Mazda’s lesson in maturing gracefully
A simple, high-quality approach keeps the CX-5 relevant in a tough market, writes Matt Allan
There’s an art to ageing gracefully. George Clooney’s managed it, so has Julia Roberts. And to that list you can add the Mazda CX-5.
Despite being launched five years ago – half a lifetime in car terms – the Mazda still looks and feels modern and fresh.
A big part of that is down to Mazda’s design ethos. By sticking not burdening the car with scores of styling creases and slashes this fiveyear-old design still looks modern.
The interior is a similar story. When it was launched in 2016 the second-generation CX-5 felt like a more premium model than mainstream rivals and even now it still has an easy sense of class.
Some elements – the big instrument binnacle with its analogue dials – hint that this isn’t the newest kid on the block but, by and large, the simple approach works in its favour.
Some parts have been updated. The HUD is neater and bigger, and the infotainment screen is slimmer and better integrated than before as well as being enhanced with an updated operating system. Mazda
continues to use a scroll wheel rather than a touchscreen and in most instances this is easier and less distracting to use.
Materials remain a step above the norm as well with some real metal among the touchpoints and decent leather on the seats. Those seats, though, feel too narrow and flat for larger drivers. That grumble aside, space is good, certainly on a par with the Nissan Qashqai and Ford Kuga, and the boot’s a generous 506 litres.
If the styling and interior quality are echoes of every other Mazda, the engine is too, meaning it’s the car’s biggest weakness. The 191bhp unit is a new addition but it’s an old-fashioned approach. A 2.5-litre, non-turbo four-cylinder petrol is a rare thing and while it’s smooth and powerful enough it lacks the response of modern torque-laden turbos.
The automatic transmission is also smooth and quick but it doesn’t do anything for the car’s performance and combined with all-wheeldrive it makes for claimed economy of 35.5mpg.
Mazdas are usually among the sharpest handling in their classes and while the CX-5 is on a par with the Nissan Qashqai it’s a little behind the Ford Kuga and Seat Ateca. Ride comfort is pretty good and refinement is a real strength, with good noise insulation right up to motorway speeds.
The CX-5 range starts at £27,545, with 18 variants on offer. At the top sits the tested GT Sport. For £38,000 you get a full suite of safety assistance along with adaptive cruise control, adaptive LED headlights and a 360degree parking camera. Nappa leather upholstery, real wood trim, heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel plus dual-zone climate control and a 10-speaker Bose sound system mark this out as the range-topper.
In the spectrum of the Csegment SUV, the Mazda CX-5 definitely sits towards the top. Its size, feeling of quality and equipment help it stand out, with only high running costs letting it down.