Recommended Hitch and Installation Difficulty for a 2023 Mazda CX-5

Updated 03/23/2026 | Published 03/20/2026

Products Featured in This Question

etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Matte Black Finish - Class III - 2"

(653)

$172.25

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"

(497)

$190.44

Question:

First, I really like your company. Great products at good prices with people that stand behind them. I ordered the e-trailer hitch for a 2023 Mazda CX-5. It has a rating of 4 difficulty and 40 minute install vs the Curt C13315 being a 5 level difficulty and 50 minutes. Why is yours easier to install. They look like the same rack, possibly out of the same factory...

asked by: Richard S

Helpful Expert Reply:

That's a great question Richard and thanks for the kind words! It's an error that I'll get someone to check on. Our etrailer Hitch item # e98902 is going to have the same installation process and difficulty as the Curt item # C13315.

You've got a good eye. The Curt item # C13315 and our etrailer item # e98902 hitches are indeed made at the same factory. Curt makes our house brand hitches for us so the hitch, hardware, and fish tools are identical with the exception of the matte finish on our etrailer Hitch item # e98902.

I linked both sets of installation instructions below along with a couple of videos we made on a 2023 Mazda CX-5. The most time consuming process will be fishing the bolts through the narrow holes in your Mazda's frame. I do recommend having a friend help you when you're ready to lift the hitch into place and tighten the bolts.

What do you plan on using your new hitch for?

You can add this information, along with any other questions you have, where it says Add Comment.

expert reply by: Jerred H

e98902
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Gene S.

3/22/2026

My son and installed the etrailer hitch on my son's 2016 CX5. the installation video makes it look easy while the car is on a lift. We did it laying on our backs and it was pretty much like the video shows... super easy to install..

Jerred H.

3/23/2026

@GeneS Thanks for sharing your story Gene! Happy to hear you had an easy time installing the hitch.

John S.

3/23/2026

This hitch was really easy to install. I did it alone. We use it all the time and love it! Quick and easy to hook up and unhook.L

Jerred H.

3/23/2026

@JohnS That's great to hear John! Thanks for taking the time to share your story.

Trudie1

3/23/2026

First of all I would like to say that I very much appreciate the installation videos that e-trailer provides on their site. I bought this hitch because previous hitches I purchased from e-trailer installed without a hitch (pun intended). This particular hitch did not. Evidentially it might have sustained shipping damage, though none was evident. It took several hours and a lot of jacking and prying to get the bolts aligned. With a lot of help from my son we finally succeeded and the hitch got installed and looks and works fine. I don't haul with this hitch only used for carriers and it performs perfectly.