KODO

On the Road With a 2020 Mazda CX-5

April 15, 2020 by admin 4 Comments

Mazda offers the 2020 CX-5 in five trims. You’ll find normally aspirated and turbocharged versions of its four-cylinder engine with standard front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive. Power travels to the wheels utilzing a 6-speed automatic transmission.

If you’re looking for an affordable family car with room five, ample utility space, and available towing capacity, then the compact crossover SUV segment is a great place to start. Small and affordable, most models start in the low 20s and top out in the mid-30s when loaded to the hilt. The sweet spot is in the upper 20s range, where value, amenities, and comfort intersect.

The Mazda CX-5 is one such model in a crowded segment. It stands out for its design as well as its features and value. It is one of four Mazda SUVs, beginning with the CX-3 and CX-30, then followed by the midsize, three-row Mazda CX-9. Its price point is higher than most competitors as we’ll soon see.

2020 Mazda CX-5 Review

Mazda offers the 2020 CX-5 in Sport ($25,190), Touring ($26,830), Grand Touring ($30,310), Grand Touring Reserve ($35,135), and Signature ($37,155) trims. The first three trims come with standard front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive, a $1,400 upgrade. The two top trims are all-wheel-drive only. Add $1,100 for the destination fee in the contiguous states ($1,045 in Hawaii; $1,145 in Alaska).

Exterior

We’re biased when it comes to Mazda, as we find its vehicles typically are the most handsome of the lot. Mazda may be a mainstream brand, but it takes aim at the premium segment with its higher trim models.

Mazda makes a big deal about its KODO (soul of motion) design language and for good reason. Beyond its gaping grille and LED accent lighting, beautiful character lines and carefully crafted body sculpting impart elegance. Choice wheel options, a rising beltline with a rapidly rising end (which reminds us of the Volvo XC-40) and a sculpted rear deck round out the look.

LED lights, alloy wheels, and rain-sensing wipers are standard. Move up through the trims and Mazda adds such features as automatic-leveling headlights, adaptive front lighting, additional LED lighting including fog lights, larger wheels, and heated and power-folding side mirrors.

Interior

The beautiful lines of the exterior have their match inside the vehicle. The lines are clean and the surfaces detailed. We appreciate the dashboard layout as it offers superior frontal vision. In the middle of it all is the infotainment screen, which sits on top of the dashboard. Some prefer an integrated look, but Mazda chose a different path.

Most of the interior has soft-touch materials, brightwork trim, and limited use of plastic. Cloth seats give way to leather as you move up through the trim ranks. Standard air conditioning gives way to dual-zone climate control. You’ll also find heated and ventilated front seats on some trims along with heated rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel, and LED lighting.

As with nearly every model in this segment, the CX-5 is ideal for four, but fits five in a pinch. The front seats are comfortable and supply good support. Likewise, the rear split-fold bench seat offers similar comfort. Access and egress requires only a slight tilt of the head, especially when entering the cabin.

Tech

All CX-5 trims come with standard keyless entry and push-button start. Mazda includes a 7-inch touch-screen display, HD Radio, USB input, and a four-speaker audio system. Beginning with the Touring trim, the CX-5 gains a six-speaker audio system and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility. The middle Grand Touring trim brings in satellite radio and a 10-speaker Bose audio system.

The Touring Reserve has an 8-inch touch-screen display. A navigation system is standard with the top-trim Signature edition.

Safety

For 2020, Mazda made some changes to safety equipment and its all good. Before this year, Mazda charged extra for active safety tech; this year, so much is included and reflected in the price.

Here, you’ll find such features as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, blind-spot monitoring, and special equipment designed to prevent impacts with pedestrians and other cars.

On higher-trim models, you’ll find a few extra-spend items, including a surround-view monitor, parking sensors, and a head-up display.

Performance

Mazda offers two powertrain combinations with the 2020 CX-5. The first three trims are motivated by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Power is routed to the wheels utilizing a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The engine is very familiar to Auto Trends and is found in many Mazda applications, including the CX-30 and Mazda6. In some forms, such as in the two top trims of the CX-5 (including our test Signature edition) and in the CX-9, it is turbocharged. In this case, the engine makes 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque (or 250 hp and 320 lb.-ft. with premium fuel).

