2026 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S: Stamford Buyers Guide

2026 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S at Riley Mazda in Stamford, CT

Quick Answer: 2026 CX-5 2.5 S

The 2.5 S opens the redesigned CX-5 range at $29,990 MSRP plus $1,495 destination, and it is the rare base trim that keeps every piece of the model's core hardware: the 187-hp Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter engine, six-speed automatic, standard i-Activ AWD, the 12.9-inch center touchscreen with Google built-in, and the full expanded i-Activsense safety suite. What the higher trims add is comfort and convenience, not capability. For Stamford shoppers who want a new AWD compact SUV under $30,000 before destination, this is the one to see at Riley Mazda on Myrtle Avenue.

What $29,990 actually buys

Mazda took an unusual approach to the new CX-5's entry point. Rather than building a decontented advertisement for the trims above it, the 2.5 S gets the redesign whole: the longer body, the grown-up back seat, the bigger cargo hold, the 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, and a 12.9-inch center screen running Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play natively. That last part matters more than it sounds. This is the first Mazda ever sold with Google built-in, and the base car gets the same software as the flagship, complimentary for the first year through the Mazda Connected Services trial, which also unlocks remote start from the MyMazda app.

The drivetrain story is even simpler. All-wheel drive is standard, the engine is the same 187-hp four-cylinder found in the $38,990 car, and the EPA numbers, 24 city and 30 highway on regular fuel, don't change as you climb the ladder. Nothing about the way a CX-5 goes down Long Ridge Road is reserved for people who spent more.

Safety without an asterisk

The 2.5 S carries the redesign's full expanded safety roster as standard equipment: Rear Automatic Emergency Braking, Rear Cross Traffic Braking, Forward Turn-Across Traffic Braking, Emergency Lane Keeping, Blind Spot Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, and Mazda Radar Cruise Control with speed limit assist, plus blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and Vehicle Exit Warning, which watches for cyclists and cars approaching as you open a door. On a street-parked car downtown, that feature earns its keep weekly.

What you give up, honestly

Three things worth knowing before you decide the base car is your car. Seats are cloth-adjacent rather than the Select's leatherette-and-microsuede mix. Apple CarPlay's wireless connection is listed from the Select trim up, so phone mirroring on the 2.5 S is a Google-first affair. And the side mirrors skip the Select's heated, auto-folding upgrade, which you notice in a February ice storm and on the narrow squeeze into a downtown parking garage. None of these change the driving; all of them are the $2,000 conversation with the Select guide.

Buying the entry trim at a family store

A base-model buyer meets the same process as everyone else at Riley Mazda, which is exactly the point of the store's Omotenashi philosophy. The dealership has been family-run since 1959 and holds a 4.8-star Google rating across 2,000-plus reviews, and buyers regularly report driving past nearer stores to shop here. One of them: "This is one of the best dealerships I ever did business with. I came from Milford to purchase a new Mazda CX-5 from Riley Mazda in Stamford." — Joe P. Another, after cross-shopping other brands: "The initial negotiation was very relaxed and there was no pressure on me to make an immediate decision." — Darren C.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the 2026 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S?

$29,990 MSRP plus the $1,495 destination charge, before Connecticut's 6.35% sales tax, registration, and any current offers. The pricing & leasing guide runs the full out-the-door math, and Riley Mazda's specials page lists what's live this month.

Does the base CX-5 have AWD?

Yes. i-Activ AWD is standard on every 2026 CX-5 trim, including this one — there is no front-wheel-drive version. The system shifts torque proactively based on wheel-load data, which is the difference-maker on unplowed mornings in North Stamford.

Does the 2.5 S have the big screen?

It has the standard 12.9-inch center touchscreen, which is larger than most rivals' base displays. The 15.6-inch screen, the largest ever on a Mazda, is exclusive to the Premium Plus.

Is the 2.5 S engine different from the other trims?

No — every 2026 CX-5 uses the same 187-hp Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter four-cylinder and six-speed automatic. There is no turbo option at launch, so the base trim gives up nothing in acceleration to the top one.

Is the base CX-5 in stock in Stamford?

Riley Mazda's live inventory shows current 2.5 S availability and colors. Entry trims turn quickly; the team can flag an inbound build if your color isn't on the ground at 75 Myrtle Avenue.

The bottom line

The 2.5 S is the redesigned CX-5 at its most rational: identical bones to the flagship, four figures less on the sticker, and standard AWD that half its competitors still charge extra for. If heated seats in January and wireless CarPlay sound essential rather than nice, spend the $2,000 on the Select. If not, this is the quiet value play of the range.

More 2026 Mazda CX-5 guides

MSRP excludes the $1,495 destination charge ($1,540 in Alaska) plus taxes, title, registration, and dealer-installed options; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Fuel-economy figures are EPA estimates. Equipment and availability can shift with configuration and production timing; confirm current specs with Riley Mazda. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Riley Mazda.