2018 Mazda CX-5 – Test Drive, Review, Ratings, Specs

Mazda Plays Catchup To The Big Boys

Just when you thought the overly flooded cross-over topic has already been beaten to death, Mazda yet; comes out again with a something within the borderlines of extraordinary. Not necessarily the things that would puncture the boundaries of normality; rather, the continued refinement of quality measures.

Some might even be fooled into spotting a luxury with its impeccable styling from afar. DDrive in one, you might as well believe it is so. It drives smooth while comforting you and your four other passengers with a quiet and lavish cabin. That kind of leaves you with that (good) feeling of walking away from the cashier clerk who mistakenly ringed your item at a lower price. As a matter of fact, it’s so good that Car and Driver rated the CX-5 as one of the top 10’s in its category.

New for 2018

There are good reasons to consider the CX-5 if that’s in your shopping list this year. All models now comes standard with blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert. Interior is also jazzed up with standard leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob as well. But what’s most exciting is the new standard engine-deactivation system that shuts off two of its cylinders when not needed to improve fuel efficiency.

The Lustful Interior

You’ll essentially get the best of all interiors in the Mazda lineup with the CX-5. As a matter of fact, the quality even extends out towards competing with BMW and Mercedes even. The befitting soft white cream leather is what really accentuates and bonds so harmoniously well with the rest of the cabin details. Materials of choice aren’t skimped out at all either with all panels sporting good looks and feel as well. Even accessing the 60/40 rear folding seats for increased cargo space reveals the soft layered carpet .

Power Under the Hood

You get an ultra buttery smooth 2.5L SKYACTIV-G four cylinder engine that produces 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. That’s not a lot of quantity here, but more so in quality. Its driving excellence can be described by its well cushioned drive train somehow eliminates even the most minute shutter in acceleration. There are the rare cases where the 6-speed manual transmission is twiddling its thumbs deciding whether to downshift, but that’s easily forgiven by its overall quick throttle response. With that said, there’s little need to push the CX-5 hard to enjoy it. Hustling around tight city obstacles and curvy roads probes to be capable with light and nimble handling. Steering is precise and smooth as well.

Powertrain configuration comes in the form of a FWD, or AWD for added traction and immunity to harsh weather conditions while the latter compromises for a slight decrease in fuel economy. The FWD model achieves an EPA of 25/31/28 mpg in the city, highway and combined while the AWD gets a slight bump in its numbers with 24/30/36.

Final Thoughts

Pessimistic impression usually provides easy access to exciting material, but the CX-5 hasn’t been so in this case. It miraculously looks, feels, and drives more like an expensive vehicle. With that said, our tester CX-5 GT model comes priced in at $38,495. That comes with the technology package giving you adaptive cruise control, automatic brake assist, lane departure warning, and a heads up display. Speaking of which, that dips its head slightly into the more expensive category of cross-overs in the mid-tier price threshold. Still, the CX-5 is one of the rare occasions that deserve every dollar it asks for. Tighter budget shoppers can opt for a lower GX or GS trim starting at $25,900 and $26,900 and opt for the comfort package with powered moonroof, keyless entry and dual climate control with rear vents as well as i-Active technology safety package as you see fit.