At the time of writing, the 2023 Mazda CX-5 is already shaping up to be one of the year's hottest small SUVs. According to Car and Driver, this model boasts a sumptuous cabin and superb handling, but its dimensions are lacking. Is it possible to live with a tight second row in exchange for a near-perfect vehicle?

Jerry

can help you get comfortable with the CX-5 (and your

car insurance

policy). Take a seat and we'll show you how to lower your

Mazda insurance costs

using the App Store's most

trustworthy super app

Make safe driving pay

Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.

Start earning now

How many seats does the 2023 Mazda CX-5 have?

There are five seats in every trim of the 2023 Mazda CX-5, but not every seat is created equal. Here's an overview of every trim on the ladder and what it adds:

2.5 S ($27,975): cloth upholstery (in black), front sport bucket seats, six-way manual driver’s seat, four-way manual front passenger seat, 40/20/40 manually folding second-row bench

Select ($29,775): leatherette upholstery with suede inserts (in black or silk beige), front-row heating, six-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support, six-way manual front passenger seat

Preferred ($31,465): leather upholstery (in black or parchment), eight-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support, a six-way power front passenger seat, driver’s seat memory functions

Carbon Edition ($32,375): exclusive access to the red leather color

Premium ($34,275)

Premium Plus ($36,775): front-row ventilation, second-row heating

Turbo ($38,125)

Turbo Signature ($40,925): Nappa leather upholstery, exclusive access to Caturra Brown Nappa leather color

The good news is, you don't have to climb to the top for your buns to enjoy the best of what Mazda has to offer. The bad news is that there are few standalone options, packages, or accessories available, and none of them relate to seating.

Do all CX-5s have two rows of seats?

Yes. Since its introduction in 2012, the CX-5 has had two rows of seats. It's one of Mazda's worldwide bestsellers (and the company’s smallest crossover), so a third row is unlikely to be added.

2023 Mazda CX-5 interior

With supportive front sport bucket seats and zen horizontal lines on the dashboard, the CX-5 is still riding the high of its 2022 facelift. Higher trims put leather on the seats, genuine wood on the dash, cloth overhead, and leather and metal onto the heated steering wheel in the cabin. If the CX-5’s upscale interior has one fault, it’s its size.

To help you decide if this crossover is a good fit for you, we've listed its dimensions and cargo capacity below.

Dimensions

The CX-5's seating is a little snug all around. As a result of the extremely narrow middle seat, it's difficult to fold a passenger into the second-row bench. For comfort, the rear seatbacks recline.

You can see what we mean from the cabin measurements:

Dimensions	Measurements
Total seats	Five
Passenger volume	103.6 cubic feet
Front-row headroom	39.7 inches
Front-row leg room	41.0 inches
Front-row shoulder room	57.1 inches
Second-row headroom	39.0 inches
Second-row legroom	39.6 inches
Second-row shoulder room	54.8 inches

Compare insurance quotes from 50+ insurance companies with Jerry in under 45 seconds

Find Savings!

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

MORE:

How to protect cloth car seats

Cargo space

A lightweight chassis and compact size don't lend themselves to a lot of storage. The CX-5 can fit 29.1 cubic feet of cargo behind the second row and 59.3 cu-ft behind the first. In contrast, the

2022 Honda CR-V

fits 75.8 cu-ft, and the

2022 Hyundai Tucson

has 80.3 cu-ft of luggage around the same number of seats.

Mazda has done its best to make up for it with seatback pockets, front/rear cupholders, inner door pockets, and a front console with a tray and bin. As long as you aren’t carrying anything larger than a book or phone, you can squirrel away plenty of stuff.

The CX-5 can tow up to 2,000 pounds and no, there’s no tow package. However, there are a lot of easy-to-reach car seat anchors and tethers in the back. Check out your owner's manual and you'll be good to go.

MORE:

How to protect, clean, and organize your car trunk

"I’m earning

awesome rewards

every week, just for driving safe!”

How many seats do other Mazda vehicles have?

Mazda reshuffled its 2023 lineup, making the CX-5 its smallest SUV without the

CX-3

. Next up is the 2023 CX-50 ($28,825), whose zero at the end adds a slightly bigger cabin and more rugged appearance. However, you're still stuck with five seats until you upgrade to the CX-9.

With three rows and seating for seven (or six with second-row captain's chairs), the

2023 CX-9

jumps in price and power to $40,025 and a 227-hp 2.5L inline-four engine, respectively. It’s only a slight improvement over the CX-5's 187-hp four-cylinder, but then again, the CX-5 doesn't carry as much weight. There are only 14.4 cu-ft in the cargo space behind the third row, and its towing capacity is capped at 3,500 pounds.

With a starting price of $23,615, the compact

Mazda 3

will be available as a sedan or hatchback, each seating five passengers. Again, chic takes precedence over cargo, leaving the hatchback with 20.1 cu-ft in the rear and the sedan with 13.2 cu-ft in the trunk.

Californians

should keep an eye out for the MX-30 EV, which will launch with five seats and 21 cu-ft of cargo space next year.

MORE:

Everything you need to know about car body types

How to save on Mazda CX-5 insurance costs

It's easy to get comfortable in a new car, but it's hard to settle into a car insurance policy when you're not sure if you're getting the best price. You need the help of a trusted, licensed broker in those cases. Luckily, there’s one available for download right now:

Jerry

A 4.7-star rating and thousands of positive reviews make Jerry the most trusted super app on the App Store. By partnering with over 50 top insurance companies, Jerry makes it easy to find the best price on your first try.

After you sign up, enter a few details about your coverage, and watch as the most competitive five to seven offers appear on your screen. We'll even send you a new quote comparison before renewal so you can be sure you've got the lowest price.

“I decided to try
Jerry
because my car insurance had been increasing drastically with each policy renewal. Jerry found me multiple ways to save after entering just a few pieces of info! I’m saving almost $70 a month after choosing Nationwide.” —Ish M.