The Mazda CX-5 has been our most popular for over a decade. It showed that you can combine excellent driving manners in a practical SUV. It is also known for its outstanding quality and luxurious touches inside the cabin. This is something that Autoblog found out when they reviewed a 2025 CX-5 2.5 Carbon Edition Turbo. They start by saying that “the Mazda CX-5 Carbon Edition offers upscale design and materials uncommon in its price segment.”
The Carbon Edition comes in either the 2.5 S naturally aspirated Skyactiv-G engine or the more powerful turbocharged version – Autoblog tested the latter. The Turbo delivers a maximum of 256 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque.
Carbon Edition models are distinguished by darker-finished accents and wheels. The interior trim matches the exterior's vibe with darker, machined finishes. You can get the Carbon Edition Turbo in only two colors: Rhodium White Metallic or Zircon Sand Metallic.
Upon its first impression, Autoblog wrote, “the Carbon Edition (Turbo) isn’t just about the unique paint job, black trim accents, and black wheels; it’s Mazda doubling down on the idea that you can feel special behind the wheel without stretching your budget into luxury-car territory.”
We emphasized the interior quality that you will find in the CX-5. Autoblog confirmed it by saying this: “When you open the door, the Mazda CX-5 greets you with red leather seats that look and feel more premium than the car’s price point entails. The stitching is tight, and there are soft-touch materials everywhere your hands naturally fall. Even the switchgear has a touch of class to it.”
They continued to say, “Luxury isn’t just about the features a car has; it’s about the atmosphere and the way the car makes you feel, not only when you drive it but even when you’re sitting in it. The CX-5 Carbon Edition (Turbo) nails that atmosphere with its dark accents and sleek curves, with an additional sense of calm that borders on premium.”
Sitting behind the wheel also yields one of the CX-5’s finest traits - the driving experience. Which is why Autoblog called the Carbon Edition Turbo a “true driver’s SUV.” They explain that “the steering is precise, the body stays flat through the turns, and there’s a sense of balance that makes the CX-5 feel smaller than it actually is.”
The Turbo engine got equally high praise from Autoblog: “Mazda tuned the powertrain to respond naturally, which gives it seamless off-the-line power and plenty of traction. On the highway, the CX-5’s cabin stays surprisingly quiet for a mainstream crossover. I couldn’t detect much wind or road noise, which resulted in a subtle hum that feels expensive.”
In summary, Autoblog loved the 2025 CX-5 Carbon Edition Turbo. They stated that “this upper trim level is proof that attainable luxury doesn’t need chrome badges or massive screens. Sometimes, it can be as simple as a thoughtful design, good materials, and a driving experience that respects the person behind the wheel.”
If this is the kind of attainable luxury you are looking for in an SUV, contact us at Team Gillman Mazda to check out the entire lineup of 2025 Mazda CX-5 models soon! We are also home of the Team Gillman Advantage.