Review: Mazda CX-5 2015
Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 9:36PM 
Text and photos by Don Halliwell
This is no Miata, but the CX-5 has as much Zoom as you’ll find in its class.
The now ubiquitous CUV segment is crowded to say the least. The likes of the Honda CRV, Toyota RAV 4, Ford Escape and Mazda CX-5 (formerly Tribute) have been vying for space in Canadian garages for years now.
This slice of the automotive pie is a huge area of focus for manufacturers. I suspect in part because these vehicles are among the most practical for small families and also because it’s a large volume driver. Hit jump for the full review.
There’s no doubt, these vehicles are important for the industry. Setting the media darling and rabidly popular Mazda 3 aside, the CX-5 was a top seller for the company this month, while the likes of the MDX and RDX account for 70 per cent of sales for Acura.
A decade ago, the Canadian blacktop was a battlefield for the minivan, today it’s home to a full on war for Small Utes. As the market cycle establishes itself and we start to see second and third generation models released, you, the consumer, stand to win in all but one aspect . . . choosing which one to buy.
It Really Does Drive Like a Car
In my week with the Mazda CX-5 I paid particular attention to (the road, obviously) how it felt under toe and hand and appreciated the lengths Mazda has gone to, to make it a standout driver. The AWD (all-Wheel Drive) system and 19-inch alloys managed to hug every corner, while the suspension felt tight, if not a bit sporty, enough to reduce body roll and that top-heavy feeling found in other vehicles this size.
The automatic transmission managed its way through gates as expected and with Sport mode equipped got this SUV up to speed at a nice pace. Don’t get me wrong, this is a slush box, but not the slushiest… and in a family vehicle, it needn’t be anything more. Mazda has drilled Zoom-Zoom into the car buyer’s mind for as long as I can remember. This is no Miata, but the CX-5 has as much Zoom as you’ll find in its class.
Form and Function
I was lucky enough to have been treated to a fully loaded model for my test, but also spent time in a more reasonably equipped model as well. In both you’ll find standard convenience features like Bluetooth, heated seats, steering wheel mounted controls and one of my favorite features, a tri-folding rear bench.
With one touch of a trunk-mounted latch, you can fold down any one of the three rear seats. While not entirely unique or special, it provides a very useful configuration above and beyond a standard 60/40 split in which four passengers can ride in the car with longer items running through, the dreaded middle seat. For active families who ski, golf or play hockey, this provides room for equipment while keeping a nice “don’t touch me” buffer between sibling passengers—parents rejoice. The bottom line—this was built from rubber to moonroof with your family in mind.
A Head Turner. . . Maybe
Now, I have to say I like the design. It’s got a smooth aesthetic that may not be the most compelling, but is fine and certainly won’t offend anyone. The aggressive nose compliments the smooth lines that flow from the self-adjusting bi-xenon headlights over the wheel-well and to the rear quarter panel. The rear isn’t bad to look at, either.
It’s easy, as many of my friends pointed out, to paint CUVs with the same brush and say “there’s nothing special here” looks-wise. CUVs are by and large boring to look at, and they all follow a similar formula, so I understand where the sentiment comes from. When you see a lot of the same thing on the road, or in the parking lot. . . they all begin to blend together.
Well-Appointed Finishes
On the inside, the vented leather in the GT model was soft and the seats were the perfect balance between cushy and well-bolstered. I’ve done the 24-hour run to Florida a few times now and I definitely wouldn’t think twice about making the trip in a CX-5.
I put over 700kms on the test unit in a week—complete with three one-hour plus commutes into Toronto and a ton of city driving. The fully equipped package gave me a nicely oversized touchscreen head unit with navigation, phone integration and more. Underneath, there’s a nice catch-all storage space for items like wallets, and smartphones. I’ll point out it was large enough to fit my uniquely shaped device which happens to be the new BlackBerry Passport.
Gizmos and Gadgets, but Does it Tell Time?
The “more” part is where I, and a lot of other writers seem to agree. With all this technology, there’s a learning curve, which, for me, played its part in a fair share of what I’ll call “distracted driving.” I think most manufacturers are in the same boat here, so I won’t harp too much on the CX-5, but if as much focus was placed on intuitiveness and ease-of-use as being feature complete, the road would be a better (safer) place.
One gripe I couldn’t get over was clock placement; it was awkwardly located way down in the console. Whenever I needed to check the time, my eyes were deep into the interior and far from the road.
On a positive note, this model featured dual-zone climate control, which for my wife and I was an eye opener. Raise your hand if someone is always too hot and someone is always too cold in your relationship. I know I’m not alone, and this is one argument I never seem to win. Problem solved.
Low Cost at the Pump
SKYACTIV technology. . . a term of confusion for almost anyone I mentioned the review to. Everybody knew this had “SKYACTIV,” but few understood what it meant. I had comments ranging from whether it was a cloud-based media storage, to navigation, to someone saying that it’s got a Turbo engine. My understanding of it is that it refers to a series of design features in the engine, powertrain and exterior styling optimized for fuel efficiency. A quick zip to their website confirmed this understanding.
What really matters is for a vehicle this size, it averaged 7.2L/100 km according to its onboard computer. That’s over a litre better than I’m getting in my SKYACTIV-less albeit larger CX-7. This figure is actually fairly impressive in real-world conditions and means you won’t be spending too much at the pump to keep the CX-5 on the road.
How it Stacks Up
At the end of the day, there really isn’t a stand out winner in the segment. Each manufacturer has done well to appeal to the masses and a quick online comparison pairs every vehicle relatively equal in both specs and in price. The Mazda CX-5 falls squarely in the middle, it’s not the most expensive, it doesn’t boast the most features. What it does boast is that well designed and practical as an everyday family mover with nice touches throughout, a nice look, efficient engine and modest price. When you’re signing up for multi-year financing or leasing you want a vehicle you can trust and one you’ll be proud to drive long after it’s left the lot. In my experience with the Mazda CX-5 you’ll be finding small moments of joy … sorry Zoom Zoom, daily.
Reader Comments (5)
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