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When your global bestseller is due to be revamped designers and engineers face a daunting task.
They have to improve the product without losing all the things that have made it popular in the first place.
The team at Mazda have managed that task by building on the success of their outgoing CX-5 - a car that introduced their SKYACTIV technology and KODO soul of motion design philosophy.
The result is a new CX-5 that looks better, offers more technology and boasts a cabin that can compete with anything in the premium sector.
Designed under the concept of ‘refined toughness’ the new range starts at just £23,695 for the 2.0-litre front wheel drive petrol version and rises to £31,395 for the flagship 2.2-litre Sport Nav all-wheel-drive version with 175PS.
This means that the CX-5 costs about £1,000 more across the range but you get lots more for your cash and compared to the premium brands the CX-5 remains excellent value for money.
Mazda has improved the SUVs already great looks by adding a sharp new front end which features a jutting nose, enlarged grille and larger badge. New slimmer headlights and a longer bonnet make it sleeker than before and new tail lights adorn the handsome rump.
A new roof line makes it lower than the outgoing model and although the width and wheelbase are identical the smoother panel surfaces give the CX-5 a sleeker look.
Surprisingly the new car bucks the current trend by adding around 50kg of weight, the result of new insulation and vibration deadening features which combine to make the CX-5 much quieter than before with road, wind and engine noise all being reduced.
Step inside the completely re-designed cabin and you will find things are familiar but hugely improved. A new updated seveninch touchscreen which can also be operated with a rotary control now sits on top of the dash and the materials are all soft-touch and of good quality.
Equipment levels are strong even on base SE-L models, and the Sport Nav car I drove comes with 19-inch alloys, heated electric leather seats, a sunroof, an electric tailgate, keyless Mazda’s new CX-5 design looks sleek and stylish