Some used car buyers believe that the first guy should always take the financial hit. Others may worry about buying second-hand because some cars become outdated quickly and others might acquire costly problems just as their warranties disappear. But Mazda nevertheless presents a compelling argument for buying several of its used models, as shown by the five cars below.
They illustrate an interesting combination of individual model-year reliability data, some meaningful depreciation, and/or relatively modest changes compared to what Mazda offers today in newly-minted form.
2023 Mazda CX-5
Let The First Owner Pay For The Expensive Trim
A used Mazda CX-5 delivers most of the qualities of a brand-new version as a three-year-old example, while shedding a sizable portion of its original price. And although the second-generation CX-5 has been around since its 2017 model year, by 2023 it had certainly become a mature product. Each one came with all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic, as well as a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four, producing 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. And there was also an available turbo version producing 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular gas, or as much as 256 hp and 320 lb-ft on 93 octane premium.
Consumer Reports suggests that the 2023 CX-5 is much more dependable than other vehicles from the same model year. And this presents a strong case to target this particular year rather than look around for the cheapest CX-5 on the market. When it was new, the 2023 Mazda CX-5 Turbo Signature cost $41,025 including destination. Our own Price Trends tool shows the Turbo Signature selling a little below $29,000 on average today; notably cheaper than a new base model would set buyers back today.
The CX-5 in the middle of a Mazda showroom today starts at $31,585 inclusive. It’s larger, roomier, and clearly newer inside than the 2023 car, and it has Google-built-in technology with much larger available displays. However, there’s no turbo option anymore, and it only comes with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine. And that means a used 2023 can offer something that the new one currently can’t, while still retaining its appeal as a compact SUV.
2022 Mazda3
The Basic Formula Is Still Here
The fourth-generation Mazda3 appeared for the 2019 model year, and Consumer Reports currently rates a 2022 model as much more reliable than other cars from the same model year. A focus on the 2022 car also shows that Mazda’s lineup was remarkably broad. Buyers could choose a 155-hp 2.0-liter engine, a 186-hp naturally aspirated 2.5, or a 2.5-liter turbo, which generated 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque on regular fuel, or up to 250 hp or 320 lb-ft on premium. Shoppers could opt for a sedan or a hatchback and tick the box for AWD if they liked.
A typical valuation for a 2022 2.5 S hatchback is around $16,850, but the Turbo version could yet be a more interesting bargain. It’s showing for around $22,635 versus its original MSRP of $32,615.
Crucially, years later, not much has changed with the Mazda3 from a propulsion point of view. The 2026 version still has the 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine with 186 hp and 186 lb-ft. But there have been some meaningful changes to equipment and technology for sure, which means that the 2026 Mazda3 is clearly the more up-to-date car. It now starts at $25,965 for the sedan and $26,965 for the hatchback, with the Turbo Premium Plus listed at $38,255 in sedan form and $39,405 as a hatch. So, shoppers looking at a Turbo Mazda3 will find the price variance difficult to ignore. After all, they may well be able to get a 250 hp AWD version of the 2022 Mazda3 for less than the cost of a new entry-level offering.
2024 Mazda CX-30
Two Years Old Can Save Thousands
A used Mazda doesn’t necessarily need to be that old to demonstrate value, as shown by a 2024 CX-30. And when it appeared as that 2024 model, the CX-30 already had worthwhile updates over previous versions. For example, Mazda made rear cross-traffic alert and blind spot monitoring standard while adding rear seat alert and USB-C inputs. It also added an available 10.25-inch display that had wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while AWD remained standard. In its naturally aspirated form, the 2.5-liter engine produced 191 hp and 186 lb-ft, while the turbocharged version generated 250 hp and 320 lb-ft on 93 octane fuel.
Since 2024, depreciation has been hard at work on the CX-30, with the typical fair purchase price for a 2024 CX-30 2.5S sitting at around $22,930 on the CarBuzz Marketplace. The Preferred version is $24,694, and the most interesting of all is the Turbo Premium Plus, which is about $28,768. This stands up against its original MSRP of $38,175, which translates to a reduction of almost $10,000 in only a couple of years.
Today, a new CX-30 starts at $27,970, making the used market choice very interesting. Those who may be considering a new base car could instead choose a two-year-old example and move much further up the equipment ladder or even get one with turbo performance as well.
Still, there are some recalls to consider, with one involving the forward sensing camera and another covering a low battery condition. In the latter case, the fault could cause the sophisticated airbag sensor module to store an internal fault and potentially prevent airbag deployment. It affected certain 2024 to 2025 CX-30s and Mazda offered to reprogram or replace the module at no charge.
2022 Mazda CX-9
A Lot Of Three-Row SUV For Around $25k
It’s not possible to assess the used CX-9 against its current version as Mazda no longer sells it. Its effective successor, the CX-90, has the company’s new and large platform, but even though it’s a fundamentally more ambitious vehicle, the CX-9 can still look tempting in the used marketplace. After all, a 2022 version has Mazda’s i-Activ AWD as standard. Its 2.5-liter turbo produced 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, and it came standard with the six-speed automatic.
In 2022, the CX-9 went on sale for $36,505 with the Signature at $48,435. Today, a fair price for the standard version may be around $22,000, with a Signature version about $28,000. And looking at the Signature specifically, that’s around $19,000 in the name of depreciation. Consumer Reports says that the 2022 CX-9 should be more reliable than other vehicles from the same model year too, which is another reason to focus on this particular example.
A 2022 CX-9 may not be in the same ballpark as a new CX-90 when it comes to tech. The new one comes with a 3.3-liter turbo inline six that has a 48-volt mild hybrid system as well. And there may be real reasons to buy new for anyone who wants a vehicle that can seat up to eight people, or who wants to be more frugal in everyday driving. But then again, there does appear to be a fairly significant cost attached to that latest level of sophistication.
2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata
The Ideal Engine Arrived Back In 2019
Mazda may have moved on significantly with its CX-90 compared to that earlier CX-9, but it really hasn’t when it comes to the MX-5 Miata. In fact, what made this car so good in 2020 is still part of the central formula today. Mazda’s crucial Miata update took place in 2019 when the company extensively revised its ND generation car’s 2.0-liter engine. That lifted output from 155 to 181 hp, increasing torque as well and raising the red line by 700 rpm. Those who buy an MX-5 in 2026 will still get that widely praised engine, making 181 hp and 151 lb-ft, still revving to 7,500 rpm and still coming as standard with a six-speed manual.
Certainly, there have been some refinements over the years, with improved infotainment, equipment, and detailed changes, but the 2020 car still makes a significant statement for itself with that powertrain. Consumer Reports also suggests that the 2020 MX-5 is much more reliable than other vehicles from its model year.
Once again, the CarBuzz Marketplace indicates that a fair purchase price for a 2020 soft top should sit at around $22,700 for a Sport, and $26,300 for a Club. And that stands against the new Mazda MX-5 Sport with its starting price of $31,745. Broadly speaking, the cheapest version of a used 2020 Miata is around $9,000 below the starting MSRP of a new one, but it still delivers exactly the same headline hp and torque. The car is still essentially a lightweight roadster that gains a lot of its reputation through its simplicity and, in this situation, age may be unusually easy to forgive.
Nothing on this list of used cars suggests that newer Mazdas are of poor value at all, and in some cases, the opposite may be true. However, Mazda does appear to make relatively measured approaches to mechanical changes. And this can make depreciation especially useful to a second owner.
Sources: Mazda, NHTSA, Consumer Reports.
