2026 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S Premium
MSRP $38,395 including destination and delivery, against MSRP $35,745 for the 2.5 S Preferred one rung below. What that step buys is materials — leather-trimmed seating and a heated steering wheel. The engine, the transmission, the 12.9-inch display and standard i-ACTIV AWD® are the same on both.
What the Premium Adds Over the 2.5 S Preferred
Both trims run the same 187-hp SKYACTIV®-G 2.5, the same 6-speed automatic, the same 12.9-inch display and the same standard i-ACTIV AWD®, so the move from MSRP $35,745 to MSRP $38,395 is cabin materials and nothing else. Two items, both standard on this trim.
Leather-Trimmed Seating
Leather-trimmed seating in place of the upholstery the trims below carry. It is the change you notice every time you get in, and it is the reason most of this trim’s step exists.
A Heated Steering Wheel
A heated steering wheel, alongside the heated front seats the trim below already has. Like the seats, it earns its keep on a handful of Gulf Coast mornings rather than through a whole season.
Where This Trim Sits
Five trims, one engine, one drivetrain. The two rungs below are the only ones a 2.5 S Premium shopper is usually still weighing, so they are the only ones compared here — the full ladder, the colour palette and what changed in the redesign are on the CX-5 model page.
2.5 S Select
2.5 S Preferred
2.5 S Premium
Choose the 2.5 S Premium If…
Leather-trimmed seating and a heated steering wheel are worth the step from MSRP $35,745 to MSRP $38,395 to you, and the 15.6-inch display, hands-free liftgate and 360° View Monitor on the trim above are not what you are shopping for.
Choose a Trim Below It If…
The upholstery below is upholstery enough. Nothing about how a CX-5 drives changes as you come down the ladder: same engine, same transmission, same 12.9-inch display, same standard i-ACTIV AWD® — and the heated front seats and power liftgate arrive one rung lower.
Other CX-5 Trims in Detail
MSRP includes destination and delivery. Excludes tax, title, license, a $895 dealer documentary service fee and a $16.50 tag fee.
What the Step Up Does Not Change
Worth stating plainly, because it is half of the decision: the numbers below are identical on this trim, on the three beneath it and on the one above it. Nothing here is a reason to move in either direction.
SKYACTIV®-G 2.5
- 187 horsepower at 6,000 rpm
- 186 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm
- Naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder — the outgoing CX-5’s turbocharged engine is not offered
- Regular unleaded, 87 octane
i-ACTIV AWD® & 6-Speed Automatic
- i-ACTIV AWD® standard on every trim in the lineup
- 6-speed automatic transmission
- Paddle shifters on the flagship trim only
- Up to 1,500 lb towing, properly equipped, on every trim
26 MPG Combined
- 24 mpg city / 30 mpg highway / 26 mpg combined
- Five passengers, two rows
- 33.7 cu ft behind the rear seat, 66.5 cu ft with it folded
- 3-yr/36,000-mile basic and 5-yr/60,000-mile powertrain warranty
The 2.5 S Premium at Dean McCrary Mazda
The 2.5 S Premium is the second rung from the top of the five-trim CX-5 ladder at MSRP $38,395, including destination and delivery. The trim directly beneath it, the 2.5 S Preferred, is MSRP $35,745, and because the CX-5 lineup shares a single 187-hp SKYACTIV®-G 2.5-liter engine, a single 6-speed automatic and standard i-ACTIV AWD® from the 2.5 S upward, that $2,650 difference is entirely equipment. Dean McCrary Mazda stocks the CX-5 lineup on the I-65 Service Road in Mobile.
Is the Step Up Worth It?
It comes down to two items, because they are the two this trim adds: leather-trimmed seating and a heated steering wheel. Everything mechanical is unchanged — the same 187-hp engine, the same 6-speed automatic, the same standard i-ACTIV AWD®, the same 26 mpg combined, the same 1,500 lb of towing and the same 33.7 cu ft of cargo space — and so is the 12.9-inch center display, which is worth knowing if the screen is what you thought you were buying. The 15.6-inch display, the hands-free power liftgate, the 360° View Monitor and the Adaptive Front-Lighting System are one rung further up, on the flagship.
Trim mix on the ground changes week to week. Ask our team which 2.5 S Premium cars are in stock and which are in transit, or start with the 2.5 S Premium inventory and the rest of the CX-5 lineup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the CX-5 2.5 S Premium?⌄
MSRP $38,395, including destination and delivery. The trim directly below it, the 2.5 S Preferred, is MSRP $35,745, so the step up is $2,650 on the same MSRP basis. MSRP excludes tax, title, license, the dealer documentary service fee and the tag fee.
What does the 2.5 S Premium add over the 2.5 S Preferred?⌄
Two things: leather-trimmed seating and a heated steering wheel. The engine, the transmission, the 12.9-inch center display and the standard i-ACTIV AWD® do not change.
Is the 2.5 S Premium quicker than the trims below it?⌄
No. Every CX-5 in this lineup uses the same 187-hp SKYACTIV®-G 2.5-liter engine and the same 6-speed automatic, and the redesign dropped the turbocharged engine entirely. Horsepower is not something you buy up this ladder.
Is all-wheel drive standard on the 2.5 S Premium?⌄
Yes. i-ACTIV AWD® is standard on the 2.5 S Premium and on every other trim in the lineup, so all-wheel drive is not part of what the step up buys and there is no upcharge to add anywhere.
Does the 2.5 S Premium tow or carry more than the other trims?⌄
No. Towing is 1,500 lb properly equipped and cargo is 33.7 cu ft behind the rear seat, 66.5 cu ft with the second row folded, on every trim including this one. Fuel economy is the same 26 mpg combined, 24 city and 30 highway, for the same reason: one engine, one drivetrain.
Where does the 2.5 S Premium sit in the CX-5 lineup?⌄
Fourth of five trims. The ladder runs MSRP $31,485 on the 2.5 S, MSRP $33,485 on the 2.5 S Select, MSRP $35,745 on the 2.5 S Preferred, MSRP $38,395 here and MSRP $40,485 on the 2.5 S Premium Plus. The flagship above it is the only trim with the 15.6-inch display, and there is no Signature or turbocharged trim in this lineup at all.
Where can I see a 2.5 S Premium near Mobile, AL?⌄
Dean McCrary Mazda is at 1739 E I-65 Service Rd S in Mobile, on the I-65 Service Road. Ask our team which 2.5 S Premium cars are on the ground and which are in transit — trim mix moves week to week, and the equipment above is set by trim rather than by an option package.
