Mazda CX-5 or similar – Austin, TX

The Mazda CX-5 is our compact SUV in Austin: 5 seats, 3 large bags, up to 26 city / 31 highway mpg, and Mazda's reliability for $114 a day before multi-day discounts. You reserve the category and we deliver a Mazda CX-5 or a similar compact SUV of the same class and year range, clean and fuelled, to your door in Austin or to the curb at Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS). Delivery is free.

Why rent a Mazda CX-5 in Austin

• Austin traffic on I-35 and MoPac rewards a car that is easy to park and cheap to fill.
• Most visitors stay a week: SXSW, ACL, a UT weekend, a work assignment at the Domain. Weekly rates cut the daily price.
• The Hill Country, Lake Travis and the wineries around Fredericksburg are an hour away and are the reason to have your own car.
• It is the right car for families, weekend trips and anyone who prefers to sit higher.

What is included

• Free delivery and collection anywhere in Greater Austin, including Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS)
• A recent-model Mazda CX-5 or similar compact SUV, automatic, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Basic liability coverage; full-coverage options and a refundable deposit explained before you pay
• Multi-day and weekly discounts; monthly rates quoted directly
• No counter, no shuttle, no hidden fees at delivery

Rates in Austin

From $114 a day. Three days or more are cheaper per day, a week cheaper still, and for a month or longer we quote directly: call or text 512-851-0490. Day trips to Lake Travis, Fredericksburg, Dripping Springs and the Hill Country loop fit inside the mileage allowance.

Mazda CX-5 rental in Austin: the small SUV for lake and Hill Country days

The CX-5 is the smallest SUV we rent in Austin, and for many visitors it is the sweet spot. It parks almost as easily as a sedan in a South Congress side street or a Domain garage, but it sits higher, sees farther in I-35 traffic and has a rear hatch that swallows coolers, folding chairs and a stroller without a fight. Couples, friends sharing a trip and small families with one child tend to land here.

Where the CX-5 earns its keep

Austin's best weekend days start west of town. Lake Travis is about 35 to 45 minutes from downtown via RM 2222 or RM 620, with parks like Mansfield Dam and Pace Bend where parking is often unpaved. Pedernales Falls State Park, near Johnson City, is about an hour away, and Reimers Ranch is on the way.

None of that needs four-wheel drive. The roads are paved; it is the gravel lots, steep driveways at lake rentals in Lakeway and the ranch roads that make a higher seat and a hatch worth the extra $15 a day over a compact sedan.

Back in town, the CX-5 is just as easy. It fits the angled spaces along South Lamar and the garages at the Domain, and the higher seat helps you see over traffic on I-35, where lanes shift around the highway rebuild through central Austin. For daily errands, an H-E-B run or a school pickup, it drives like a car, not a truck.

CX-5 compared with its neighbors

The Honda Accord or similar costs the same $114 and carries the same five people and three bags; it is lower and quieter on the interstate. The Hyundai Santa Fe or similar, at $131, adds space for a fourth large suitcase, which matters when a family of four flies in with a checked bag each. For the full side-by-side of every SUV we rent, see SUV rental in Austin.

Three Austin trips that fit a CX-5

• A Hill Country weekend. Dripping Springs, Wimberley and Fredericksburg in two days, with wine, barbecue and a few boxes coming home in the back. Our Hill Country day trips guide has the routes.
• A stay south of the city. Kyle, Buda and San Marcos sit along I-35 between Austin and San Antonio, close to river tubing in San Marcos and the outlets. We deliver there too: see car rental in Kyle and Buda and car rental in San Marcos.
• Your own SUV is in the shop. If you drive an SUV every day, a compact sedan can feel cramped for a week of school runs and errands. The replacement car rental in Austin page explains how we deliver to your home or the body shop.

To check availability for your dates, call or text 512-851-0490.

Frequently asked questions

Will I get exactly a Mazda CX-5?

You reserve the compact SUV category. Most of the time it is the Mazda CX-5; when it is not, it is a similar car of the same class, seats and year range, at the same price.

Do you deliver to Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS)?

Yes. Send us your flight number and the car is at the curb when you land. Airport delivery in Austin is free.

What do I need to rent in Austin?

A valid driver's license, a major credit or debit card, and a minimum age of 21. We confirm everything by phone within the hour of your booking.

Do I need an SUV like the CX-5 to visit Lake Travis?

You do not need one, since the roads are paved, but many lake parks and swimming holes have gravel parking and steep, uneven approaches where a higher seat helps.

How much fits in a Mazda CX-5?

Five seats and three large suitcases, or a mix of bags, a cooler and folding chairs for a lake day. For four checked bags, the Hyundai Santa Fe or similar is the next size up.

Is the CX-5 the cheapest SUV you rent in Austin?

Yes. At $114 a day it is our entry-level SUV. The Hyundai Santa Fe is $131 and the Jeep Grand Cherokee $147; all three are compared on our SUV rental in Austin page.

See the whole economy fleet in Austin or the Austin economy car rental page.