Even in non-aspirated form, it is an appropriate engine for the CX-5, as it delivers ample step-off power and sufficient passing power. It doesn’t have the oomph of turbocharged competitors from Ford and Volkswagen, but it keeps up with the pack where it matters. Expect to earn about 25 mpg in combined city/highway driving with an all-wheel-drive version.

Our CX-5 Signature edition changes the driving dynamic considerably, thanks to turbocharging. The added power up front and on the open road is welcome. Just expect some turbo-lag to rear its head under hard acceleration – Mazda uses a single turbo, thus the slight delay when flooring it.

Steering is light to the touch and this SUV handles reasonably well on twisty roads and when pulling out of corners. Flick the switch to sport mode and it holds each gear longer. By no means is the CX-5 a corner carver, but it certainly isn’t a laggard, especially in turbo guise.

Competitive Set

Every manufacturer has at least one entry in the compact crossover utility segment. Indeed, there are more than one dozen models to choose from. Most have standard front-wheel drive; all offer all-wheel drive.

Other models to consider include the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and the Nissan Rogue. Also, the Ford Escape, Dodge Journey, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain must be given consideration. Other models in this segment include the Mitsubishi Outlander, Volkswagen Tiguan, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, and the Subaru Forester.

Our Recommendation

Start your search with the middle Grand Touring trim and you’ll find leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, power-controlled front seats, and a power liftgate. An available Premium Package ($1,625) adds automatic power-folding side mirrors, windshield wiper de-icer, a heated steering wheel, heated outboard rear seats, ventilated front seats, and an active driving display (head-up display). With the package, your cost is $33,325, and that’s high. However, with the current coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis raging, dealers should have more wiggle room to negotiate.

2020 Mazda CX-5 Specifications

Mazda	2020 CX-5
Segment	Compact SUV
Price Range	25,190 to $37,155
Destination Charge	$1,100
Standard Engine	2.5-liter, I4
Horsepower	187 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque (lb.-ft.)	186 @ 4,000 rpm
Transmission	6-speed automatic
Standard Engine	2.5-liter, I4
Horsepower	227/250 @ 2,000 rpm
Torque (lb.-ft.)	310/320 @ 5,000 rpm
Transmission	6-speed automatic
Seating	5
Curb Weight (pounds)	3,679
Wheelbase (inches)	106.2
Length (inches)	179.1
Width (inches)	72.5
Height (inches)	66.1
Headroom (f,r…inches)	39.7, 39.0
Legroom (f,r…inches)	41.0, 39.6
Shoulder room (f,r…inches)	57.1, 54.8
Hip room (f,r…inches)	55.2, 55.3
Storage (cubic feet)	30.9, 59.6
Gross vehicle weight rating (pounds)	4,724
Towing (pounds)	2,000
Payload (pounds)	NR
Fuel	regular
Fuel Tank (gallons)	15.3
EPA Fuel MPG (city/highway/combined)	24/30/26
Manufacturing Plant	Japan

Data compiled by Tom Keegan. Specifications supplied by the manufacturer.

See Also — Premium Utility: 2020 Mazda CX-30

Luscious Premium Sedan: 2017 Mazda6 Grand Touring

January 13, 2017 by admin 12 Comments

On the road with a premium mainstream sports sedan.

The car segment is under assault with consumers preferring crossovers in greater numbers as the reason for the shrinking demand. Indeed, overall car sales (coupes, sedans, and wagons) fell by 8.1 percent in 2016 in a passenger vehicle market that rose by a net 0.4 percent.

Manufacturers have no plans to abandon the segment en masse, although the Chrysler 200 is one recent casualty in the market (the Mitsubishi Galant is another). In any case, the mainstream segment has long been led by the Toyota Camry with the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, and Ford Fusion among the top sellers.

