Models · Mazda
Mazda CX-5 KE buying guide
The first-generation CX-5, sold from 2012 to 2017 with a 2.0 Skyactiv petrol and a 2.2 diesel in two outputs, in front or four-wheel drive. It is a well-liked used SUV, and the checks centre on how the diesel has been used.
The versions
- 2.0 Skyactiv-G petrol: 165hp
- 2.2 diesel: 150hp, front-wheel drive, usually manual
- 2.2 diesel: 175hp, four-wheel drive, usually automatic
- Six-speed manual or six-speed automatic; four-wheel drive uses an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch
What to check on a KE CX-5
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Diesel in the engine oil
What to look for: On a diesel, check the dipstick on level ground and sniff the oil for diesel. Oil above the full line is a warning sign, and oil that has reached the third, X mark on the dipstick is a sign to look for a better-kept example. Ask how the car has been used.
Why it matters: An interrupted DPF regeneration dilutes the oil with fuel, and short trips, low speeds and long idling are the cause. A first DPF warning needs a drive of at least 20 minutes above 20mph; ignoring warnings leads to limp mode and a new filter. Low-mileage diesels used for short journeys are the ones to approach with care.
2.2 diesel injector seals
What to look for: On a diesel, look for paperwork showing the injector seals have been replaced, which Mazda recommends at the 75,000-mile service. Ask whether the 2019 recall for carbon on the intake shutter valve was done on an early car.
Why it matters: Leaking injector seals let unburnt fuel into the engine, causing carbon build-up that can block the oil pickup, starving the engine of oil. A car with the seals done on time, or earlier, has been looked after.
Clutch and dual-mass flywheel
What to look for: On a manual, especially a 175hp diesel, feel for judder pulling away, clutch slip under firm acceleration in a high gear, and rumbles, clonks or vibration at steady speed.
Why it matters: Those are the signs of a worn clutch or dual-mass flywheel. On four-wheel-drive cars, vibration can also point to worn bushes. Four-wheel-drive cars need closely matched tyres, at least the same brand on each axle.
Also in the full guide
- Rust near window edges and handles
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the KE CX-5
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Mazda.