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FOR all the right reasons I loved the new Mazda CX-5.
But for all the right reasons, I couldn’t wait to give it back. I didn’t want to be seen in it.
Writing about cars has suddenly become a lot more difficult.
Should I really be praising an emissions monster that’s slowly killing the planet?
Or should I ignore the storm about petrol and diesel that seems to have erupted as quickly as turning on a light, even though everyone’s known about it for years.
Demand
In Britain it’ll be illegal to sell diesel and petrol-powered cars in 2040 and by then nobody will make them anyway, such will be the demand for hydrogen and electric cars.
China and India want to ban them even earlier, by 2030. Surely that embargo will be worldwide just 10 years later.
Should you buy a CX-5 right now? Well if you need a huge 15ft long, 5ft 6in high vehicle, with a colossal boot that extends to six feet with the rear seats folded flat, along with four-wheel-drive, I’d say yes if you’re that desperate for space and you actually do THEY say you’re not a true petrolhead until you’ve owned an Alfa Romeo, so I want one. What can £5k get me? Starting off small, we’ve found a rare Alfa 147 Cloverleaf Ducati Corse Q2 with 54,000 miles for £4,500.
It looks to be in beautiful condition and the car itself is registered to the Alfa Romeo drive off road. Mind you, if you keep it for long prepare for a shock when it’s time to sell it.
The CX-5 loaned to me was the worst of the lot as far as greens are concerned. It was a diesel. Mazda make a 165hp petrol version and two diesels, with either 150 or 175hp.
Top speed of my car was 129mph so guess which engine it had?
That’s right, the 175hp animal with a massive 420Nm (311lb) of torque. No wonder it was so fast.
The speed of the CX-5 takes you by surprise. It’s 0-62mph time of 9.0s might not sound quick but its mid-range pick-up is quite dramatic in a car of its size and makes overtaking a doddle.
It’s wonderfully smooth, cruises at 80mph in what feels like silence and is beautifully kitted out with an extremely posh leather interior, soft-touch trim and black and silver dashboard instruments.
The seats themselves are so supportive and comfortable that you really think you’re sitting in a Owners Club UK. A 2008 model, its 1.9-litre turbo-diesel produces 170hp – enough to send the pocket-sized Alfa from 0-62mph in just 8.0 seconds, all the while returning 47.9mpg.
It’s got meaningful equipment too, including air-con, sports seats, an MP3 player, Bluetooth and cruise control.
If you’re after bigger, how about an Alfa 159? We’ve private club once you’ve climbed aboard, while rear seat passengers get masses of legroom along with their own air-con vents.
I really loved the new CX-5, just as much as I did its predecessor, which it replaced last June. Its combination of ride, space and smoothness along, of course, with its terrific high-up view of little people in their little cars is irresistible. Well almost.
Wrong
That’s because every time I drove it I worried that I was sending out all the wrong messages.
Were people looking at the car and thinking that the selfish git driving it was poisoning their air and, anyway, nobody needs a car that big?
Well, as it’s nowhere near the size of Godzillas like the Bentley Bentayga, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover or Audi Q7 at least I wasn’t expecting to be dragged out of the car and publicly lynched by Greenpeace members. found a 2007 model in Lussospec, powered by a 200hp 2.4litre turbo-diesel capable of 0-62mph in 9.4 seconds and returning a claimed 41.5mpg.
As well as a full service history, the car also boasts a decent amount of kit including rear parking sensors, cruise control, climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels, all-round electric windows and leather upholstery. With 61,000 miles under its belt, this eye-catching saloon is yours for £4,650.
We couldn’t complete a list of Alfa Romeos without having at least one petrol in the line-up, so we’ve unearthed a super-low-mileage Brera Coupe for you to consider.
Coming in with just 37,000 miles on the clock, this 2.2-litre JTS SV model produces 185hp and should be good for 0-62mph in 8.6 seconds, with average economy of 30.1mpg.
Equipment includes bi-xenon headlights, eight-inch alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors and full-black leather upholstery.
A 2006 model with a sixmonth seller’s warranty, it’s yours for a fiver under budget.