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Comparing 2026 Mazda CX-5 trims is easier when you focus on what you will use every day. Select adds useful conveniences, Preferred brings more comfort for Minnesota weather, Premium changes the cabin atmosphere, and Premium Plus adds technology for parking and longer drives. Select: Everyday convenience The CX-5 Select builds on the base 2.5 S with leatherette seating, rear air vents, keyless entry, and wireless phone charging. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also work wirelessly on this trim. During a test drive, pair your phone and have someone sit in the back. If those small conveniences meet your needs, Select may be the right place to start. Preferred: More comfort in changing weather Preferred adds heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a windshield wiper de-icer. The driver also gets a power seat with memory settings, while a full-color Active Driving Display projects information onto the windshield. Outside, Preferred gains 19-inch wheels, roof rails, and a power liftgate. Try setting the driver’s seat, checking the projected display from your normal seating position, and opening the liftgate. These are the upgrades most likely to make Preferred feel different during a regular week. Premium: A different cabin feel Premium adds leather seating, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a panoramic sunroof. It also brings color-selectable ambient lighting and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. Rear passengers gain USB-C charging ports. The difference is easiest to judge from inside. Sit in both rows, look up through the roof, and listen to music you know well. Premium also adds dark exterior details, so walk around the vehicle before deciding how much the styling matters to you. Premium Plus: More help in tight spaces and traffic Premium Plus replaces the 12.9-inch center touchscreen with a 15.6-inch display. It adds a hands-free power liftgate, a 360° View Monitor, and Driver Personalization, which can help adjust the seat and mirrors for the driver. Additional driver assistance features include Front Cross Traffic Alert and Braking and Cruising and Traffic Support with Lane Change Assist. Ask for a demonstration of how these systems operate and what the driver must continue to do while using them. At Mazda of Alexandria, compare the specific CX-5 trims you are considering on the same visit. Use the same route, bring a passenger, and try the features you would use most. That will tell you more than a feature list alone.

Awards rarely tell the whole story. They recognize the finished product, but the real achievement begins years earlier with the decisions engineers and designers make long before a vehicle reaches the road. That's what makes Mazda's safety leadership around Alexandria so impressive. For the third consecutive year, Mazda earned more IIHS Top Safety Pick+ awards than any other automotive brand, reflecting a philosophy that places occupant protection at the center of every vehicle's development. What It Takes to Earn IIHS Top Safety Pick+ The IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award is reserved for vehicles that excel in some of the industry's most demanding evaluations. Crashworthiness, crash avoidance technology, headlight performance, and pedestrian protection all contribute to the final result. Achieving the highest designation requires more than adding advanced driver-assistance systems, it demands a vehicle engineered from the ground up to perform when it matters most. That comprehensive approach has helped Mazda remain an industry leader in IIHS safety recognition. The 2026 Mazda Models Recognized for Excellence Mazda's 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ recipients span nearly the entire lineup. The breadth of those awards is significant. Rather than concentrating safety innovation in a handful of flagship vehicles, Mazda has applied the same engineering philosophy across compact cars, family SUVs, and electrified models alike. That consistency gives buyers the freedom to choose the vehicle that best fits their lifestyle without compromising on occupant protection. Safety Engineered in Every Journey Mazda's design philosophy has always centered on creating vehicles that respond naturally to their drivers. That same philosophy extends to safety through carefully engineered body structures and the i-Activsense® suite of driver-assistance technologies. Available features such as Smart Brake Support, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Lane Departure Warning, and Lane-keep Assist work together to help drivers recognize potential hazards earlier while supporting confident, predictable driving. It's an approach that prioritizes prevention alongside protection. Recognition Built on Consistency The IIHS awards are only part of the story. Consumer Reports also named Mazda the Safest New-Car Brand, reinforcing the brand's reputation for combining thoughtful engineering with advanced safety technology. Independent recognition from multiple organizations reflects a sustained commitment to vehicle design rather than a single successful model year. It's evidence that Mazda's emphasis on craftsmanship extends beyond premium materials and engaging driving dynamics to include the protection of every occupant. Experience Mazda's Award-Winning Lineup at Alexandria Mazda Safety is one of the first qualities families consider when choosing their next vehicle, and Mazda continues to demonstrate that exceptional protection can exist alongside refined design and rewarding performance. Visit us in Alexandria, MN, to compare the award-winning 2026 Mazda lineup and schedule a test drive online to experience Mazda's thoughtful approach to engineering firsthand.