Mazda is dropping front-wheel drive from the CX-5 lineup entirely. Every 2027 CX-5, from the base trim on up, now comes standard with i-ACTIV AWD paired with a 2.5-liter SKYACTIV-G engine making 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque, according to Mazda’s announcement lifted from embargo on October 26. That’s a meaningful change for a crossover that’s long offered AWD as an upgrade rather than a given.
The bigger news for daily use might be inside the cabin. The 2027 CX-5 gets a new 15.6-inch center touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa Built-in, and Mazda Connected Services baked in from the base trim up. Despite the added hardware and the AWD-for-all shift, Mazda is holding the starting price at $29,990, keeping its best-selling model squarely in reach for family shoppers cross-shopping the compact crossover class.
Previously, shoppers who wanted all-wheel drive on a CX-5 had to pay extra for it or step up to a higher trim, depending on the model year. That calculation is gone for 2027. Every CX-5 buyer gets i-ACTIV AWD and the 2.5-liter SKYACTIV-G four-cylinder as the sole engine option, which simplifies the buying decision and means nobody ends up with a front-wheel-drive CX-5 by accident or by budget.
For families in snow or rain-heavy regions, that’s a real value add disguised as a spec sheet change. It also means Mazda doesn’t have to maintain two drivetrain configurations across the trim walk, which likely helped keep the starting price steady despite the added standard content elsewhere in the car.
The 15.6-inch center display is the most visible change inside the cabin, and it comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard across the lineup, not reserved for upper trims. Alexa Built-in and Mazda Connected Services round out the connectivity package, putting the CX-5 on more even footing with rivals that have offered larger touchscreens and wireless phone integration for a few model years already.
Comfort and convenience options follow the same theme of broader availability, including leather seating, wireless phone charging, a Bose 12-speaker audio system, and a panoramic moonroof on higher trims.
Mazda is equipping every 2027 CX-5 with its i-Activsense suite as standard equipment, including Smart Brake Support, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane-Keep Assist, Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go, and Driver Attention Alert. That’s a wide net of driver-assist features for a base-trim price point.
Buyers who want more can step up to Driver Monitoring, a 360-degree View Monitor, Front Cross Traffic Alert, and Cruising & Traffic Support on higher trims. The CX-5 will be available in five paint finishes, including Soul Red Crystal Metallic and Rhodium White Premium, when it arrives at dealers.
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