Our measurement of the space behind the backseat put the CX-5 on par with the 2021 Nissan Rogue, at 17.9 cubic feet of cargo volume. The Caturra Brown leather in our test vehicle surprised me it looks black in low-light conditions, so when I opened the car door in broad daylight, I was concerned I was somehow getting into the wrong car.Ĭargo space is also average for the class. It’s a fairly boring design other Mazdas, like the CX-30 and Mazda3, have a more visually interesting style. The interior aesthetics didn’t do much for me. On the top Signature trim we drove, that meant high-quality leather upholstery, plus buttons and switches that feel sturdy and well made. The materials inside the CX-5 are top-notch for the class. It’s actually one of the more fun-to-drive SUVs in its class - maybe even the most fun to drive, though that’s a fairly low bar to clear. The CX-5 may be closer to a commuter car than a sports car, but it’s still relatively fun to drive. Steering, always a Mazda strong suit, remains sharp here. Braking feel is linear and confident even on snow- and slush-covered roads - which speaks as well of Mazda’s tire choice (my CX-5 had Toyo A36 all-season tires) as of the brakes themselves. There’s a fair amount of body roll in corners, too, but that’s not surprising for an SUV. Ride quality is a rough spot for the CX-5, as its ride is very firm (even with underinflated tires, which usually helps soften up a ride). All three also have significantly less power, but comparably equipped versions are also lighter and none feels underpowered to me. The turbo AWD CX-5 lags behind AWD versions of the Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue and Toyota RAV, all of which have combined mpg ratings of at least 28 and highway mpg ratings in the low 30s. The CX-5 is also available with front-wheel drive and either the 2.5 turbo (23/28/25 mpg) or base four-cylinder (25/31/28 mpg). With the turbo engine and all-wheel drive, the CX-5 is EPA-rated at 22/27/24 mpg city/highway/combined lose the turbo and keep the AWD, and those numbers rise to 24/30/26 mpg. For a car aiming for a refined experience, the noise can seem, well, unrefined - almost CVT-like.Ĭhoosing the 2.5 turbo engine also carries a fuel economy penalty. The result is that it holds onto each gear longer, creating more engine noise. I had more issues with the CX-5’s six-speed automatic transmission, which has taller gearing - likely for improved fuel efficiency given the absence of additional gears for the transmission that most vehicles have nowadays. The power is nice, but the 2.5 turbo doesn’t transform the CX-5 into a hot rod. The engine shines more in smaller vehicles (such as the CX-30 SUV and Mazda3 sedan and hatchback) than it does in the CX-5, likely due to the CX-5’s added heft. Mazda’s 2.5-liter turbo four is a peppy little engine - one the company has put under the hood of nearly every vehicle in its lineup save the subcompact CX-3 SUV and MX-5 Miata sports car. It’s fairly quick off the line and has more than adequate passing power. With power like that, the CX-5 is no slouch. It also runs fine on 87-octane regular gas, though on that fuel, its output is reduced slightly to 227 hp and 310 pounds-feet of torque. When using 93-octane premium gas, the engine makes 250 horsepower and 320 pounds-feet of torque. The CX-5’s driving experience is one of the SUV’s strongest suits, particularly with the optional turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. With its new updates, premium interior and powerful turbocharged engine, can the CX-5 Signature give those rivals a run for their money? Driving the 2021 Mazda CX-5 Is (Relatively) FunĢ021 Mazda CX-5 | photo by Christian Lantry Related: Here’s Every Car That Earned an IIHS Top Safety Award for 2021ĭespite its popularity within the Mazda lineup, the CX-5’s sales are dwarfed by the likes of the Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue and Toyota RAV4. Mazda’s most popular vehicle is the CX-5 compact SUV, and for the 2021 model year it received a number of small updates to its safety features and tech, as well as a new Carbon Edition trim. Versus the competition: Mazda’s entry is one of the most fun to drive in a crowded class of compact SUVs, but while it does have higher-quality interior materials, its flawed multimedia interface lags well behind the competition. The verdict: The CX-5’s interior (mostly) shines as a near-premium offering, but a fun driving experience and nice leather upholstery can’t make up for its new and incredibly frustrating user interface.
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