The Mazda Mazda6 (Mazda6 from this point forward) competes in this segment and typically battles lower-tier sellers such as the Volkswagen Passat for positioning. The Hyundai Sonata, Chevrolet Malibu, and Kia Optima are other models to consider.

One model rarely mentioned due to its premium status is the Buick Regal, a slightly smaller sedan that could very well be the best vehicle to consider when comparing one to the Mazda6. For it is the top-trim Grand Touring model that pulls out all the stops, supplying numerous upmarket enhancements, including a head-up display and leather interior at the top-trim level. In this example, the Grand Touring edition matches well with the Regal.

2017 Mazda6.

2017 Mazda6

The 2017 Mazda6 is available in three trims: Sport ($22,995), Touring ($25,245), and Grand Touring ($30,695). One four-cylinder engine choice is available. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard on the two lower trims, while a six-speed automatic is standard on the Grand Touring and available elsewhere.

New this year is G-vectoring control and 50-state emissions certification for PZEV models. All models receive a new exterior mirror design, specifically a turn lamp design change. Inside, you’ll also find a new steering wheel design as well as a new seat back pocket layout. Enhanced sound insulation is included as well.

Package shuffling is evident elsewhere, including the addition of a backup camera and Mazda Connect infotainment system to the base model. On the Touring model, you’ll now find smart city brake support technology along with automatic on and off headlights, and rain-sensing wipers. Additional safety and technology features accompany the Grand Touring edition.

2017 Mazda6

Mazda6 Design and a Grand Touring Edition

Although I would have been happy to drive a Mazda6 paired with a six-speed gearbox, Mazda sent a Grand Touring edition my way. So, no stick.

I wasn’t disappointed as I chose to focus on the positives and there were many to consider. Notably, the exterior design is simply phenomenal — at the risk of sounding like a Mazda sycophant, I must say that the complete design is stunning — from the trapezoidal grille to the bolstered shoulders and all the way back to the rear deck, the lines on the Mazda6 are a joy to behold.

Mazda calls the design “soul of motion” or KODO — what represents a design formulation peculiar to the brand. KODO places an emphasis on a vehicle’s elements and then adds what Mazda describes as “self-restrained dignity and sensuality.” The idea here is to connect with people on an emotional level — in my opinion, the Mazda6 is wildly successful here.

But the luscious exterior design doesn’t stop there. It extends to the interior where you’ll find sculpted lines across the dashboard, on the door panels, and across the seats. There is nothing utilitarian about the Mazda6’s interior. Especially in the Grand Touring level where you’ll find liberal use of Nappa leather and high-end material throughout. This is where a comparison to the Buick Regal is warranted — and I think the Mazda has the better interior of the two.

2017 Mazda6

Top Tech Features

I give Mazda high marks in all things technology, particularly with the Grand Touring edition. Here, you get a few features not available elsewhere, including a head-up display, an automatic dimming rearview mirror with Homelink, and a delicious Bose 11-speaker sound system.

The head-up display projects through a small, translucent screen that sits on top of the dashboard directly in front of the steering wheel. By no means is it in the way. This is the first time I’ve seen such a screen used — typically, the screen sits face down on the dash with the image projected from the screen.

Mazda’s infotainment/navigation screen is one of the best I’ve seen apart from a luxury model. The screen sits on top of the lower dash next to the ignition button. I like the maps as well as the detailed charts — the screen pinpointing the number of GPS satellite serving the car held my attention, especially as it shifted from 10 to nine and back again. You could “see” where they were located in the sky and see individual bar scores and an accuracy grade. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what each readout meant, but gosh, it certainly serves as eye candy for tech geeks.

All models come with Bluetooth, two USB ports, an auxiliary audio port, and a multifunction command controller. A rearview camera is standard and every model is equipped with a seven-inch color display.

2017 Mazda6

All Things Safety

We’d be remiss not to look at safety features, given how important this is to today’s new-car buying consumers.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Mazda6 is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ recipient, the highest award bestowed by the institute, which is funded chiefly by the nation’s top insurance companies.

The award this year is even more significant, given that the IIHS upgraded its standards to include headlight illumination. Here, the Mazda6 performed just average, but that’s not bad given that many other models tested had failed in this new scoring category. Only a “failing” grade here would keep a model from claiming the top score.

