Mazda CX-5

Highly sought-after, the latest offering from the Japanese automaker, Mazda, the new Mazda CX-5 (second-generation), upgraded and launched in Malaysia.

The C-segment (mid-size crossover SUV) runner underpins three engine setups (naturally aspirated petrol, turbocharged petrol, turbocharged diesel).

Locally assembled (CKD – Kedah), available via Bermaz Motor (BAuto) are five variants (2.0 2WD Mid – RM134,469, 2.0 2WD High – RM151,469, 2.5 2WD High – RM164,960, 2.2D 2WD High – RM170,322, 2.5T AWD High – RM178,760).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) include a manufacturer’s warranty (five years/100,000 km) and a maintenance program (free: five years/100,000 km).

Exterior colours (single-tone: Soul Red Crystal, Machine Grey, Snowflake White Pearl, Platinum Quartz, Deep Crystal Blue, Polymetal Grey, Jet Black). Interior colour (single-tone: Black).

The new CX-5 gets an angular cascading and tiered dashboard (Mazda Jinba-Ittai Design), linked to a high-rising-wide centre console (armrest, wireless charger, vehicle telematics).

Soft-/hard-touched (dash, steering wheel, centre console, doors), it sees leather upholstery in one colour scheme (single-tone: Black) with contrast trims (Gloss Black, Aluminium, Wood veneer) and stitching (Beige).

Equipped are the driver/central displays (dash embedded: instrument cluster – floating: infotainment), air-conditioning vents (angular) and an ambient light system (LED – 2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High).

Inclusively, the layout is ergonomic (functional) with accessibilities purposefully arranged (driver-centric, passenger-oriented).

Comfortable, the interior sees fabric (2.0 2WD Mid) and leather (2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High) upholsteries in one colour scheme (single-tone: Black) with contrast stitching (Beige – 2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High).

The front gets electric-powered (2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High: driver-passenger-multi-way-adjust, driver-lumbar, driver-memory – 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High: driver-passenger-ventilation) and manual-operated (2.0 2WD Mid: driver-passenger-multi-way-adjust) bolstered seats. 

The rear gets a manual-operated (2.0 2WD Mid, 2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High: 40:20:40 split-fold, recline) bolstered bench.

Included are headrests (adjustable: front, rear) and armrests (front – centre console, rear – centre seat fold-out).

A five-seater (mid-size crossover SUV), the cabin offers generous space, providing comfortable seatings with ample interior mobility for the occupants (front, rear).

Sufficient head, shoulder and leg rooms.

Provided are four cup holders (two – front, rear) and four bottle holders (one – side doors).

Equipped are four USB ports (two: front, rear), one 12 V socket (front) and one wireless charger (front).

Weighing in at 1,588 kg (2.0 2WD Mid, 2.0 2WD High), 1,604 kg (2.5 2WD High), 1,671 kg (2.2D 2WD High) and 1,718 kg (2.5T AWD High), the new CX-5 stands at 4,575 mm long, 1,845 mm wide, 1,675 mm (2.0 2WD Mid, 2.0 2WD High) and 1,680 mm (2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High) tall and with a wheelbase spanning 2,700 mm.

Sunken, the headlamps are housed roundly sharp and inward-tilted with L-shaped light signature (2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High). Installed are full LED (projector) units.

Features are automatic On/Off/levelling/cornering, Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS – 2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High), High Beam Control (HBC – 2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High), Daytime Running Lights (DRL – LED), welcome/leaving lights and sequential turn signals (LED).

Seamless, the tail lamps are framed slim, sharp and wrapped-around with L-shaped light signature (2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High). Installed are full LED units.

Features are automatic On/Off, welcome/leaving lights and sequential turn signals (LED). Included are a high-mounted stop light (spoiler integrated) and a set of fog lamps (LED).

Fitted are sets of 17-inch (2.0 2WD Mid, 2.0 2WD High – multi-spoke – Silver) and 19-inch (2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High – multi-spoke – Silver-Black) alloy rims.

The sets are wrapped in 225/65 R17 (front, rear) Continental CrossContact LX Sport (2.0 2WD Mid, 2.0 2WD High) and 225/55 R19 (front, rear) Toyo Proxes R46 (2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High) tyres.

