The CX-5 is a very important car to Mazda.
The car has been around for five years now, and is responsible for 25% of current Mazda sales.
Although the car hasn't reached its expiry date yet, Japan decided to replace the existing CX-5 with a new one.
It's been completely redrawn, and with that subtle new lining,
it's the first in a new generation of Mazda's.
The first generation CX-5 was a pretty good starting point, according to Mazda.
That doesn't mean they've copied everything, on the contrary.
The car's stiffness has increased by 15 percent, the steering has also been stiffened.
That means the steering is more direct.
The car still has MacPherson-struts in the front, whilst in the back we find a Multi-link suspension.
The dampers, however, are now of a bigger diameter.
That means they're a little bit more rigid, which cancels out heaving when cornering quickly,
according to Mazda.
Also, the lower bearings are filled with a liquid to damp vibrations.
Everything considered, it's got a very direct steering,
without it getting uncomfortable. They've done a pretty good job.
Next to those liquid-filled bearings, they've done a whole lot of other things to cancel out not-wanted vibrations and sounds.
For example, they've installed a thicker windshield,
which cancels out even more noise.
The shape of the windshield has also been altered, which tones down the sound of the air flow.
The space between the carpeting and the sheetwork has decreased as well, so the space inbetween doesn't serve as a resonance box.
It's small details like that which they've used to refine the car.
Under the hood, we find a familiar engine.
We've already seen it in the Mazda 6, for example.
It's an improved version of the ones we know from the previous generation.
Right now, we're driving the petrol version, producing 160 horsepower.
This specific car is also fitted with an automatic gearbox and four wheel drive.
It's an incredibly nice engine, but there's a little disadvantage;
It's kind of noisy, and that's not really in sync with their effort of lowering the noise in the car.
The interior is also fitted with some elements we already know.
The finishing is also done very nicely. Nice stitching as well.
The seats are also good, the back, that is.
They're very supporting. The seat however, is a little short.
Too bad...
Above the instruments, the familiar little HUD pops up when you start the car.
If you get a more luxurious version however, the HUD will be projected on your windshield.
That's a first time for Mazda.
Also, Mazda offers front windshield heating, but only in the lower part with the windshield wipers.
That way, the windshield wipers won't freeze to your windshield.
A small gimmick.
In the back, there are USB-ports. It's also got heated back seats.
Something nice as well; the active cruise control is available from 0-200 km/h.
In the previous generation, the cruise control wouldn't work until you'd reached 30 km/h,
but you can now enable it from a standstill. Also, it can brake on its own.
Mazda hasn't made it easy on themselves to improve this car, but they've done it.
In a short while, we're going to drive this car more extensively,
and then we'll tell you even more.