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Higher and higher! Mazda CX-5 update brings better in-car tech, but it comes with a price increase

The updated CX-5 is now offered in a white hue that was previously reserved for the CX-60.

Mazda has upped prices and upgraded the multimedia tech for its top-selling CX-5 SUV, but one model grade has been dropped.

The model year 2023 update was first reported by CarsGuide last week following the leak of a dealer brochure.

As reported, the CX-5 loses the base model Maxx manual, leaving the Maxx auto as the new range opener.

CX-5 pricing now starts from $35,390 before on-road costs, which is $3000 more than before due to the loss of the cheaper manual.

All Maxx, Maxx Sport and Touring grades have increased in price by $1000 apiece, while the two GT variants are up by $200 each.

All Akera grades are up by $500, meaning the CX-5 range tops out at $54,380 for the turbo-diesel Akera.

Pricing remains competitive with other mainstream SUVs of this size, including the Toyota RAV4 ($34,400-$52,700), Subaru Forester ($37,890-$49,340), the upcoming Nissan X-Trail ($36,750-$57,190) and Mitsubishi Outlander ($35,990-$68,490) among others.

As reported, the main change to the 2023 CX-5 is the inclusion of the 10.25-inch multimedia screen across all grades, up from the 8.0-inch display that was offered in all but the GT SP and Akera grades.

For Maxx Sport and above the multimedia system now includes the latest sat-nav system.

The CX-5 also gains a pair of USB-C ports up front.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will also be included in all grades from Maxx Sport up, although Android Auto will only be added after the vehicles have launched via an update.

Other new features include remote window opening and closing via the key fob, while a new Rhodium White paint option from the new CX-60 will also be offered for CX-5.

Mazda has also increased the service schedule from 12 months or 10,000km whichever comes first, to 12 months or 15,000km.

Nothing has changed under the skin, with the Maxx continuing on with the 115kW/200Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine, while other grades come with either a 140kW/252Nm 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol, a 140kW/450Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel unit or the 2.5-litre turbo petrol pumping out 170kW/420Nm.

Supply of the CX-5 seems to have been sorted out because sales of Mazda’s top-selling model have increased significantly this year.

It follows the launch of the facelifted version earlier in 2022 which has seen interest rise. Sales figures released this week show that the CX-5 was the fourth best-selling model in Australia last month with 2352 registrations, which is 237 per cent more than the same month in 2021.

2023 Mazda CX-5 pricing before on-road costs

VariantTransmissionCost
Maxx FWDAutomatic$35,390 (+$1000)
Maxx Sport FWDAutomatic$39,190 (+$1000)
Maxx Sport AWDAutomatic$41,690 (+$1000)
Touring AWDAutomatic$43,580 (+$1000)
Touring Active AWDAutomatic$43,880 (+$1000)
Touring Active AWD dieselAutomatic$46,880 (+$1000)
GT SP AWDAutomatic$49,190 (+$200)
GT SP AWD turbo petrolAutomatic$51,690 (+$200)
Akera AWDAutomatic$51,380 (+$500)
Akera AWD dieselAutomatic$54,380 (+$500)
Akera AWD turbo petrolAutomatic$53,880 (+$500)
Tim Nicholson
Managing Editor
Calling out the make and model of every single car he saw as a toddler might have challenged his parents’ patience, but it was clearly a starting point for Tim Nicholson’s journey into automotive journalism. Tim launched the program, Fender Bender, on community radio station JOY 94.9 during completion of his Master of Arts (Media and Communications). This led to an entry role at industry publication GoAuto, before eventually taking the role of Managing Editor. A stint as RACV’s Motoring Editor – including being an Australia’s Best Cars judge – provided a different perspective to automotive media, before leading him to CarsGuide where he started as a Contributing Journalist in September 2021, and transitioned to Senior Editor in April 2022, before becoming Managing Editor in December 2022.
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