Mazda CX-5 drive by Steve Rogers
Mazda's top selling
CX-5 is to get a big facelift in the new year which tells us why this year's updates
were fairly modest.
One theory was that
the company was focussing on its hybrid/electric programme which is in full swing,
but there will be 'significant' changes to the big SUV which will benefit from
the new Skyactiv platform so we can expect improvements to ride comfort and
handling, along with small styling changes, more models and, most
significantly, drive mode selection.
Mazda clearly has
its eyes set on the premium end of the market and has been knocking on the door
for a while with regular upgrades to trim quality and technology but has never offered
the option to switch drive modes, a given on Audi, Jaguar/Land Rover, BMW and
Mercedes SUVs.
In the meantime the
current CX-5 is still the company's global best seller and in the UK second to
my favourite, the CX-30. Unlike some of its Japanese rivals Mazda is sticking
with a diesel variant which should see it through to E day in 2030 and that is
good news for those with trailers and caravans.
CX-5 can haul just
over two tonne with ease with the most powerful version pumping out a healthy
181hp and with its taught sporty suspension is an ideal tow car, stable and
with strong pulling power. I towed my caravan more than 300 miles and returned
26.3mpg which is nothing special but about average for a four wheel drive with
a lot of power.
Driven solo the
Mazda is more impressive than some diesel rivals returning 51mpg on a leisurely
100 mile Sunday afternoon drive so a daily average in the low forties should be
achievable.
The numbers and standard
of SUVs has grown and grown in the last 10 years and CX-5 comfortably makes it
into the top 10. As a driver's car it gets high marks for handling with little
of the body roll associated with these high siders although the Seat Tarraco
featured here a few weeks ago just has the edge on that front.
The ride is
generally smooth but there is too much road noise of rougher surfaces, a
problem we are told, is being addressed on the new model.
The story is good
inside as well with room for five adults and a flat boot floor than swallows
plenty of luggage or a couple of adult bicycles without having to remove the
front wheels. Levers in the boot side walls drop the seat backs which are split
40-20-40 and if you are high enough up the model range the tailgate is powered.
Dashboard layout is
conservative compared to the futuristic designs in some rivals but it is neat,
tidy, and user friendly with a new 10.2in central touchscreen which, heavens be
praised, still has the rotary controller to scroll through the menus.
Mazda has always
been ahead of the game with a driver head-up display and this one is spot on
with speed, speed limit, navigation directions and a brilliant blind spot alert
beamed on to the windscreen rather than the old fashioned flip up plastic panel
which is still being used by some manufacturers.
The display's blind spot markers change colour
when a vehicle is overtaking and work in tandem with the audible warning and
orange alert on the door mirrors and deserves an A star.
Equipment level is
generous from the base model and there are plenty of bells and whistles at Sport
grade with a powerful 10 speaker Bose sound system, powered front seats with
memory for the driver, heated front seats and steering wheel and power tailgate
on a long spec sheet.
Something that
hasn't changed since CX-5 first appeared in 2012 are the compliments for its
elegant lines, not easy to achieve in a bulky SUV but Mazda designers pull it
off with every model these days and there were plenty of admiring comments for
my test car. Wisely styling changes next year are subtle so expect more of the
same but better.
Fast facts
CX-5 Sport Auto AWD
£36,385
2.2 litre turbo
diesel; 181bhp
0-62mph 9.6secs;
129mph
42.8mpg combined
173g/km. 1st VED
£870
Insurance group 23
Boot 494-1608 litres
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