2017 Mazda6

On the Road

Mazda offers just one engine with the Mazda6 — a 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 184 horsepower and 185 foot-pounds of torque. This high-compression engine squeezes out more power than similar-sized engines from Honda and Chevrolet, but manages to do so without having an adverse effect on fuel economy.

Models paired with an automatic transmission are currently EPA-rated at 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. If you are familiar with the model line, then you know past models were rated as high as 40 mpg, but the EPA recently recalculated fuel economy to better reflect real-world conditions according to USA Today.

Press hard on the accelerator and the Mazda6 moves away from a dead stop with authority. The engine steadily picks up speed and the transmission shifts just when you expect it to. Performance is adequate, but nothing more. Handling is balanced, the ride is smooth, and braking is firm.

What the Mazda6 lacks is either a turbo four or a naturally-aspirated V6. Most competitors offer at least two engine options (the Ford Focus offers three). Unfortunately, Mazda only offers an all-four-cylinder lineup, essentially mandating a “take it or leave it” policy when it comes to its cars. That means both the Mazda6 and the three-row CX-9 SUV rely on four-cylinder engines. So, if you want performance, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

2017 Mazda6

Parting Thoughts

To get the top end Mazda6, you’ll pay about $35,000 for a Grand Touring edition. That’s about as high you’ll go in this segment, but you’d also typically be supplied with all-wheel drive (Fusion Sport) or a V6 engine (e.g., Toyota Camry, Honda Accord or Chevrolet Malibu).

With the Mazda6 Grand Touring edition and its chief competitors, you will need to carefully compare interiors as well as amenities. The Grand Touring edition comes in at a lower price than the Buick Regal, but you don’t get an all-wheel drive option. What you do have is a roomier interior, one with no-compromise space for five and the jaw-dropping looks that simply make the Mazda6 one worth including on your upscale midsize sedan shopping list.

2017 Mazda6

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine.

Snazzy SUV: 2016 Mazda CX-5

December 15, 2015 by admin 7 Comments

Mazda has had much success with its small utility vehicles, selling the Tribute from 2001 to 2011 and the CX-7 from 2007 to 2012. Still, the automaker had lacked a strong competitor to go up against the likes of the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and the Toyota RAV4, and a new model was in order. That model is the Mazda CX-5, now one of three SUVs sold by this niche Japanese brand.

The Mazda CX-5 advances the brand’s flowing KODO or soul of motion design on an SUV frame, not an easy task considering that such body styles typically aren’t especially handsome. But this manufacturer found a way to apply the same design energy to the vehicle’s frame and has successfully delivered one of the more admirable products in its segment.

My weekly sample of Mazda CX-5 driving came in the form of a Grand Touring AWD edition, the top-of-the-line model in this SUV line. Routinely, manufacturers send out the best of the best for media inspection, what tends to skew journalist objectivity. I’ll try to do my best here to present a more balanced and comprehensive look at the middle product in Mazda’s three crossover utility vehicle range.

Introduced in 2013, the Mazda CX-5 replaced the slightly larger CX-7, filling the gap created by the Tribute’s cancellation two years earlier. The CX-5 is sized between the two retired models, but offers a better layout and more interior room than the larger CX-7. Calling it the CX-5 allows Mazda to someday slip a new model between the CX-5 and CX-9, but that may not be necessary.

Mazda offers the CX-5 in Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring editions. The base Sport front-wheel-drive model is the budget leader, coming in at $21,545. It is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission and is also the only one powered by the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 155 horsepower and 150 foot-pounds of torque. All other models, including the Sport with a 6-speed automatic transmission (also priced from $21,545) are powered by a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine making 184 horsepower and 185 foot-pounds of torque.

Choose the Mazda CX-5 Sport and you’ll pay from $24,965. Select the Grand Touring edition and your price comes in at $27,970. As delivered, the sticker price on the test model reached $32,340 as such options as all-wheel drive ($1,500) and a Grand Touring Tech Package ($1,505) with navigation; adaptive front lighting; LED headlamps, fog lights, daytime running lights; LED rear combination lamps; and automatic brake support are found.

