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Mazda is a manufacturer that’s definitely not fazed by the upsurge in competition from South Korea as it appears to be on a steep upward curve itself right now, as a quick glance at the current model range will reveal. The Mazda CX-5 is a 5-seat SUV crossover that was only launched as recently as 2012, so last year was quite soon to have been presented with an all-new second-generation. It pretty much carries over this year, apart from a new diesel engine option, so let’s see what the2018 Mazda CX-5 has to offer.

Styling

Mazda really does produce extremely attractive vehicles these days, and the CX-5 that was all-new last year is definitely no exception. It’s now even sleeker, sportier and more contemporary than many of its rivals, even though it was ahead of most of them already. The latest generation isn’t all that different in its styling from its predecessor, which isn’t an issue as it was already so attractive it would have been almost sacrilegious to mess around with it too much. The familiar trapezoidal grille is the obvious focal point of the front fascia, while the sheet metal bends alluringly along the sides of the vehicle with chrome accents below the window, and the grille is now slightly canted with the badge floating in the middle.

Engines

The two engines available last year for the CX-5 return, but we were told back then that a new diesel was already in the pipeline. The standard engine remains the familiar 2.0-litre four-cylinder which develops 155 horsepower and 150 lb.-ft. of torque, while the 2.5-litre four-cylinder that was made more responsive than the version in the previous generation is still there too with its 187 horsepower and 185 lb.-ft. The diesel arrives for this 2018 model year and it’s a 2.2-litre four-cylinder that produces 150 horsepower, but more importantly an impressive 280 lb.-ft. of torque. The manual transmission is only available with the standard 2.0-litre engine, so all other CX-5 versions come with a six-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is an available option.

Trims and features

There are three straightforward trim levels of Mazda CX-5, which are the GX, the GS and the top of the range GT. All versions come standard with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, LED headlights, power features, a rearview camera, keyless ignition and two USB chargers. The GS trim then ups the ante with leatherette interior, acoustic front windows, a power adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, a better sound system, rear USB ports and blind-spot monitoring. The CX-5 GT goes the whole way with full leather, satellite navigation and all the trimmings associated with a top of the range model.

Fuel economy

The 2017 Mazda CX-5 was already very fuel-efficient for a vehicle of this size and type, but the diesel engine will take the 2018 model to new levels. Front drive models with the 2.0-litre engine and manual transmission get you 9.4 L/100 km in the city and 7.4 L/100 km on the highway, which is the best of the gas-powered variants. However, although official figures for the diesel CX-5 are not yet available for Canada, test drives have reported real-word figures as good as 5.4 L/100 km on the highway, which none of the Mazda’s current rivals can get anywhere close to beating.

The 2018 Mazda CX-5 will be coming to Moffat’s Mazda soon, so get in touch today to be at the front of the line to try out what will be the most fuel-efficient vehicle in its class when it lands.