Mazda sharpens CX-5’s sportiness
Mid-cycle tweak boosts already solid offering
Mid-cycle refreshes — done two to three years into a vehicle’s lifespan, where the manufacturer gives it a tweak or facelift to keep it current with the competition — always intrigue me. Sometimes it’s a minor upgrade, maybe a change to the front and rear fascias or an interior fix. Sometimes it’s major, incorporating drivetrain revisions as well as cosmetics.
When I’m in an especially cynical mood, I sometimes take the position that the more change midcycle, the more the manufacturer got it wrong in the first place.
Mazda’s popular CX-5 compact sport ute gets a mid-cycle refresh for 2016 and it’s definitely a case of the former, not the latter, since there wasn’t much to complain about in the first place. In Driving’s evaluation of nine compact SUVs last fall, the 2015 CX-5 tied for second with Toyota’s RAV4, just behind the first-place Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, while it tied for first with the Honda CR-V for editors’ choice. In other words, this is one SUV that does most things right.
The 2016 model sees the obligatory nose job, specifically a new front bumper, grille and fog-light design. There’s been more effort put into interior upgrades, where the quality of the CX-5’s abundance of plastic in the cabin area had fallen short of some of its rivals, notably the RAV4 and Santa Fe Sport. Mazda cites the quality feel of the ornamentation and materials used as well as improvements to the functionality and usability of the cockpit, based on Mazda’s “unique human-machine interface (HMI).”
The controls are easier to find and use, such as the audio system volume control, “HMI commander switch” and new electric parking brake. Do these changes elevate the CX-5’s interior to the level of its competitors? No, but it’s certainly not as cheap-looking.
More importantly, the refreshed CX-5 adopts several advanced functions, including Mazda Connect, a next-generation car-connectivity system. Other improvements include updates to the seats and suspension system, as well as added sound insulation throughout the body, meaning greater ride comfort and cabin quietness.
The upshot is the 2016 GT’s cabin is a little nicer than last year’s model, with more than enough modern conveniences all standard.
There are a couple of nits to pick, though. The navigation system’s graphics are not the most detailed and I’m not a huge fan of the connectivity system (Mazda’s version of BMW’s iDrive). While basic functions such as accessing the audio or navigation systems are OK, there’s too much scrolling through the sub-menus or screen tapping to find exactly what you want, such as the used-to-be-easy task of changing radio stations. Sometimes buttons and knobs are a good thing!
But it’s the driving experience that makes the CX-5 a standout in the crowded compact sport ute segment. It has a firm suspension, though admittedly an occasionally choppy ride over harsher pavement. Its handling dynamics stress agility, something that seems to be part and parcel with just about every vehicle Mazda builds.
This is buttressed by the 2.5-litre four-cylinder standard on the GS and GT trims since the 2014 model year. This engine pushes out 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque, 19 per cent more horsepower and 23 per cent more torque than the base model’s feeble 155-hp 2.0 L. Compared with rival models with non-turbo engines, Mazda’s 2.5 L is a strong player and will motivate the 1,604-kilogram SUV to 100 km/h in 9.7 seconds.
Unlike a growing number of compact SUVs now being fitted with continuously variable transmissions, the CX-5’s GS and GT models come with a smooth-shifting but conventional six-speed manumatic, with ratios that work well with the engine’s output. Paddle shifters are not included; any desire to self-shift is accomplished through the console gear lever. Frankly, it adds little to the CX5’s sportiness. The same could be said for Drive Selection, which allows one to switch to a Sport mode when more zip is called for.
As for fuel economy, I averaged 11 litres per 100 km during my week with the Mazda, the result of a 50/50 mix of highway use and intown errand running — about par for the segment.
Overall, the refresh serves the CX-5 well. It was already a sportylooking rig; the new grille and other touches perk it up even more. The interior touches mostly work to the CX-5’s advantage, notably the front seats, which are exceedingly comfortable. I can live with Mazda Connect and its menus, though I could easily do without.
Will the refreshed CX-5 start taking chunks out of the RAV4, CR-V and Rogue market shares or that of the other huge (and softer-focused) volume sellers? Probably not. Despite good sales, its sportier vibe may work against it, even though it has an obvious appeal to those who prefer their vehicles with an edge to them. I’m one of those so afflicted, which is why the Mazda is one of my faves in the compact SUV segment.