The base model is also an EPA leader in the segment, delivering 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. The larger engine found in front-wheel drive models is EPA-rated at 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. Choose all-wheel drive and you’re still seeing 24 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Credit Mazda’s SKYACTIV technology with delivering efficiencies gained through its family of high compression ratio engines, efficient transmissions, and vehicle lightweighting.

The flowing silhouette of the CX-5 is marked by a pronounced upper grille, wraparound headlights, a sporty lower grille opening, and flared embrasures housing the optional fog lamps. Deep sculpting along the hood gives way to the same along its profile. Distinct character lines around the wheel wells and across the SUV’s profile are also evident.

The CX-5 features a canted windshield, a sloping roofline and a gradually rising belt line. At the rear is an integrated liftgate spoiler, wraparound combination lights, body sculpting reflectors, and as many as two exhaust tips. Notably, aluminum-alloy wheels are standard across the product line, measuring 17 inches in the base model and 19 inches in the Grand Touring edition. These wheels are set within all-season tires.

Inside, the CX-5 offers generous room for five with manual or power-operated bucket seats in the front and a 60-40 or 40-20-40 split folding seat in the rear. Heated front seats are standard on the Grand Touring; this same edition is also the one offering the three-place split-folding rear bench seat.

Cloth seats are standard; premium cloth seats are found in the Touring edition and leather-trimmed seats are standard on the Grand Touring edition.

Standard equipment includes push-button start, a tilt and telescopic steering column, air conditioning (dual-zone climate control in the Grand Touring edition), power accessories, Bluetooth connectivity, two 12-volt outlets, and a USB audio port, and an audio system. Keyless entry is standard in the Touring and Grand Touring models. MazdaConnect telematics is a package option in the Sport automatic model and is included elsewhere.

Behind the three-spoke steering wheel (with driver controls on the face) is a three-dial instrument panel with each dial housed within its own cowl. On the left is the tachometer, the center features the speedometer, and the right dial features digitized oil pressure and fuel economy readouts. At the base of the speedometer is a second digital display featuring trip miles and the odometer readout.

The center stack is cleanly laid out with a 7-inch color display at the top, followed by vents, then switches and knobs to manage climate control. At the base of the stack is a large open area for housing your smartphone with an SD card slot, two USB ports and an auxiliary input port present. The transmission shifter with a drive mode switch for enabling sport mode is also present.

A big dial managing the available MazdaConnect telematics system is where you’ll also find the audio system volume control — this is the first model I’ve driven where the audio system controls weren’t further up in the center console. Between the seats is a compartment, sized to hold your smartphone and two cup holders. A deep storage area between the seats includes a tray. This is where you will also find a 12-volt outlet.

All four doors come with pockets and are large enough to hold beverage containers. Seat back storage pockets and a deep glove box is also present.

What you don’t get with the CX-5 is a power liftgate. As long as the doors are unlocked, you can lift the door, but it won’t open for you automatically. The generously proportioned rear storage unit should be a family favorite with more than 34 cubic feet of storage space. Side storage pockets and a 12-volt outlet are also present. A temporary spare tire sits beneath the floor.

In the Grand Touring edition, latches automatically drop each section of the 40-20-40 rear seat. But the outboard seats will only fall forward if the front seats are moved up approximately half way. At nearly 6-feet tall, I don’t want to sacrifice leg room to drop the rear seat on my side.

On the road, the Mazda performed as expected. My wife has a Toyota RAV4, so I’m intimately familiar with the segment, having also driven Nissan Rogue, Kia Sportage, Ford Escape, and Hyundai Tucson models. A Honda CR-V will also be tested in the near future.

I like that Mazda still offers a 6-speed manual transmission, although it comes paired with the base engine only. Its a given that demand for manual gearboxes is too low for manufacturers to support these vigorously. Besides, the smaller engine may not have quite the level of power some owners want.

