Mazda CX-5 Review (2017)
Do you know what Jinba-Ittai is? It’s a Japanese word to describe the synergy between horse and rider and engineers at Mazda think they can emulate this feeling behind the wheel of a car. Jinba-Ittai is certainly a guiding principle for Mazda along with KODO – Soul of Motion design. In simple language, if Mazda engineers execute these two principles well, they have a chance to create a great looking car and a great driving car. Which brings us to this week’s review – the Mazda CX-5 SUV.
For 2017, there hasn’t been a revolution of what is already a very successful offering for Mazda, so far accounting for 25% of global Mazda sales since its introduction in 2012. The second generation of the Mazda CX-5 has been redesigned under the concept of ‘Refined Toughness’. Major revision is the name of the game here.
As such, the Mazda CX-5 is wearing a sharp new suit, and looks all the better for it. The front end now has more presence. The car looks slimmer and more elegant, while retaining the essence of ‘soul of motion’ Mazda design language. There are two new colours: Soul Red Crystal Metallic and Machine Grey Metallic.
Inside the interior has a simple horizontal design with a high quality finish. The two tone interiors look particularly premium. There are plenty of soft touch materials and newly developed decorative panels in the dashboard. Infotainment is provided via a new 7” centre display on the top of the dash that is controlled via a rotary controller on the centre console. It feels slightly old-fashioned in light of the touchscreens you will find in rivals, but it’s neat looking and works perfectly well. New equipment for 2017 includes a power tailgate, heated steering wheel and a head-up display.
The Mazda CX-5 will seat five in comfort, though the transmission tunnel does eat into the middle passenger’s legroom. The new car is 10mm longer than the car it replaces and 35mm lower. The wheelbase remains the same and the interior still feels spacious for this class of vehicle. Boot space has been boosted to 506 litres.
In Ireland, the Mazda CX-5 is available with a 2.0-litre petrol with 165hp and a 2.2-litre diesel with 150 or 175hp. All wheel drive and an automatic gearbox is available on diesel models. Diesel tends to dominate in this segment but a petrol engine would make sense for an urban driver. I test drove the 2.0-litre petrol model that comes as standard in front wheel drive and with a 6 speed manual gearbox and it is overwhelmingly very smooth and very quiet. Out of town, you miss the torquier diesels, but get the revs up and the 2.0 petrol is not slow. Over a mixture of roads, I returned 39 mpg. The 2.2-litre 150hp diesel FWD model is the best for economy returning up to 56mpg with a manual gearbox.
For a large SUV, the Mazda CX5 is not cumbersome to drive, even with the standard 6 speed manual gearbox. It feels light and agile on the road with well weighted steering, lots of grip and well contained body roll through the corners. The torsional body rigidity is 15% stiffer than the outgoing model, and refinements to the steering, suspension and brakes, plus the introduction of G-Vectoring Control make the car even more responsive. The Mazda CX-5 is well damped and comfortable across a variety of road surfaces, and sound insulation has been improved, giving premium levels of refinement.
The new Mazda CX-5 range starts at €28,995 for an Executive model. Executive SE models start from €30,495 and Platinum models from €34,295. All wheel drive models start from €35,995. Standard equipment includes LED headlamps, 7” colour screen display, Smart City Brake Support, 17” alloys, keyless entry, cruise control, electric windows, air con and electronic parking brake.
The Executive SE model adds dual zone climate control, lumbar support, digital radio, parking sensors, auto lights and wipers, LED rear lights and front fog lights.
Top of the range Platinum models add rear view camera, heated steering wheel and front seats, leather upholstery, Bose stereo, heads-up display, 19” alloys and an electric tailgate.
You will find a slew of models close to the Mazda CX-5 in price that follow a similar five seat SUV blueprint.
But few are as desirable as the CX-5 for design, interior finish and an engaging drive. The Mazda CX-5 makes a compelling and good value choice in its price range.
Mazda has treated this new generation of the CX-5 as more of a refining exercise than one of dramatic change or new direction. But it’s worked and they’ve taken a good SUV and made it more desirable.
Model tested: Mazda CX-5 2.0 SKYACTIV-G Platinum
Price: €34,295 (Range starts at €28,995)
Engine: 2.0-litre petrol
Power: 165hp
Torque: 210Nm
0-100km/h: 10.4 seconds
Top speed: 201km/h
Economy: 44mpg
CO2 emissions: 149g/km
Motor tax: €390 per year
Caroline Kidd
If you are looking for an SUV, you might also like this review of the Volkswagen Tiguan.
