2025 Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport Review 

For 2025, Mazda’s CX-5 lineup remains unchanged, with five versions on offer aimed at appealing to a wider range of price points within the medium SUV segment. 

The Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport sits at the more affordable end of the CX-5 spectrum, placed above the entry-level Maxx and below more premium Touring variants, making it one of the best-selling versions. 

Just how good is the Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport and is it still one of the most appealing trim levels of Mazda’s family-favourite midsize SUV range? Let’s take a closer look to find out. 

Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport Competition

How Much Does the Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport Cost?

The Mazda CX-5 G25 Maxx Sport range is priced from $40,310 for the entry-level front-wheel drive version, while the CX-5 G25 Maxx Sport AWD is priced at $42,810 before on-road costs. 

For reference, Mazda’s entry-level CX-5 G20 Maxx FWD is priced at $36,950 while stepping up to the G25 Touring AWD is priced at $44,950 and the range-topping G35 Akera AWD is priced at $55,000. 

Prices for the entire MY25 Mazda CX-5 range can be found below. 

• CX-5 G20 Maxx FWD - $36,950

• CX-5 G25 Maxx Sport FWD - $40,310

• CX-5 G25 Maxx Sport AWD - $42,810

• CX-5 G25 Touring AWD - $44,950

• CX-5 G25 GT SP AWD - $50,310

• CX-5 G25 Akera AWD - $52,500

• CX-5 G35 GT SP AWD - $52,810

• CX-5 G35 Akera AWD - $55,000 

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs. 

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Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport (FWD) Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport Have?

The Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport comes riding on a set of 17-inch alloys and receives automatic LED head and tail lights, black cloth upholstery with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever, dual-zone climate control, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, keyless entry & start, a head-up display and a 7.0-inch TFT instrument cluster. 

You’ll also pick up wheel-mounted paddle shifters, rear air vents, USB charging ports and a rear armrest, reclining rear seats, power-folding side mirrors, adaptive cruise control, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors and automatic wipers. 

Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport Connectivity & Infotainment Features 

Mazda’s CX-5 Maxx Sport, as well as every member of the MY25 CX-5 range comes packaged with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display sitting neatly atop the dashboard. 

The 10.25-inch display is packaged with DAB+ digital radio, as well as the usual AM/FM radio suspects, while the Maxx Sport has satellite navigation bundled in for good measure. 

Most of the CX-5 range receives a six-speaker sound system, while the GT SP and Akera pick up a ten-speaker sound system from Bose. 

Buyers also pick up a three-year subscription to the Mazda connected services system via the MyMazda smartphone application, which offers vehicle diagnostics, health status updates, remote locking, stolen vehicle tracking, live traffic and weather information and remote locking. 

Does the Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Potential buyers will be pleased to know that all variants of the MY25 Mazda CX-5 range come offering wireless smartphone mirroring. 

That means you can simply climb aboard with your phone in your pocket and gain access to your preferred navigation app, music and podcasts via the CX-5’s wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. 

Is the Mazda CX-5 Comfortable to Drive?

The Mazda CX-5 range ticks all the important boxes that midsize SUV buyers are looking for, while impressing with a surprisingly sporty nature behind the wheel. 

In Maxx Sport form, the CX-5 is offered with Mazda’s ‘G25’ engine, a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol that produces 140kW of power and 252Nm of torque. 

Power is thrown to either the front wheels, in front-wheel drive variants, or all four wheels in AWD versions of the CX-5 Maxx Sport via a six-speed automatic transmission. 

Mazda’s G25 engine is a great unit, offering a substantial power and torque increase from the base G20 engine. 

While it falls short of the G35’s turbocharged performance, it remains a willing engine that produces a decent amount of power for everyday driving while maintaining healthy fuel economy figures. 

Off the line, the CX-5 Maxx Sport feels eager, with smooth shifts on offer from the six-speed automatic that blends gears together in a particularly refined manner. 

Around town, the CX-5 Maxx Sport is extremely well-mannered thanks to its lively steering and agile handling for a midsize SUV package. 

The trade-off here is that the steering rack isn’t quite as light as some of its rivals, though it does offer a lot more in the way of feedback and isn’t isolating when it’s time for a three-point turn or while parking. 

The ride is great, soaking up moderate bumps without much of an issue while mitigating body roll in the corners, making it quite an agile SUV in the urban jungle. 

Hit the open road and you’ll be particularly happy with how the CX-5 handles, remaining one of the sharpest and most energetic midsize SUVs in the segment. 

In Maxx Sport form, the CX-5’s 17-inch alloys accommodate a wider-profile tyre, too, which means you’ve got more cushioning over potholes and larger bumps that help when tackling a rougher stretch of Australian backroads. 

For buyers opting for the CX-5 Maxx AWD, the added stability and grip at the front axle prove a welcome addition when exposed to the elements but don’t warrant an instant upgrade, particularly for city buyers. 

On the highway, the CX-5 Maxx Sport is faultless - remaining smooth while offering enough power for brief stints of overtaking, making for a great long-distance tourer. 

All things considered, the CX-5 Maxx Sport is a great midsize SUV package that proves family-friendly motoring doesn’t have to be a boring affair.  

Is the Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport Fuel Efficient?

Mazda’s G25 engine is a fairly strong performer when it comes to fuel efficiency, though buyers ticking the box on AWD versions will be using slightly more petrol than front-wheel drive versions. 

On a combined cycle, the Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport range with the 2.5-litre four-cylinder ‘G25’ engine is rated at 7.2L per 100km on a combined cycle in FWD form, while AWD versions are rated at 7.4L per 100km. 

The CX-5 Maxx Sport picks up a 56L fuel tank and can run on 91RON regular unleaded fuel. 