As for the larger engine, it seems suited to this SUV. What I did notice about the powertrain system is that it is loud under the hood. Furthermore, the transmission holds revs higher and longer than I would have expected — you have to remind yourself that a traditional automatic is sending power to the wheels, not a CVT.

Although the CX-5 has the look of sporty Mazdas, you shouldn’t mistake it for a Mazda 3 or any other sporty car. Its higher profile, average wheelbase size and overall dimensions mean you’ll have to take corners with ease. It isn’t a slouch on twisty roads, especially with all-wheel drive, and otherwise it handles as expected. Ride comfort seems better than average for this segment and the brakes are certainly firm.

Safety is a big issue these days as consumers consider what’s available to them. For its credit, Mazda achieved the Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, as the CX-5 was awarded the highest scores in all crashworthiness categories. This model also has an available smart brake system with collision warning, what ultimately gives the Mazda the institute’s highest score.

I understand that Mazda is emphasizing styling and fuel economy with this model. I’m also glad that they didn’t think they needed to include a pair of jump seats for a temporary third row along the lines of the Nissan Rogue. A more performance-oriented version would be fun, but with utility vehicles getting snapped up in record numbers, Mazda is positioned to meet most customer’s needs, including with its snazzy CX-5.

2016 Mazda CX-5

Grand Touring AWD

Sticker price from $29,470
Price as tested: $32,340
Seats 5
2.5-liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine
184 horsepower @ 5,700 RPM
185 foot-pounds of torque @ 3,250 RPM
3.50 inches bore by 3.94 inches stroke
Engine compression ratio: 13.0-to-1
Six-speed automatic transmission
Wheelbase: 106.3 inches
Length: 179.3 inches
Width: 72.4 inches
Height: 65.7 inches
Passenger volume: 102.3/103.8 cubic feet
Storage volume: 34.1/65.4 cubic feet
Towing capacity: 2,000 pounds
EPA: 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway
Regular grade gasoline
Fuel tank: 15.3 gallons
Curb weight: From 3,589 pounds
IIHS safety rating: Top safety pick+
Limited vehicle warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles
Powertrain warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
Corrosion warranty: 5 years/unlimited miles
Vehicle assembly: Hiroshima, Japan

See Also — Sporty and Elegant: Mazda CX-5

No Mazda2 Planned for the US Market

May 26, 2015 by admin Leave a Comment

Lack of consumer demand for the smallest of all cars is due in large part to low gas prices. As a result, no Mazda2 model is planned for the US market. Meanwhile, an all-new CX-3 crossover arrives this fall.

The smallest of all cars sold in the US occupy the A- and B-Segments, respectively. Also known as mini cars and subcompacts, these two segments have long suffered from tepid demand, due in large part to consumer interest in anything larger, beginning with compact models of all kinds — sedans, hatchbacks and crossovers.

Over the past year, low gas prices have also contributed to a shift away from A-Segment and B-Segment models. Moreover, for those consumers still placing a priority on fuel efficiency, models such as Chevrolet Cruze Eco are getting 42 mpg on the highway, offering more interior room and a wider selection of amenities in the process. Quite frankly, there is little reason for consumers to shop at the bottom end of the market.

Mazda2: Four-Year Model Run

Mazda, long a leader in small car innovation and fuel economy, no longer offers a car smaller than the Mazda3 in the US. Its previous Mazda2 model, introduced in 2011, had a four-year run before it was canceled following the 2014 model year. Mazda2 US sales came in at just 13,615 units in 2014, up 15.8 percent over the previous year, but well below the near 105,000 units for the compact Mazda3 line.

Last July, Mazda took the wraps off of the fourth-generation Mazda2, a model based on the Hazumi concept shown at the Geneva Motor Show the previous March. Notably, the Mazda2 is the best-selling car in Japan and has found its way into 2.4 million homes since its 1996 introduction.

