Published:
13 August 2024Mazda has invested in the engine department in different ways to other manufacturers. This range for a family SUV is unheard of nowadays, especially with no plug-in hybrid option.
The atmospheric 2.0-litre Skyactiv-G is a slightly odd choice, because it needs to be worked fairly hard to make the CX-5 accelerate with much urgency.
Thankfully, it revs pretty slickly and the car has the slick, precise control weights and crisp handling responses to reward the investment of effort.
If you like your SUVs torquey and effortless, this probably isn’t the one for you.
The 173bhp 2.2-litre diesel Skyactiv-D suits the car’s character best, producing 310lb ft of torque at 2000rpm to give flexible and muscular performance.
It sounds good too (for a diesel), projecting a deep growl into the cabin that’s satisfyingly sporty.
A range-topper comes in the form of a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four. It’s a bit of a noisy lump, making itself well known in the cabin as it progresses through the automatic gearbox’s six ratios.
Perhaps another couple of cogs at the top end would stretch things out sufficiently to abate some of the fuss, but compared with rivals that use a CVT, the accelerative experience is far easier on the ears.
