Mazda CX-5 Trim Level Breakdown

Mazda CX-5 Trim Levels Compared: From 2.5 S to Premium Plus

Shopping for a compact SUV around Indianapolis usually ends with a lap on I-465 and a hard look at the window sticker. The redesigned CX-5 makes that easier than most. Mazda simplified the lineup this year, so picking a build comes down to features and materials rather than horsepower math.

• Every CX-5 runs the same 187-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder with a six-speed automatic and standard i-ACTIV all-wheel drive.
• Pricing spans $29,990 for the 2.5 S up to $38,990 for the 2.5 S Premium Plus, before the destination charge.
• Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a wiper de-icer arrive at the 2.5 S Preferred, which earns its keep in a Hoosier February.

What Comes on Every CX-5

Mazda made an interesting call with this generation. There’s one engine across all five builds, a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter making 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. It pairs with a six-speed automatic, and all-wheel drive is standard rather than a $1,400 upcharge. EPA estimates land at 24 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined for every version. A run down I-69 to Bloomington costs the same no matter which one sits in your driveway.

Base 2.5 S buyers also get the 12.9-inch touchscreen with Google built in. Google Maps and Gemini voice commands work without tethering your phone. Mazda’s full i-ACTIVSENSE safety suite is standard, too. That covers radar cruise with stop and go, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert with braking, and lane keeping. Cargo room measures 30.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 66.5 cubic feet with the seats folded flat.

Mazda CX-5 Trim Level Breakdown for Indianapolis Shoppers

With the base car covered, the choice becomes how far up the ladder to climb. Moving to the 2.5 S Select adds $2,000. Cloth gives way to leatherette with embossed microsuede inserts. You also pick up wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a charging pad, privacy glass, rear seat air vents, and keyless entry with push-button start. For a lot of Fishers and Lawrence commuters, that’s the sensible stopping point.

Step up to the 2.5 S Preferred and things get cozier. Nineteen-inch machine-cut wheels replace the 17s. Roof rails show up for the kayak rack. Drivers also get a 10-way power seat with memory plus a head-up display on the windshield. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are the real draw here. Anyone who has scraped a windshield in a Broad Ripple driveway in January knows why.

Real leather shows up on the 2.5 S Premium, along with ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a 12-speaker Bose system with SiriusXM 360L. Black exterior trim and color-selectable cabin lighting come with it. Premium Plus tops the ladder with a 15.6-inch center display, hands-free power liftgate, a 360-degree camera, adaptive headlights, and paddle shifters. It also adds Cruising and Traffic Support, which handles lane changes on the interstate once you flip the turn signal.

MSRP figures exclude the destination charge and reflect current model year pricing at the time of publication. Source: Mazda North American Operations.

How the Trims Handle an Indiana Winter

Standard all-wheel drive on every build is a bigger deal here than it sounds. Central Indiana gets a handful of rough mornings each year. Ground clearance sits at 8.0 inches on 17-inch wheels and 8.2 inches on the 19s. That’s plenty for an unplowed side street in Irvington.

Real separation shows up in the small stuff you touch every day. A wiper de-icer on the Preferred melts the ice ridge that builds up at the base of the glass. That heated steering wheel takes the sting out of a cold commute up Binford Boulevard. Skip those, and you’ll wish you hadn’t by the second week of January.

Matching a CX-5 Trim to Your Commute

If your driving is mostly short hops around Castleton and the occasional grocery run, the 2.5 S covers it with room to spare. Longer daily mileage on I-70 or I-465 tilts things toward the Preferred. A power seat with memory and a head-up display make an hour behind the wheel feel shorter. Weekend trips to Brown County or Lake Monroe reward the Premium models. That sunroof and Bose system turn a two-hour drive into something you look forward to. One more thing before you sign anything. Mazda has confirmed a CX-5 hybrid is on the way. If fuel savings outrank everything else on your list, ask us where that timeline stands.

Questions Indianapolis CX-5 Shoppers Ask

Does the Mazda CX-5 come with all-wheel drive on every trim?

Yes. All five CX-5 trims come with i-ACTIV all-wheel drive as standard equipment. Mazda does not offer a front-wheel-drive version, so you get AWD whether you buy the base 2.5 S or the Premium Plus.

Which CX-5 trim is best for Indianapolis winters?

The 2.5 S Preferred is the first trim to include heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a windshield wiper de-icer. Since all-wheel drive is already standard on every trim, the Preferred adds the cold-weather equipment that Indiana drivers use most between December and March.

What kind of gas mileage will I get driving from Indianapolis to Bloomington?

The CX-5 carries EPA estimates of 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined across all trims. On a mostly highway run down I-69 to Bloomington, most drivers should land near the 30 mpg highway figure, depending on speed and load.

How much cargo space does the CX-5 have for a weekend trip?

The CX-5 offers 30.7 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second row and 66.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. That handles camping gear for a trip to Brown County State Park or a full load from a Castleton furniture run.

Is there a hybrid version of the Mazda CX-5?

Not in the lineup as it stands today. Every CX-5 runs the 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G gas engine with a six-speed automatic. Mazda has confirmed a hybrid powertrain is on the way, so ask us where that stands before you buy.

How many trim levels does the Mazda CX-5 have?

The Mazda CX-5 comes in five trims. Those are the 2.5 S, 2.5 S Select, 2.5 S Preferred, 2.5 S Premium, and 2.5 S Premium Plus, with starting prices from $29,990 to $38,990 before destination.

See the Full CX-5 Lineup at Ray Skillman Northeast Mazda

Reading about heated seats and 19-inch wheels only gets you so far. We keep the CX-5 on the lot in multiple trims. Sit in a 2.5 S and a Preferred back to back, and you’ll see what the $4,000 difference actually buys you. Our team knows the lineup inside and out. We’re happy to map out a test drive route on real Indianapolis roads instead of a quick loop around the block. Browse the inventory online first if you’d rather narrow things down at home, then stop by the showroom, and we’ll help you land on the right trim.