Mazda CX-5 2018 pricing and spec confirmed

Australia’s favourite SUV, the Mazda CX-5, has been given a refresh with updates to its petrol and diesel engines, as well as minor improvements to specification in higher grades, as pricing drops by as much as $800.

As before, Mazda offers its CX-5 mid-size SUV in 12 different flavours, starting with $28,690 front-drive six-speed manual Maxx that is powered by 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine.

Although pricing has remained static in the entry-level grade, thanks to upgrades including new intake ports, reshaped pistons and more efficient fuel-injection, power is up 1kW to 115kW while torque holds steady at 200Nm and fuel consumption has decreased 0.1 litres per 100km to 6.9L/100km.

Maxx grades can also be had with a six-speed automatic transmission for $30,690, as well as an exclusively two-pedal 2.5-litre with all-wheel drive for $33,690 – both pricetags unchanged from their predecessors.

Mazda’s 2.5-litre four-cylinder now gains cylinder deactivation tech that can deactivate half its cylinders under light load, as well as the updates found in the 2.0-litre unit, while outputs now measure 140kW/252Nm, with the torque figure gaining 1Nm.

Fuel consumption is also down 0.1L/100km in the 2.5-litre engine to 7.4L/100km.

Standard gear on Maxx grades carry over unchanged and include 17-inch steel wheels, LED headlights, power-folding side-view mirrors, 7.0-inch 'MZD' colour touchscreen multimedia system with Bluetooth connectivity, digital radio, six-speaker sound system, blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, reversing camera and auto emergency braking.

Standard gear on the Maxx grades include a 7.0-inch 'MZD' colour touchscreen multimedia system.

Stepping up to the Maxx Sport grade adds 17-inch alloy wheels, front LED foglights, automatic headlights and wipers, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, dual-zone climate control, rear seat centre armrest storage and USB port, and satellite navigation.

Automatic-only Maxx Sport variants are now also $400 cheaper than before, with the 2.0-litre FWD down to $33,990, the 2.5-litre AWD now costing $36,990 and the 2.2-litre twin-turbo-diesel AWD priced at $39,990.

Mazda’s 2.2-litre diesel receives a new variable geometry turbocharger, as well as a redesigned combustion chamber, sodium-filled exhaust valve and high-precision boost control to increase peak power by 11kW to 140kw and up maximum torque by 30Nm to 450Nm.

Meanwhile, fuel consumption in the diesel drops 0.3L/100km to 5.7/100km.

Mazda’s next CX-5 model grade up, the Touring, also benefits from a $400 price reduction, down to $38,590 for the 2.5-litre AWD and $41,590 for the 2.2-litre diesel AWD.

Equipment in the Touring grade adds heated and automatically folding side-view mirrors, new-to-the-variant head-up display, black synthetic suede seat trim, keyless entry, front parking sensors and traffic sign recognition.

Eight exterior colour options are available, extending to Mazda’s signature 'Soul Red Crystal Metallic', 'Eternal Blue Mica', 'Sonic Silver Metallic', 'Machine Grey Metallic', 'Titanium Flash Mica', 'Snowflake White Pearl Mica', 'Jet Black Mica' and 'Crystal Blue Mica'.

GT and top-spec Akera grades drop $800, with the former variants now kicking off at $43,590 for the 2.5-litre petrol AWD and $46,590 for the 2.2-litre diesel AWD, while the latter grade with a 2.5-litre engine comes in at $46,190 and the 2.2-litre diesel option is priced at $49,190.

Specification for the GT remains static with 19-inch alloys, adaptive front lighting, remote-operated power tailgate, sunroof, electronically adjustable front pews, leather trim and premium sound system, while the Akera gains a new 360-degree view monitor on top of the carryover adaptive cruise control, driver attention alert, lane departure warning and lane-keep assist.

Eight exterior colour options are available, extending to Mazda’s signature 'Soul Red Crystal Metallic', 'Eternal Blue Mica', 'Sonic Silver Metallic', 'Machine Grey Metallic', 'Titanium Flash Mica', 'Snowflake White Pearl Mica', 'Jet Black Mica' and 'Crystal Blue Mica'.

Aside from the new equipment inclusions in the Akera and Touring grade, the new Mazda CX-5 remains visually identical to its predecessor.

2018 Mazda CX-5 list pricing

Maxx 2.0-litre petrol FWD – manual – $28,690

Maxx 2.0-litre petrol FWD – automatic – $30,690

Maxx 2.5-litre petrol AWD – automatic – $33,690

Maxx Sport 2.0-litre petrol FWD – automatic – $33,990

Maxx Sport 2.5-litre petrol AWD – automatic – $36,990

Maxx Sport 2.2-litre diesel AWD – automatic – $39,990

Touring 2.5-litre petrol AWD – automatic – $38,590

Touring 2.2-litre diesel AWD – automatic – $41,590

GT 2.5-litre petrol AWD – automatic – $43,590

GT 2.2-litre diesel AWD – automatic – $46,590

Akera 2.5-litre petrol AWD – automatic – $46,190

Akera 2.2-litre diesel AWD – automatic – $49,190

Has Mazda done enough with its new CX-5 to keep it as Australia’s best-selling SUV? Tell us what you think in the comments below.