boasts traction control, hill launch assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control with stop and go is also included with smart city braking, pedestrian monitoring, and collision warning. Lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist round off the list. Exclusive to the Signature are a 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, traffic-jam assist, and reverse Smart City Brake.

For 2021, Mazda went all out on the CX-5's infotainment suite, equipping even the base model with a 10.25-inch display replete with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality. Mazda falters by only supplying four speakers in the S variant, but upgrades to six for the S Select, S Preferred, and S Carbon Edition, while every other trim gets a 10-speaker Bose system. As is to be expected, Bluetooth and dual front USB ports are standard, while from the S Select, dual rear USB charging ports are added and from the S Premium, SiriusXM satellite radio. The top-spec Turbo Signature also includes three year's worth of SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link for a fully connected experience, as well as navigation. The system looks classy and responds well to inputs via the rotary dial on the center console. The Bose sound system we tested wasn't stellar, however, but this small fault aside, the infotainment suite is one of the best in the segment.