Compact crossovers are not the most practical vehicles because they’re not all that big. They’re also not the most fuel-efficient vehicles either because they’re bigger and heavier than a compact sedan, hatch or coupe. The reason they’re as popular as they are is because they do just about everything pretty well, they don’t really do anything badly, and we like the look of them. One of the best at the moment is the 2017 Mazda CX-5, so let’s take a look at some of its key attributes.
Styling
If you don’t need a third-row of seating and a 5-seat SUV will more than suffice for your needs, the Mazda CX-5 is a great option. But if the way a vehicle looks is of utmost importance to you, as it often is with buyers in this segment, it’s hard to look beyond the CX-5. The Mazda has just been redesigned for the current model year, but unless you already have the previous model or you work for Mazda or one of its dealers, it’s not exactly a huge departure from last year. That’s not a bad thing though, and it’s entirely understandable as the CX-5 was and still is easily one of the best looking crossovers in this or any other segment of the market.
Performance
The CX-5 isn’t an exercise in style over substance though, by any means. This is a compact crossover that drives at least as good as it looks, and that’s really saying something. The new-generation 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is only a little more powerful than the previous unit, but it has been reworked to be more responsive. Add into the mix the sharp steering, great chassis and little evidence of any turbo lag, and it’s easy to see why unibody crossovers like this have eclipsed the traditional SUV ladder-frame construction.
Improved infotainment
You can have all the app compatibility and advanced features you like in an infotainment system, but if the interface isn’t incredibly user-friendly most buyers will never make anywhere near full use of it. The Mazda CX-5 now has a sharper, brighter touchscreen that’s an all-round improvement over the previous system, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are on their way.
Head-up display
Whether you love, loathe or have no experience of head-up displays, you may have to get used to them as they’re slowly becoming increasingly prevalent, although currently only in higher specification models. The CX-5 GT model is packed with tech, and it now includes a head-up display. It may well seem a little busy for those who are a little skeptical about the technology, but the information displayed is excellent, especially the likes of blind-spot monitoring and speed data.
Fuel-efficiency
Being a compact crossover, the CX-5 should deliver at least reasonable fuel-efficiency, but it does a fair bit better than that. In front-wheel drive form, the Mazda gets ratings as good as 9.4 L/100 km in the city and 7.4 L/100 km on the highway. Go for the added capability of all-wheel drive and those numbers remain impressive at 10.2 L/100 km in the city and 8.3 L/100 km on the highway.
The 2017 Mazda CX-5 is available now from Moffatt’s Mazda, so don’t hesitate to get in touch for more details and to arrange a test drive in this stunning new version of the popular Mazda compact crossover.