• CX-5 Maxx Sport FWD Combined Cycle Fuel Consumption: 7.2L/100km

• CX-5 Maxx Sport AWD Combined Cycle Fuel Consumption: 7.4L/100km

How Much Fuel Does the Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport use Around Town? 

• CX-5 Maxx Sport FWD City Consumption: 9.2L/100km

• CX-5 Maxx Sport AWD City Consumption: 9.2L/100km

How Much Fuel Does the Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport use on the Highway?

• CX-5 Maxx Sport FWD Highway Consumption: 6.0L/100km

• CX-5 Maxx Sport AWD Highway Consumption: 6.3L/100km

Is the Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport Practical and Spacious?

While it’s not the outright biggest or most practical member of the midsize SUV pack, the CX-5 remains at the top of the segment when it comes to an attractive interior layout. 

It may sit at the lower end of the CX-5 spectrum, but the Maxx Sport picks up an interior layout that looks sleek, simple and super attractive. 

While not much has changed in recent years, the CX-5’s cabin is a treat, with the premium leather-upholstered finish for the steering wheel providing an upgrade over the cloth-upholstered seats. 

It’s a largely blacked-out affair for the cabin design, which can prove a bit of a showcase for minute specs of dust and debris but the overall layout still feels sharp and modern for the segment. 

Climb aboard and there’s a decent amount of headroom for taller drivers, though the updated seats can prove a bit tight in terms of side bolstering for larger adults in the cockpit. 

In terms of storage, the CX-5 Maxx Sport picks up a storage tray behind the gear lever, a pair of cupholders and added capacity inside the folding armrest in the centre console. 

You’ll also find a pair of large door bins capable of holding larger bottles and a glovebox in front of the passenger’s seat. 

All up, solid marks for practicality in the front of the cabin but nothing groundbreaking for the segment. 

Move to the second row and it’s a familiar story. 

The CX-5’s rear bench seats offer a solid amount of legroom, capable of accommodating adults for a run around town but remains somewhere in the middle of the segment when it comes to outright accommodation. 

Headroom is healthy, even for adults seated in the CX-5’s second row, while the Maxx Sport’s USB chargers, dedicated air vents and a folding armrest with cupholders make it a much more welcoming experience in the rear over the base model. 

For family buyers, the CX-5 is packaged with two pairs of ISOFIX anchors in each of the outboard seats, as well as three top tether mounts hiding behind the seatback. 

One particularly welcome feature for parents are the wide-aperture rear doors that make the process of installing and removing a bulky rear-facing child seat a relatively simple task. 

All up, the Mazda CX-5 platform proves a stylish and reasonably practical midsize SUV for family buyers, while those upgrading to the Maxx Sport specifically pick up some features in the second row that make it more welcoming for those in the rear. 

How Big is the Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport’s Boot?

The Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport has a boot measuring 438L with the rear seats standing, which positions it somewhere in the middle of the segment when it comes to outright boot capacity. 

Folding the CX-5’s second row seats flat means you’ll unlock 1,340L of cargo capacity when it’s time to lug around bulky cargo and sports equipment. 

• CX-5 Maxx Sport Boot Min: 438L

• CX-5 Maxx Sport Boot Max: 1,340L 

Is the Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport Safe?

The Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport comes packaged with a lengthy safety equipment list, though some active safety tech remains reserved for more premium members of the CX-5 range. 

As standard, the CX-5 Maxx Sport receives forward and reverse autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts and lane-keep assistance. 

You’ll also pick up driver attention and lane-departure alerts, adaptive cruise control, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring, traffic sign recognition and curtain airbags. 

Unfortunately, front-mounted parking sensors and Mazda’s Cruising and Traffic Support system are reserved for the CX-5 GT and Akera, respectively. 

Does the Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The MY25 CX-5 range has seen its previous five-star ANCAP safety rating expire at the end of December, 2023. 

At the time of publishing, the CX-5 remains unrated by ANCAP. 

For reference, the CX-5’s previous five-star ANCAP safety rating was achieved after scoring the following marks during 2017 testing. 

• Adult Occupant Protection: 95%

• Child Occupant Protection: 80%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 78%

• Safety Assist: 59% 

What Warranty Does the Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport Come With?

Mazda offers the CX-5 range with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. 

Buyers also pick up a five-year roadside assistance membership. 

Servicing costs for the Maxx Sport’s G25 engine are slightly more than the entry-level G20, but remain more affordable than the turbocharged G35 engine. 

Mazda says that five visits to the service centre will set you back $2,179, while seven years of servicing for the CX-5 Maxx Sport brings the total to $3,124. 

Service intervals for the MY25 CX-5 range stand at 12 months or 15,000 kilometres. 

Our Verdict: Is the Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport Worth it?

The Mazda CX-5 is a great midsize SUV for the family that impresses with its sleek interior layout and great on-road manners. 

More specifically, the CX-5 Maxx Sport picks up a number of creature comforts that make the experience more enjoyable for those seated in the rear, making it a worthwhile upgrade for families. 

It’s also the most affordable member of the CX-5 range with an all-wheel-drive system. 

While it’s not a segment leader in terms of rear accommodation or boot space, the CX-5 platform certainly gets the job done and, thanks to a recent infotainment upgrade, offers a whole lot for a reasonable price in Maxx Sport form. 

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new family SUV, our team of car-buying specialists is on hand to find you the best price and help you skip the waitlist. 

Five Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport Specs You Need to Know

• Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

• 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol with six-speed automatic

• Front-wheel and all-wheel drive layouts available

• 438 - 1,340L boot space figures

• Expired five-star ANCAP safety rating