The tested Mazda CX-5 is already the second generation of a successful SUV. The previous version laid the foundations of the “Kodo” design style and paved the way for other models of the brand. The new CX-5 further develops it, while technically following on from the previous model.
From the outside
The already mentioned previous generation belonged to the most beautiful SUV type vehicles. The current one is sometimes referred to only as a facelift of its predecessor. Here I dare to disagree, because despite similar dimensions, it brings much more expressive and aggressive shapes and looks more mature overall.
At first glance, it catches the eye with its negatively beveled front part with a perhaps too prominent radiator grille. From below, it is framed by a chrome strip that imaginatively passes into the space of the narrow front headlights. The small fog lights are set in a fine slot, which accentuates the inward painted part of the front bumper at the bottom. Its lower, unpainted plastic part flows smoothly into the plastic bumpers and along the entire body, thus fulfilling the practical and aesthetic function of an SUV type vehicle. The forward narrowing hood connects to the front mask and optically separates the front headlamps from it into massive front bumpers.
From the side, the long front hood typical for Mazda and the rear-shifted cabin stand out. The moldings on the bottom of the side doors soften their relatively large surfaces. The massive C-pillar is softened by a widening chrome strip running along the lower perimeter of the side windows.
The rear part of the car, in my opinion, was the best done by the designers. The narrow, high-set rear lights follow the front headlights with their shape and “light signature”. Several moldings and dented parts underline the muscular structure of the body. I appreciate the two admitted exhaust tips, without which I can’t even imagine Mazda cars.
Except for the slightly exaggerated aggressiveness of the front part of the car, I have nothing to add to the exterior. Although the black color of the CX-5 fits, on the other hand, the unpainted accessories and moldings on the lower part of the car disappear.
Inside
After opening the front door, I am interested in the quantity and quality of seals around its perimeter, which indicates a fair isolation of the interior from outside noise. At the same time, I notice the elaboration of the inner part of the door and the tasteful incorporation of leather and plastic parts into one whole. Conscientious covering of thresholds was also not forgotten, which prevents soiling of trousers when getting into the vehicle.
We already know the steering wheel from other Mazda models, except for the slightly thinner rim, I have no objections to its elaboration and the arrangement of the control elements. I also like the massive dashboard in the middle divided by a tasteful imitation of wood and the massive chrome frames of the ventilation vents. I have a reservation about the location of the air conditioning panel, which is placed too low and its display is not easily visible. A nice detail is the tweeters of the Bose audio system integrated into the A pillars.
I appreciate the higher-placed center panel with the control lever, handbrake button and infotainment controls not only for its practicality, but also for its aesthetic side. The white leather upholstery looks impressive, but requires care, especially on the sides of the seats and on the door panels. Personally, I would still consider white leather when buying this car. The contrast it creates with the dark dashboard gives the interior a premium character.
The analog instrument panel seems a bit archaic at the moment, and in the new generation Mazda 6 it has already been replaced by a more modern one. I believe that in the next facelift, the CX-5 will go in a similar direction and will also increase the diagonal of the infotainment display. Mazda has finally joined most automakers in offering Android Auto and Apple Car Play support. The tested model did not have it yet, but there is a possibility of supplementing it using original accessories.
The interior had a positive effect on me, except for small details, and I felt comfortable in it. I praise the quality of its materials and the assembly of the plastic parts of the dashboard. Even when driving over bumps, or driving on the so-called I didn’t notice any undertones on the cat heads, which is not the norm with many other manufacturers.
Driving
The posture is typical of a chair, but you can get used to it very quickly thanks to the large seats. When shaping them, the emphasis was placed on comfort rather than on the sporty side. I would welcome a little more prominently shaped sidewalls. At my height of 185 cm, I have no objections to the setting of the seat and steering wheel (seat all the way down and steering wheel up and closest to the body), but taller figures may have a problem finding the right position. The front seats offer a wide range of adjustments, including a lumbar support, but inexplicably only on the driver’s side.
Installation is as comfortable as in most SUV cars. The pedals are spaced perfectly in my opinion, but I missed the plastic rest of the left leg next to the pedals. The right leg could rest on the soft padded part of the center console.
I could not complain about the lack of space on either side, both armrests are placed in the right place and at a sufficient height. Nevertheless, I was surprised by the impossibility of any adjustment of the center support, which can make its use impossible for shorter figures.
Thanks to the higher seating position, the view outside is unproblematic, and the large rear-view mirrors offer an excellent overview of the situation next to and behind the vehicle. It is difficult to fault the ergonomics, the control lever is the merit of the central tunnel being located higher at hand and closer to the steering wheel. In addition to the touch screen, I also praise the traditional way of controlling infotainment using a rotary control and single-purpose buttons. The on-board computer and adaptive cruise control functions can be accessed from the steering wheel. I was also satisfied with the ventilation control using a separate panel and classic controls.
I felt immediately at home in the CX-5 and did not need a manual to operate it. Such a classic concept of the interior is rather a rarity these days. The question is whether it will deter customers looking for “more modern” solutions from buying.
On the road
The car is powered by a diesel unit with a large volume of 2191 cm3 for that time and double supercharging. It provides a maximum power of 129 kW at 4500 rpm. and a torque of 420 Nm at 2000 rpm. Its advantage is a very soft and quiet operation without vibrations after warming up. Thus, the typical turbocharger start-up delay is foreign to this engine, the response to the movement of the gas pedal is almost immediate. The power is dosed gradually without a dramatic push into the seats up to 5000 revolutions. Perhaps this is also why the driver perceives the acceleration of the car as lukewarm, but a look at the steeply rising needle of the speedometer convinces him of the opposite. During normal driving, the engine is excellently muffled, when accelerating it already makes itself known, but not with an unpleasant sound.