Mazda CX-3

2016 Mazda CX-3

Plans to bring the new model — built in Salamanca, Mexico — to the United States have been canceled, according to a story published in Automotive News over the weekend. The publication spoke with Robert Davis, senior vice president of Mazda’s US operations about its plans. Davis explained that the combination of low gas prices and weak demand will keep the Mazda2 out of the US market, although it will be sold in Puerto Rico. That means the PR-bound model complies with the same environmental and safety standards required in the states. Theoretically, Mazda could change its mind and import its smallest model to the continental US in short order.

Strong Global Demand

Another matter is also playing out — global demand for the Mazda2. Whereas the Mazda2 is receiving scant interest in the US, consumers elsewhere are drawn to it. Indeed, instead of diverting much-needed inventory to the US, Mazda can fulfill strong demand for its smallest product elsewhere.

American consumers fixated on the latest generation Mazda2 don’t have to go to Puerto Rico to buy one. A four-door hatchback, badged as a Scion iA, will hit the market this September. It represents just one part of an expanding agreement between Toyota and Mazda whereby the two Japanese automakers are collaborating on a number of projects, including engines and transmissions.

Mazda CX-3 Crossover

Despite the paucity of interest in its smallest model, Mazda is going with another type of vehicle — a subcompact crossover utility vehicle — to expand its US product lineup. That model is the five-passenger Mazda CX-3, based on the Mazda2 platform and advancing the same KODO-Soul of Motion design language of four other Mazda models, including the CX-5 compact CUV.

Available this fall, the CX-3 arrives just as the segment is gaining strength, a model that will compete with the Nissan Juke, Kia Soul, Jeep Renegade, Fiat 500X, Chevrolet Trax and Honda HR-V for customers. Notwithstanding its small size, the Mazda CX-3 offers the high profile and roomy cabin evidential in this emerging segment and a more profitable price point for that. Thus, instead of placing a slow-selling model such as the Mazda2 in dealer showrooms, Mazda has chosen a more profitable vehicle line that dealers should have little trouble selling.

See Also — Sport Ute: 2016 Mazda CX-3
Photos courtesy of Mazda Motors.

Zoom-Zoom and a Mazda CX-5

September 26, 2014 by admin 7 Comments

A sporty CUV with luxurious features.

2015 Mazda CX-5

Mazda is one of the smaller of Japan’s six automakers that still maintain a stake in the US market, trailing Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Subaru, but well ahead of Mitsubishi in vehicle sales. Concern that Mazda might someday exit the market have been brushed away by the company as it continues to roll out new products based upon its Skyactiv Technology. That technology represents more efficient engines and transmissions as well as lightweight and rigid vehicle chassis.

In 2013, Mazda released the CX-5 — a replacement for its compact Tribute crossover utility vehicle — itself a mechanical twin to earlier Ford Escape models. Mazda’s relationship with Ford is over, thus the latest small CUV platform was developed entirely in house. The current model is a strong improvement over its predecessor, something I discovered when spending a week with a 2015 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD edition.

2015 Mazda CX-5

The 2015 Mazda CX-5 is offered in three trim levels: Sport ($21,545), Touring ($24,965) and Grand Touring ($27,970). Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is available. Add $1,250 to the price of the Touring and Grand Touring editions if you choose AWD.

Sport editions are powered by a 2.0-liter four cylinder engine making 155 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 150 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm. Touring and Grand Touring editions are powered by a 2.5-liter four cylinder engine making 184 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 185 foot-pounds of torque at 3,250 rpm. Only the Sport edition offers a standard 6-speed manual transmission; the other models are outfitted with an 6-speed automatic transmission with manual stick capabilities.

The base front-wheel drive model is the CX-5’s fuel economy champion, earning 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. My test model had the lowest fuel economy rating for this model line, but still earned a respectable 24 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway EPA rating.

Among the Japanese makes, an argument can be made that Mazda has the best styled cars. That statement may not fly well with the owner of a Nissan 370Z or of a Toyota Tacoma, but from top to bottom the Mazda model line is distinguished by its KODO or soul of motion design language.

2015 Mazda CX-5

KODO Design Language

Automakers love to make a big deal about design and for good reason: buyers are often attracted by a vehicle’s look, especially customers that place a larger emphasis on that criteria — no appliance models for them. KODO represents vehicles with a distinctive five-point grille, highly defined body lines, a strong stance and an energetic presence. Those features alone might not mean all that much, but when pulled tougher in one package, the look is quite striking.

