The Mazda CX-5 continues to win over new buyers in the mid-size SUV segment,
despite competition from new arrivals. It begs the question, after five years on sale,
how well is Mazda's most popular SUV hiding its age?
The CX-5 is due to come in for a significant revamp some time in 2023 but until then,
demand for the current 16 model CX-5 range is as strong as ever. Second only to the newer Toyota
RAV4 in the mid-size SUV sales race. Here, we're driving the mid-range CX-5 Touring.
The CX-5 range in Australia is available with a choice of four engines,
including this flagship 2.2 Litre Turbo Diesel 4-Cylinder. Now, it asks the biggest premium
on paper but it also returns the best claimed efficiency at 5.7 litres per 100Ks combined.
Drive is shuffled via a conventional six-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
This Touring variant features an all-wheel drive system as standard.
The second-generation CX-5 really established itself early on with its interior;
quality materials, a really nice feed-out and an almost European level of sophistication are
some of the core traits and they all carry over to 2021. With that said though, there
are some elements where the CX-5 is beginning to show its age. The most notable one for me
is the infotainment and specifically, the touch screen. Higher end models of the CX-5 now adopt
a larger screen layout. This base variant still has a tablet style eight-inch display that offers
touch capability when you're idle, when you're not moving, but once you start moving, you lose
touch capability for safety reasons, so you're gonna rely solely on this rotary dial. Now that
may sound practical in theory, but in reality, if you're using a lot of Apple CarPlay or Android
Auto-based apps like I do, I find that it's much easier to make use of the touch screen and you
often end up spending more time fiddling with the dial on the road, which can make for distraction.
My other complaint is that you have a huge center cabby or bin at the bottom of the center fascia
but there are no USB points in there so if you wanna sit your phone in there, you've got to
make do with cords all around the cabin. There is a 12-volt outlet there, but obviously that doesn't
let you take advantage of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Otherwise, the ergonomics of the CX-5 are
quite sound. There's decent incidental storage, and you sit really nice and low in the cabin,
so you get a great view out, it's also fundamental to a nice feel for the driver.
My only other complaint's really short seat-base. Taller occupants might find
there's a lack of under-thigh support, and the wing mirrors, they're probably
a little bit narrow for people that wanna take advantage of the CX-5's two-ton towing capacity.
The CX-5 is middle of the road for rear seat space. You can see I've got these front seat
set to my 175-centimetre frame, there's ample leg room but head-room is a little bit tight,
especially upon getting in. In terms of shoulder room, there's enough space here for two adults
or two big child seats. You can see I've got mine fitted here at the moment. Importantly,
you do get rear air-vents, you also get this flip-down armrest with two cup-holders and inside
this little compartment here, an additional two USB ports. All told, there are two ISOFIX
attachment points in the outboard pews and three top tether points across the second row. Probably
the most important considerations for little ones, small door apertures so getting little
ones in and out of their child seats can require a little bit more attention than other SUVs
and also the high set window line. It does tend to obscure the outward view for little ones as well.
The CX-5 ticks all our important boxes for safety,
backed by a Five-Star NCAP Rating from its release in 2017. Finally,
boot space here is on the smaller end of the scale, compared with others in this
segment. A reflection of the CX-5's relatively compact 4.55 metre length and 1.84 metre width.
Now size is pertinent here because it really does highlight the strengths
and weaknesses of the CX-5 out on the road. Being so small, it's really easy to place on the road,
it's a nimble car, easy to navigate through tight spaces, car parks with light, low space
steering, and just a car that's really easy to deal with. It's not intimidating in any way,
and it's super easy to place on the road. The downsides of its smaller stature is that the CX-5
tends to feel pitter-patter bumps through the cabin a little bit more prominently than some
others in this segment, and you'll notice that there's a little bit more going on
inside in terms of diesel engine noise at low speed, road noise, the occasional thudding
and a little bit of head toss on country roads like I'm driving at the moment. All in all,
a really sound proposition though, and a really well-balanced SUV with that sportiness in mind.
The trade-off is sporty handling. The CX-5 is well acquitted through the bends,
with well-weighted steering and superb control with the way it shifts it's 1.7 ton
weight through various changes in direction. That might not appeal to all buyers on paper,
but it means the CX-5 simply inspires confidence.
The diesel engine is surprisingly well-balanced in terms of efficiency
and performance as well. Yes, you do get a little bit of signature diesel grumble upon taking off,
but once you get up to speed, it's quite a smooth and fluid drive train. With 450 Newton Metres
on hand from 2000 RPM, there is no shortage of torque, and the engine works really well with
its six-speed automatic transmission for well timed and intuitive shifts.
All in all, it takes 8.8 seconds climb to get to 100Ks an hour,
which certainly isn't hanging around, and in terms of fuel use, we've averaged 7.4 litres per 100Ks.
Marginally above the claim, but still not a bad real world figure.
The word that comes to me when I'm talking about the CX-5 on the road is all-rounder. It is really
strong in a mix of scenarios. It has an inherent sporty feel to the controls, probably a little bit
busier over bumps, as I mentioned than some other rivals in this category but equally, it's a car
that will confidently tackle bends, it feels really adept in cross-country sort of driving
scenarios like I'm doing at the moment, and on a highway, it feels stable and planted, immune
to crosswinds, immune to big hills with plenty of diesel power and a really strong short-footed
driving character overall. I gotta say, it's a car that I enjoy driving and there aren't
too many SUVs you can really say that about, especially in this mainstream mid-size segment.
Mazda's popular SUV cements its positioning with a five-year
unlimited kilometre warranty. Servicing is spaced across 12 month and 10,000
kilometre intervals, the latter figure a little more frequent than most rivals.
Over five years of ownership, Mazda says servicing costs are capped at below $1800.
Now although there are elements of the CX-5 which do suggest
is beginning to show its age a little bit, there are still some really strong inherent features
in this current model. The purchase price is still quite
accessible, especially in the climbing prices across this segment, you still get a choice of
four different power trains and the after-sales provisions are quite strong too. It means that
all in all, the CX-5 is still as relevant as ever, even with a new model around the corner.