Mazda CX-5 | Video Review | CarsIreland.ie

Published on 26 October, 2017

The Mazda CX-5 is as great to drive as it is to look at.

Overview

Overview

Mazda know how to make a good-looking car. From hatchbacks to convertibles, that striking design language is made to turn heads. And turn heads it does, even in the traditionally not very sporty SUV market.

The first CX-5 made waves when it arrived in 2012, and this latest incarnation looks set to follow suit with its bolder grille and lower bonnet - once again offering something a bit different in a segment which can be a little bit bland in the style stakes.

Interior Gallery

It’s based on the same chassis as the previous model so there hasn’t been any major changes in terms of space and practicality. There’s still plenty of it; backseat leg and headroom is about average for the class, and despite the 4 wheel drive, a low transmission tunnel means your middle seat passenger won't feel too hard done by. Although width wise – it’s still probably best left to kids.

The boot measures in at 506 litres, which is just 3 litres more than the previous model. To put that in some context, it’s smaller than the Volkswagen Tiguan (610l), but still larger than a Nissan Qashqai (430l). It now benefits from an electric tailgate, and the backseats fold in a three way split, which makes for some versatile storage options.

The entry level Executive trim will get you a generous level of standard equipment including 17 inch alloy wheels, manual air conditioning, a seven inch multimedia screen with Bluetooth phone streaming, push-button start with an electric handbrake, and a leather covered steering wheel.

Move up to Executive SE for front fog lights and privacy glass, parking sensors, dual zone climate control, cruise control and automatic lights and wipers.

The top of the range Platinum model gets 19 inch wheels, full leather upholstery, heated seats, a reversing camera, and a nine speaker Bose sound system.

It also gets adaptive front lighting, and an upgraded Head-Up display, which no longer requires a plastic visor to project speed information onto the windscreen, again giving it a much more premium feel. Safety features are plentiful, and get more impressive as you move up the range to include things like Smart City Brake Support. Like its predecessor, the new CX-5 scored the full five stars on the NCAP safety test.

The driving position feels a bit lower than other SUVs. While it can be raised slightly, the lower position suits the feel of the car on the road, because it really is quite planted for an SUV. It’s got a low centre of gravity which means very little roll on corners and is certainly one of the more car-like SUVs out there to drive. There’s a nice weighty feel to the steering, and it feels reassuringly sturdy and solid on the road. It’s also impressively quiet.

Our test car was the 2.2l SkyActiv diesel, offering plenty of power at 175ps, as well as all-wheel-drive for more grip, and a silky smooth automatic transmission which made for an all-round effortless experience behind the wheel. Unfortunately all of the above also ups the running costs considerably and in comparison to rivals, the fuel economy of 5.8l per 100km and €380 motortax bill do start to look a bit steep. Fun and all as it is.

If you want to keep those costs down you might be better served going for one of the lower powered diesels like the 150ps manual which lowers those figures to 4.8l per 100 and the tax bill to just €200. Though diesel will remain the biggest seller, there is a petrol model available, and the engine line-up remains more or less unchanged from the last generation.

Those sporty good looks, along with the premium feel and ride quality, are what sets the Mazda CX-5 apart for us. That solid, Japanese build quality means the Mazda name is good in terms of reliability, and the innovative design should see it age well on the used market. In a segment that seems to be getting more and more generic as brands share platforms, the CX-5 is a breath of fresh air.

Facts & Figures

Sinead McCann

Sinéad is our resident car tester who has the unenviable (-ok, slightly enviable) task of reviewing all the latest new cars to hit the market. You can follow her on Twitter @smcani and on Instagram @whatshedrives