Mazda CX-5 - Hits & misses

With the CX-3 and the CX-7 crossovers already in the market, Mazda felt that there is a gap between these two vehicles. So, the CX-5 was launched in 2012 to fill this gap. The latest model of the CX-5 was unveiled in 2017 and it is very close to the Mazda’s heart because it is the first model to feature Mazda’s KODO design language and Skyactiv technology. So, whether the Mazda CX-5 checks in all the boxes or not, let us find out by discussing a few of its hits and misses.

Mazda CX-5 Hits

Spectacular exterior

The Mazda CX-5 is one of the best looking cars in its class. Mazda really pulled it off flawlessly. The CX-5 is based on Mazda’s “KODO” design language. The front features a large and unique blacked-out grille with a broad chrome outlining at the bottom which merges into the headlights neatly. Talking about the headlamps, there are LED units that are designed to enhance the aggressive and sporty appearance of the CX-5. Another interesting feature is the tiny fog lights that are hidden on either side of the front bumper. The rear end gets sharper LED tail lights which look great. There are also twin exhaust pipes to keep the sporty character alive.

Skyactiv technology

Mazda has implemented its Skyactiv technology in the latest CX-5. Mazda claims that it has invested a great deal of work in getting this technology right. It promises to provide an optimal mixture of performance and fuel efficiency. The Skyactiv-G petrol engine would deliver a good amount of torque at the lower and mid-range. The acceleration is also linear and the car never feels out of breath. On the other hand, the Skyactiv-D diesel engine is said to be one of the most efficient and powerful units available today. It has got a very low compression ratio and hence emits lower CO2 and NOx.

Fantastic interior

As soon as you enter the cabin of the Mazda CX-5, you will notice that everything is symmetrically laid out. You will also notice the high level of craftsmanship and build quality. The dashboard and a few other parts of the interior are made up of a soft-touch material that gives a very premium feel. The 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard across all the variants. Then there is the dual zone climate control for maintaining an optimum temperature at all the times. The seats are very stylish and offer a good amount of comfort. The steering wheel is chunky with mounted controls. The Mazda CX-5 offers rear AC vents and also a rear center armrest with cup holders and two USB ports.

Safety features

Mazda is very serious when it comes to the safety standards of its products. It is good to know that features like six airbags, ABS, Dynamic Stability Control, EBD, and Traction Control System come as standard across all the trims of the Mazda CX-5. Other than these, there are many advanced safety features that fall under Mazda’s i-ACTIVSENSE. These include Adaptive LED Headlights (ALH), Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) Front, Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) Reverse, Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Lane-Keep Assist System (LAS), Driver Attention Alert (DAA), and G-Vectoring Control.

Mazda CX-5 Misses

Less space for rear passengers

Mazda has definitely improved the space for the rear passengers in the latest CX-5 model. There is a good amount of headroom but the legroom is still not that great. It is not that big of a deal but with a car as perfect as the CX-5, we were expecting a bit more. Also, there is a large bump (tunnel) just below the rear AC vents which makes it a bit difficult to accommodate three people abreast.

Not so big boot

The Mazda CX-5 offers a boot capacity of 442 litre which is pretty decent and larger than the old model. However, it is still not that great as many of its rivals have much larger boot capacity to offer. The good thing with the Mazda CX-5 is that you can fold the rear seats from the boot only by pulling a hook. This gives you more space for carrying your remaining luggage.

The infotainment system

We really like the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system of the Mazda CX-5 essentially because of its simplicity. Also, the fact that it comes as standard across the board is really nice. But we feel that the lack of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in today’s market is a bit of a letdown.

Instrument cluster

The instrument cluster in the Mazda CX-5, although nicely designed, is a complete analogue unit. Even in the top-most model you only get a colored variant of the same instrument cluster. We would have loved to see a fully digital instrument console in the CX-5, at least in the higher variants.

The new Mazda CX-5 is available in five variants with three engine options - 2.0L & 2.5L SKYACTIV-G inline 4-cylinder petrol engines and a 2.2L SKYACTIV-D inline 4-cylinder diesel engine - and a single gearbox - SKYACTIV-DRIVE 6-Speed automatic transmission - with Manual Shift Mode.