Mazda CX-5 2012 review

The medium SUV market segment continues to dominate the sales race in Australia so Mazda’s introduction of a completely new vehicle in the class, the CX-5, couldn't have come at a better time for the Japanese maker.

We have sampled Mazda’s clever Skyactiv systems in other vehicles over the past year, but the CX-5 is the first to use the total package. Others, such as the Mazda SkyActiv we tested a couple of weeks back, only had some of the SkyActiv components. The CX-5 has the lot.

Engines

The new CX-5 comes with two new four-cylinder engines – 2.0-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel – with a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Both have Mazda’s i-stop fuel saving system that cuts out the engine when the vehicle is stationary.

Prices

The three specification levels on offer are Maxx, Maxx Sport and Grand Touring. Prices start at $27,800 for the Maxx 2.0-litre petrol six-speed manual front-wheel drive; and top out at $46,200 for the Grand Touring 2.2-litre diesel six-speed automatic all-wheel drive. 

Design

A comfortable five-seater if those in the back aren’t overly large, the CX-5 features Mazda’s clever, easy-to-use three-piece 4:2:4 fold-down rear seats with remote release levers situated in the rear cargo area.

A tonneau cover that opens and closes with the tailgate tops off a rear cargo area with few protrusions capable of carrying 403 litres of cargo up to the tonneau cover, expandable to 1560 litres of flat cargo space with the rear seats folded.

A low lift gate and large boot opening make for easy loading, while in other parts of the cabin, generous stowage includes a large open bin in the centre console and pockets in each door to take up to a one-litre bottle.

Equipment

CX-5 owners need not feel disconnected from the outside world. Infotainment features include a 5.8-inch touchscreen positioned above the centre console with a Tom Tom satellite navigation system with live updates.

A premium nine-speaker Bose surround sound system has been designed exclusively for the CX-5 and there are USB and Bluetooth connections as well as iPod playback which includes onscreen music information and Aux jack as standard.

Mazda’s climate control system features what is claimed to be one of the best cooling systems in class, yet achieves this with reduced weight and power requirements.

The CX-5 comes with an impressive list of firsts, including being the first medium SUV to make lane departure warning available; the first to make high beam control available. These are part of a Tech Pack option on the CX-5 Grand Touring (only) for $1990.

Tyre pressure monitoring and a reversing camera are standard across the range.

Safety

Every model across the CX-5 range comes standard with the highest level of safety features including six airbags, Dynamic Stability Control, ABS brakes, Emergency Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Force Distribution.

There’s Hill Launch Assist for help in getting under way on inclines and Emergency Stop Signal which automatically sets the brakes lights flashing in a hard stops.

Driving

On a drive in the Snowy Mountains (sans snow) an all-wheel drive 2.0-litre petrol automatic (the diesels are yet to arrive here), putting out 113 kW at 6000 rpm and 198 Nm at 4000 revs, was tentative off the mark and soon ran out of breath on all but the shallowest incline.

The remedy was to flick the shift lever into manual mode, keep the revs up and change gear by hand – no chore under the circumstances, but we are not sure how many typical owners will be willing to do this.

Fuel consumption under these hilly conditions worked out at 8.4 litres per 100 kilometres. Mazda puts the combined urban/highway figure at 6.9 litres per 100 km. So the extra revs required to keep the pace up were obviously lifting the consumption significantly.

A new suspension system, with front strut suspension and rear multi-link layout, is light yet stiffer and a new steering system adjusts feedback according to speed and conditions. Even with all-wheel drive the vehicle lapsed into understeer when hustled on fast bends so this is no sporting SUV.

Then again most owners are simply looking for a practical station wagon with a fair bit of style and it will certainly suit these people. Particularly as we found the new Mazda CX-5 to have a fuss-free pleasant ride even on corrugated dirt roads.