Motoring

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It’s sexy, elegant and oh-so powerful. From commanding respect in peak-hour traffic, to manoeuvring parking in malls with ease and cruising on the highway, this is what went down when we took the Mazda CX-5 for a spin in Jozi. Interior: The dashboard boasts a keyless press-start button, display infotainment system, aircon controls and USB ports. With space big enough to accommodate a family of five, the driver’s seat is adjustable so you’ll still be able to reach the pedals even if you’re height-deprived. Safety is a key feature in this car – during reversing, live visuals appear on the display screen, providing a clearer rear view. The car also beeps to warn the driver of the proximity of surrounding objects, or when pedestrians and jaywalkers approach. Mall test: Mall parking lots are notorious for having small parking bays. If you think the CX-5 is too big to fit, think again. After careful manouvering, the car fit superbly and didn’t straddle two bays. Peak-hour traffic: Being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic after a long day is a nightmare to say the least. The CX-5 boasts the stop-start function where the car switches off when you come to a standstill, and then automatically restarts when you get going again. That way, you save loads on your fuel — especially in these tough times.

Uneven roads: Being inside the CX-5 generally feels like you’re gliding on clouds, so we were keen to test how well it would fare on a gravel road. We’re glad to announce that it passed with flying colours — just be sure to have a firm grip on the steering wheel so as not to sway around too much.

Freeway cruising: Now this is where the car excelled. Once you merge onto the highway and accelerate at a comfortable speed, you can turn up the volume and simply enjoy the smooth ride. Next to the steering wheel is another transparent display screen that pops up when you start the car – it shows you how fast you’re driving and it also picks up on speed limits in the area so you can adjust your driving accordingly. Talk about a thoughtful feature!

Overall impression: With comfort, safety, simplicity and affordability as some of the car’s outstanding perks, it’s no wonder we spotted quite a number of them on the road!

PRICE: From R386 600