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Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | SUV |
| Base Price | $22,792–$27,763 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
With an overall Carivo score of 7.6/10, the 2016 Mazda CX-5 earns a Recommended rating among the suvs we've scored. Its strongest dimension is Reliability at 8.2/10, while Performance at 6.4/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a solid all-rounder that delivers across most dimensions without obvious deal-breakers.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. Reliability comes in at 8.2/10 in our assessment — above the middle of the pack for this class, though not flawless. On safety it earns 7.9/10: respectable, if not class-leading — several competitors bundle more driver-assist tech as standard. Check your trim's official ratings at nhtsa.gov.
Performance at 6.4/10 is a genuine liability and a score that should factor heavily into any buying decision. The powertrain and chassis dynamics trail class rivals by a meaningful margin — don't overlook it. Technology comes in at 7.1/10 — functional and modern, with wireless connectivity and core ADAS features, though some competitors pack more standard tech at this price point.
Priced from $22,792–$27,763, 20 MPG, seating 5, the Mazda CX-5 sits in the budget-friendly tier of the suv market. Value lands at 7.9/10 — you get what you pay for, no more and no less, with a few rivals offering slightly better per-dollar returns. At 10 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Bottom line: Think of the 2016 Mazda CX-5 as the dependable pick rather than the exciting one. Its softer scores in performance are the only real asterisks. Shoppers who value predictability over headlines will be well served.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2016 Mazda CX-5 ranks #737 of 2454 suvs in the Carivo database — better than 70% of the segment. Its 7.6/10 overall score is 0.2 points above the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $22,792 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $36,079 by about 37%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full SUV ranking → · Best SUVs under $25k →
Across the CX-5 model years we've scored, the 2016 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8.1/10 | $30,889 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 8.1/10 | $30,889 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 8.1/10 | $29,990 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 8.0/10 | $29,090 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.9/10 | $28,190 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.8/10 | $27,290 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.8/10 | $26,391 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.9/10 | $25,491 | Read review → |
| 2018 | 7.8/10 | $24,591 | Read review → |
| 2017 | 7.7/10 | $23,692 | Read review → |
| 2016 (this review) | 7.6/10 | $22,792 | |
| 2015 | 7.6/10 | $21,892 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Structure / Body / Hatchback/liftgate 06/09/2016 · 16V644000 | Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles… |
|---|---|
| Steering 11/04/2016 · 16V203000 | Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014, 2014-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured January… |
| Fuel system, gasoline / Storage / Tank assembly / Filler pipe and cap 03/02/2016 · 16V064000 | Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Mazda CX-5 vehicles manufactured June 27, 2013, to February 2, 2016. The affected vehicles have a fuel filler pipe that may rupture in the event of a crash. As such, these… |
| Visibility / Windshield 19/01/2016 · 16E002000 | Pilkington North America, Inc. (Pilkington) is recalling certain replacement windshields, model FW04026 GTY, manufactured November 23, 2015, to December 16, 2015 for use in Mazda CX-5 vehicles that are equipped with the Smart City Brake Support system.… |
| Exterior lighting / Headlights 06/02/2020 · 20V063000 | Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016 CX-5 vehicles. The LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) may fail while driving. |
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
We rate the 2016 Mazda CX-5's reliability 8.2/10 — one of the stronger records in its class. It has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
5 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 7.6/10 overall, ranking #737 of 2454 suvs in our database (better than 70% of the segment). A solid choice for most buyers — compare it against the segment leaders before deciding.
The 2016 Mazda CX-5 starts at $22,792 and ranges up to $27,763 across trims (MSRP when new). At 20 MPG, expect roughly $2,625/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Explore the full lineup of Mazda models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.