2026 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S Preferred: Stamford Buyers Guide

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

Quick Answer: 2026 CX-5 2.5 S Preferred

The Preferred is the middle trim of the redesigned 2026 CX-5, priced at $34,250 MSRP plus $1,495 destination. The $2,260 step up from the Select buys 19-inch machine-cut alloy wheels with a black finish, a 10-way power driver's seat with two-position memory, and a programmable power rear liftgate. It shares the range's universal 187-hp engine, six-speed automatic, standard i-Activ AWD, 12.9-inch Google built-in screen, and full safety suite. For two-driver households around Stamford, the memory seat alone tends to close the argument — and Riley Mazda on Myrtle Avenue can put a Preferred and a Select side by side to prove it.

The two-driver-household trim

Feature lists undersell what the Preferred actually fixes. In a family where a CX-5 does school drop-off at Westover in the morning and the Metro-North run in the evening, the 10-way power seat with memory ends the twice-daily readjustment ritual: two buttons, two drivers, done. The programmable power liftgate earns its place in a week of grocery runs, and programmable height matters more than it sounds if your garage clearance on a North Stamford colonial is tight. The 19-inch machine-cut wheels with their black finish are the visual tell that separates a Preferred from the trims below at a glance.

One honest note on those wheels: bigger diameter means shorter sidewall, and Fairfield County's post-winter pavement is not gentle. The trade is looks for a slightly firmer ride over broken asphalt, the same trade every rival makes at this tier. The tire center at the dealership backs its rubber with 24-month road-hazard coverage, which around here is not a theoretical benefit.

What carries over, what waits above

Under the styling, the Preferred is mechanically identical to every other 2026 CX-5: same 187-hp Skyactiv-G 2.5, same six-speed automatic, same proactive all-wheel drive, same 24/30 EPA numbers on regular fuel, same expanded i-Activsense roster standard. Below it, the Select guide covers the $31,990 case. Above it, the Premium asks $2,650 more for the sensory package — Bose 12-speaker sound, panoramic moonroof, genuine leather — and the Premium Plus tops the range with the 15.6-inch screen and hands-free liftgate.

How the buying part goes on Myrtle Avenue

Riley Mazda's reviews read unusually consistently for a car dealership, and the mid-range buyer gets the same treatment as the flagship one. A recent CX-5 buyer: "From the moment I walked in, he was super friendly and knowledgeable. He took the time to listen to my needs and answered all my questions without any pressure." — Irene P., describing sales consultant Richie. The store has been in the same family for three generations since 1959, carries a 4.8-star Google average over 2,000-plus reviews, and serves the whole corridor from Greenwich to Norwalk from its Stamford address near the train station.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the 2026 CX-5 Preferred?

$34,250 MSRP plus $1,495 destination, before Connecticut's 6.35% sales tax and fees. Current lease and finance programs are on Riley Mazda's specials page; the pricing & leasing guide covers the rest of the math.

What does the Preferred add over the Select?

19-inch machine-cut alloys with a black finish, the 10-way power driver's seat with two-position memory, and the programmable power rear liftgate. It keeps the Select's leatherette-microsuede seats, wireless CarPlay, and heated folding mirrors.

Is the Preferred worth it over the Select?

If two people drive the car, usually yes — seat memory is the feature households report using most. If one person drives it and the liftgate doesn't move you, the Select keeps $2,260 in your pocket with zero mechanical difference.

Does the Preferred have a moonroof or Bose audio?

No — both arrive on the Premium at $36,900, along with leather seating. The Preferred is the last trim before the CX-5 turns from practical to plush.

Can I see a Preferred in Navy Blue Mica near Stamford?

Check Riley Mazda's live inventory — the new color is in demand, and the team can locate or flag an inbound build if the combination you want isn't on the lot.

The bottom line

The Preferred is the trim for buyers who've outgrown adjusting the seat by hand but don't need their SUV to sing. It moves the CX-5 from well-equipped to genuinely convenient for exactly $2,260, and in a two-commuter household that money works every single day.

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.