Mazda’s designers figured out a way to apply KODO to its small utility vehicle, presenting a design that is much more bold and less safe than a Chevrolet Equinox or a Honda CR-V, for example. The Mazda CX-5 advances the design language without losing its utility and the larger engine coupled with all-wheel drive and nimble handling make it a fun drive too. Who said that you can’t have zoom-zoom with a CUV? But I am getting ahead of myself here. Let’s take a look inside to discover all the goodness of the CX-5.

2015 Mazda CX-5

Attractive Cabin, Standard Features

The cabin for the Grand Touring edition offers a two-tone color scheme, in this case sand with contrasting gray across the dash, along the top and bottom of the door panels and around the base of the center storage compartment. The front bucket and rear split-folding 60-40 bench seat come wrapped in leather, an upgrade over the standard cloth (Sport) and premium cloth (Touring) fabric.

This model comes standard equipped with a tilt and telescopic steering wheel column, push button start, cruise control, power accessories, dual covered visor vanity mirrors (illuminated, but not in the Sport), air conditioning (climate control in Touring and Grand Touring editions), three 12-volt outlets, a USB port, an auxiliary input jack, 4-, 6- or 9-speaker audio systems (Bose is standard with the Grand Touring) and the usual Pandora, SMS text messaging, audio menu command and other infotainment system features that come standard in the Grand Touring edition and are available elsewhere.

The instrument panel features a standard three oval ring display with the tachometer to the left, the speedometer in the middle and a driver’s information center to the right. Secondary and cruise control switches sit on the steering wheel; switches for the blind spot monitor, adaptive front lighting and the traction control system can be found to the left of the steering wheel in the center of the dashboard.

The CX-5’s infotainment layout is a simple one with a 5.8-inch screen surrounded by buttons and switches. The navigation system, part of a $1,425 technology package that also brings in the adaptive headlamps with an automatic leveling feature, comes courtesy of TomTom. TomTom is one of the earliest GPS systems, what you might have selected before GPS became widely available in today’s cars. It is a simple system that gets the job done, what likely saved Mazda big bucks in developing a proprietary system.

Beneath the center display are buttons and switches for climate control and the heated seats. At the base of the center stack in front of the transmission stick is an open storage area. A second storage compartment suitable for storing and recharging your smartphone is in the center compartment. This model has two cup holders up front, two in the rear center seat storage compartment, and four bottle holders — one in each door.

2015 Mazda CX-5

2015 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD

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Engine Technology and Road Manner

The compact utility vehicle segment has largely moved away from available V-6 engines to offer naturally-aspirated or turbocharged four-cylinder engines only. Mazda uses naturally-aspirated direct-inject gasoline engines with a high compression ratio, a move that improves thermal efficiency. Knocking, typically an issue when torque kicks in, has been avoided by shortening combustion duration and modifying the exhaust system.

The CX-5 Grand Touring has no lack of power and its handling is quite good. Most people outside of the snow belt can do without all-wheel drive, but it is a nice-to-have feature when the weather turns rough or the road twists, dips and turns. The Mazda CX-5 comes with electronic power-assisted steering and provides good handling, a comfortable ride and excellent braking. Bring forth the zoom-zoom by shifting the transmission into sport mode and you may forget you’re driving a utility vehicle. That knowledge may be of some consolation for young families who sold the Miata to make room for a new baby.

If you are shopping for a small crossover utility vehicle, the Mazda CX-5 offers a good alternative to Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue and other competitors. Its sporty styling is a plus, but you should also keep in mind that to get the many amenities found in the test model, you’ll pay more than $30,000 for your vehicle — in this case, $31,780. Yes, you get all the bells and whistles including 19-inch alloy wheels, rain sensing wipers, a rear wiper, heated power side mirrors and a power moonroof, but if you’re happy with front-wheel drive and a more basic package suits you, then a CUV in the $26-28,000 price range is certainly attainable.

2015 Mazda CX-5