The steering is very pleasantly adjusted for SUV conditions, it does not seem too stiff or overpowered. I appreciate the accuracy and quick reactions of the car even to the slightest movement of the steering wheel. It feels natural, but I wouldn’t talk about feedback on this car. However, its purpose is not to cut at the limit of the bend of the county roads, but to comfortably transport the crew to their destination. This discipline is handled by a single car. The well-tuned chassis provides a high degree of comfort even on 19″ wheels (225/55 R19). The crew doesn’t know about normal bumps, bigger ones are manifested by a muffled bang. In corners, the car leans naturally, but its chassis still provides a sense of security. Even with the feeling that you will push the car to its limit in a corner, nothing unusual still happens and the car keeps track, ignoring its height and center of gravity. Searching for limits stops being fun after a while, and you enjoy a comfortable ride with the conviction that the chassis will not let you down even in crisis situations.
The clutch is set softly and I didn’t mind pressing it repeatedly even when moving in a convoy or driving through city streets. Thanks to the turning diameter of 11 meters, the car is quite agile in the city, you only need to turn the steering wheel more. Compact dimensions and an excellent view from the car do not exclude it even from city traffic. However, due to the presence of a diesel engine with DPF, I would prefer to mostly drive outside the city. Consumption in the city in normal traffic can be kept to 7.5 liters without much effort. The chassis filters out most irregularities and the slightly above-average ground clearance of 200 mm allows you to overcome curbs without fear of damaging the bumpers.
In the districts, it is possible to park an SUV and drive at a sharper pace in the corners. However, the shallow seats do not support you in this, and their leather surface is a little slippery. You will be pleased with the power reserve, which ensures smooth overtaking even when driving uphill. The gear lever is pleasantly small, has precise and short paths, and handling it is perfect. The gearbox is graduated longer, which makes use of the torque in a wider range of revolutions without the need for constant shifting. At a speed of 90 km/h, it rotates in sixth gear at less than 1,600 revolutions, which contributes to low consumption. I have no reservations about the setting of the brakes and their effect. Brisk driving in the region of Liptov and Orava meant taking 6 liters from the tank.
Although SUVs of this type are not primarily intended for off-road driving, I did test drive it on a bumpy dirt road and up a steep grassy hill. I didn’t notice any problems with the 4×4 drive or when stopping on a hill, but the downhill assist was missing when going downhill. However, it should be noted that it was dry and maybe the system would behave differently on wet grass. Crossing axles was also handled by the car, but it took a while and required more gas and clutch work. Off-road driving would definitely be easier with an automatic transmission.
The highway drive was a positive surprise. I would describe her in one word: silence. The car is not only perfectly insulated from aerodynamic noise by SUV standards. It starts to sound above a speed of 160 km/h. The damping of the chassis and engine is also exemplary and contributes to the excellent atmosphere in the interior. The car consumed 5.8 liters per 100 km during steady driving at a speed of 120 km/h (Bratislava -> Trnava), at a speed of 140 km/h (Trnava -> Banská Bystrica) the air resistance of the higher body was already evident and the consumption exceeded 7 liters.
After driving from Bratislava to Liptov/Orava via Donovaly and back, the dashboard showed an average consumption of 6.9 liters. During approximately 800 km, I experienced at least two regenerations of the DPF, lasting only a few minutes. Considering the size and type of car with 4×4 drive, I consider the average consumption to be reasonable.
Practical side, price
SUVs are currently used as regular family vehicles and are slowly pushing MPVs or station wagons off the roads. Therefore, they logically require a lot of storage space and solutions to make traveling more pleasant. As for the interior, the CX-5 does not lag behind the trend and provides a number of compartments and openings of different sizes. You can put a 1.5-liter PET bottle in the front door without any problems, the box in front of the control lever is large enough, and the space under the center armrest is similar. In addition to the slot for the navigation SD card, two USB slots are also hidden in it.
The rear seats are also comfortable, but the seats are not sliding or folding. They are divided in a ratio of 40/20/40 and can also be folded using levers from the luggage compartment. When sitting behind me (with a height of 185 cm), my knees touched the front seat. Installing the child seat is easy thanks to easily accessible IsoFix anchorages. The back of the seats is covered with black artificial leather, which is practical for families with small children. The rear armrest hides additional USB slots for charging mobile devices.
The fifth door opens electrically, but rather noisily. However, I would welcome their opening to a wider angle. They hide a luggage compartment with a volume of 506 liters. The space is well-upholstered, after folding the rear seats it creates a flat surface with them and offers a volume of 1620 liters. Under the floor hides the subwoofer of the audio system and the repair kit for the defect.
I miss practical solutions in the form of hooks for shopping bags, folders, space dividers. In my opinion, Mazda has neglected this area. The situation is similar with other models of the brand.
The basic price of this model in Revolution Top equipment with the tested engine is set at EUR 35,200. With surcharges of 200 EUR for white leather upholstery, 500 for navigation, 605 for metallic, the final price will be 36,505 EUR. At the time of writing this test, the price list of this model was available with a new diesel engine with a power of 135 kW and a torque of 445 Nm and a price of 37,605 EUR. Despite the price increase, I consider it reasonable and competitive.
Verdict
In my opinion, the CX-5 is one of the most beautiful SUV cars. It provides above-average comfort and a certain driving pleasure and can fully serve as a family car. Except for some minor flaws, I rank it at the imaginary peak of compact SUVs. I was extremely satisfied with the car, despite the fact that I don’t see much value in SUV-type cars due to the need to combine a higher body with comfortable and at the same time somewhat sporty driving characteristics. I think Mazda has succeeded to a large extent within the limits of the possibilities.
