2024 MAZDA CX-5 MAKES A BELIEVER OUT OF DRIVER
Mazda has always been an automaker building sportier vehicles for a younger crowd. At least, that's the perception Ryan Heagy has of the company. In the past, he'd driven a couple of Mazda3s but not spent any great deal of time with any other Mazda. So, the Calgarian was excited to spend a week behind the wheel of a 2024 Mazda CX-5, the automaker's bestselling compact crossover.
Heagy says: “At some point in the not-so-distant future, we'll be looking to downsize our vehicles and will need to consider something like a smaller utility vehicle.” Right now, Heagy and his wife have four kids at home, ranging in age from eight to 16. “The Mazda CX-5, while it seats five, can really only comfortably handle four.” For everyday driving, the family maintains a 2017 Ford Expedition and a 2017 Chevrolet LTZ pickup. Heagy runs his own residential interior renovation company and uses the Chevy mainly as a work truck.
Mazda launched the CX-5 in 2012 and released its second generation in 2017. In 2021, the vehicle received a facelift, and the 2024 models remain essentially the same. In Canada, every CX-5 is equipped with all-wheel drive, and the base engine is a 2.5-litre four-cylinder, followed by a 2.5L four with cylinder deactivation. At the top of the range, under the hood Mazda has placed a 2.5L turbocharged four that is capable of 256 horsepower when running premium fuel. All models are equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission.
The CX-5 Heagy drove was a Suna Edition, available only in Zircon Sand metallic paint. Inside, the Suna is trimmed in terracotta-coloured leather complemented with black trim. The Suna is outfitted with the turbocharged four power plant and had he bought it, Heagy's wallet would be lighter by a bit more than $46,000, including freight and other chargers, but before taxes.
“It was appealing with a wide stance,” Heagy says of his first impression. “Some other vehicles in its class seem skinny, but not the CX-5. And the lines are crisper than what the competition has to offer. In terms of size, it was like an overgrown car or an undergrown SUV; it really felt more car-like when you first walked up to it,” Heagy explains. “And I liked the colour. I would personally choose that over the typical white, black, or silver.”
Once inside, it took Heagy a matter of minutes to adjust everything to his liking. While impressed by the leather seating, he felt Mazda had oversimplified the dash. His main disappointment was the infotainment commander control knob.
“Using it much like a mouse that doesn't move clicking to the left and right and rotating the knob to navigate all of the menus, I found it cumbersome and borderline dangerous while driving.”
Fit and finish of the interior was scored 7.5 out of 10. He says: “I wasn't blown away by it, but it's also not in the class of an Audi or BMW.”
Power from the turbocharged four-cylinder was “perfect for that weight of vehicle,” he says, but found there was a slightly discernible amount of turbo lag. “If you goosed it, it did get up and go, though,” he says.
He adds, “Handling was very good. There was no understeer or oversteer, and that AWD system made it feel very stable and very sure-footed. I also always felt in control, with good response through the steering wheel. And I was blown away by the brakes. On ice, the ABS didn't skid or chatter and the Mazda stopped like it was on dry pavement. I was very impressed with that system.” While the ride was rated as semistiff it wasn't uncomfortable.
Regarding utility, Heagy is fivefeet nine-inches tall, and with the driver's seat in a comfortable position for himself, he says rear passenger legroom was somewhat limited.
Overall cargo capacity was good. There's 871-litres behind the rear seats, but when folding those seats forward to access all 1,680L behind the front seats.
His parting thoughts? “It's a great commuter car,” he summarizes. “At the start of the week I'd have said I wouldn't have bought one, but by the end of the week, I'd consider it.”