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front sides, front-rear curtains), seat belts (reminders, pre-tensioners, anchors), ISOFIX (two: rear-outer-seat), parking sensors (2.0 2WD Mid: four-rear – 2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High: four-front-rear), parking cameras (2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High: 360-degree – 2.0 2WD Mid, 2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High: reverse), side mirrors (2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High – BSM), rear-view mirror (2.5T AWD High – interior: frameless, automatic-dimming), automatic headlamps (On/Off/levelling/cornering), automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking, walk-away-auto-lock), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), door ajar warning, impact beams and anti-theft system (security alarm, immobiliser).

The new CX-5 nestles Mazda’s ‘SkyActiv-G’ (2.0 2WD Mid, 2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High) and ‘SkyActiv-D’ (2.2D 2WD High) Internal Combustion Engine (ICE: petrol/diesel) powertrain with variant-specific setups (naturally aspirated, turbocharged).

First setup (2.0 2WD Mid, 2.0 2WD High) is a 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder 16-valve naturally aspirated-direct injection (NA-DI) with VVT DOHC petrol engine (164 PS, 213 Nm).

Second setup (2.5 2WD High) is a 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder 16-valve naturally aspirated-direct injection (NA-DI) with VVT DOHC petrol engine (195 PS, 258 Nm).

Third setup (2.2D 2WD High) is a 2.2-litre inline four-cylinder 16-valve turbocharged-common-rail direct injection (T-CRDI) with VVT DOHC diesel engine (191 PS, 450 Nm).

Fourth setup (2.5T AWD High) is a 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder 16-valve turbocharged-direct injection (T-DI) with VVT DOHC petrol engine (231 PS, 420 Nm).

Mated to the setups is Mazda’s ‘SkyActiv-Drive’ six-speed automatic transmission (manual shift mode).

Power is rooted to the front (2.0 2WD Mid, 2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High) and all four (2.5T AWD High) wheels, via a Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) system and Mazda’s i-ACTIV All-Wheel Drive (i-ACTIV AWD) system.

Included is Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control Plus Technology and Mazda’s i-Stop Idling Technology.

Fuel tank capacity is at 56 litres (2.0 2WD Mid, 2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High) and 58 litres (2.5T AWD High).

The new CX-5 features these conveniences.

E.g., Mazda’s Advanced Entry system (keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button, remote engine start: key fob), electric-powered (button-operated: remote/key fob, interior button, tailgate button – height-adjust) tailgate (2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High), dual-zone automatic climate control (rear air vents) system, electric-powered (2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High: driver-passenger-multi-way-adjust, driver-lumbar, driver-memory – 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High: driver-passenger-ventilation) bolstered seats (front), headrests (adjustable: front, rear), armrests (front – centre console, rear – centre seat fold-out), centre console spaces (partitioned, caverned, retractable, under-stowage), steering wheel (multi-function, column adjustments, paddle shifters, EPAS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, interior illumination (LED: cabin/boot), parking sensors (2.0 2WD Mid: four-rear – 2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High: four-front-rear), parking cameras (2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High: 360-degree – 2.0 2WD Mid, 2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High: reverse), side mirrors (2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High – BSM), rear-view mirror (2.5T AWD High – interior: frameless, automatic-dimming), automatic headlamps (On/Off/levelling/cornering), automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking, walk-away-auto-lock), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), door ajar warning, charging ports (USB, power sockets, wireless charger) and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

A suitable daily driver, the ride comfortability feels flexible and firm at the same time, providing great power with agile handling.

Propping-up the chassis (2.0 2WD Mid, 2.0 2WD High, 2.5 2WD High, 2.2D 2WD High, 2.5T AWD High) is a suspension setup of MacPherson struts (front) and multi-link (rear).

Inside and out, performance- and comfort-wise, the ride quality is satisfactory.

Good sound insulation with the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for. The cabin is well-designed, enhancing the in-car ambience.

Overall, the cabin can suppress unwanted noises well and make them barely noticeable, even when cruising through bumpy asphalts or at high speeds.

The new Mazda CX-5 is built with an elegantly dynamic appeal, offering appearance, space and practicality.

Curvaceous and sharply sculpted, its exterior is well-designed with roundly angular lines donating to a powerful overall character.

Inside and out, the quality of the equipment installed is impressive with clean and minimalistic detailing.

Ultimately, the new CX-5 bargains more than just good looks, as it also offers plenty of other amenities at the price it comes with.