Mazda3 Review (2016)
The current Mazda3 has been on sale in Ireland since 2014 but has new pep in its step with the addition of a 1.5-litre diesel to the range.
Mazda3 was first launched with a 1.5-litre (100PS) petrol engine and a 2.2-litre (150PS) diesel engine, but the new engine (already seen in CX-3 and Mazda2) is now the most efficient in the range. It will also likely be more pleasing to Irish buyers who tend to feel more comfortable with a smaller capacity engine.
It’s efficient for sure. Mazda say the engine will return up to 74.3mpg with emissions of just 99g CO2, and the car proved frugal during my test drive. But thankfully the Mazda3 is no bore, and the 105PS engine has enough zip to exploit the Mazda’s excellent handling. This car feels light and agile on the road, aided by a sweet shifting 6 speed manual gearbox and well-judged steering that means that corners can be taken on in one fluid motion that is extremely satisfying to the driver. While there is road noise at high speeds and the whisper of diesel gurgle when hopping on the accelerator, the Mazda3 never feels anything less than a smooth and sophisticated car.
The interior is mature but stylish and easy navigable, and the Mazda ‘MZD Connect’ infotainment system with touchscreen and rotary controller operates like something lifted from a more expensive car.
The Mazda3 will seat five and rear space is competitive for the class. The boot is 364 litres, which is a little off the very best in the class. And while there is a great bottle shaped space in all four doors, I was a bit disappointed that there weren’t conventional door pockets!
Yet door pockets or no door pockets, I couldn’t help but be hooked by the Mazda3. It’s a stylish presence in this segment and without the ubiquity of say the Golf, Megane, Astra, Focus, it feels more exclusive. The entry price into the range is a bit higher than some key rivals with prices for petrol models starting at €22,995, and diesels at €24,695, though standard specification is good including 16” alloy wheels, leather wrapped steering wheel, electrically adjustable and folding door mirrors, air con, keyless start, front and rear electric windows, Bluetooth, 7” colour touchscreen and multimedia system and hill hold assist.
Executive SE (from €26,195) adds the likes of front fog lights, auto lights and wipers, bi xenon headlights, LED rear lights, LED daytime running lights, rear parking sensors, rear privacy glass, dual zone climate control and cruise control. The GT model on test (from €27,395) had an updated interior with silver dashboard decoration panel, 18” alloys, head-up display, reversing camera, heated front seats and keyless entry.
The addition of the new 1.5-litre diesel to the range means that the Mazda3 can square up nicely to rivals in terms of engine size and despite being a really efficient unit, the Mazda3 is no bore.
However the Mazda3 is a car that really appeals for its grown-up good looks and stylish interior. Hatchback buyers are spoilt for choice but this one really does resonate with the head and the heart.
Model Tested: Mazda3 1.5 SKYACTIV-D GT
Price: €30,290 (Range starts €22,995)
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo diesel
Power: 105PS
0-100km/h: 11 seconds
Economy: 74.3mpg
CO2 Emissions: 99g/km
Motor Tax: €180 per year
Caroline Kidd
Mazda2 Review (2016)
Car manufacturers talk a lot about car design as a ‘language’ and they like creating new ones. A new design language is a change in direction in terms of design for a manufacturer’s range of cars and this new look usually gets a premiere with an avant-garde concept that does indeed look gorgeous, sporty and eye-catching.
The promise is always that what you see on a revolving stand in Geneva, Paris, New York, Tokyo or Frankfurt will influence production models.
But by the time the designers get around to restyling the brand’s smallest models, the exciting new design language that took your breath away a few months earlier will be harder to find than an ancient language like Yola.
Somehow the designer’s vision never seems to translate so well when confined within the parameters of what it takes to make a modern, affordable, efficient small car with mass market appeal.
Ah but not so for the new Mazda2. Mazda’s KODO design philosophy has translated really well within the compact frame of the Mazda2 - it’s a bit of a looker, with enough presence on the road to prey on larger cars and eat its peers for breakfast should they find a Mazda2 in their rear view mirror. The inspiration for KODO design is the pent-up energy of an animal about to pounce, so if the Mazda2 looks predatory to you, that’s a success.
My test car (pictured) was finished in Soul Red, which is now a bit of a Mazda signature colour. It carries a small premium over other metallics, but it really shows off the Mazda2’s sculpted curves and creases.
The interior of the Mazda2
Inside there is a distinctly upmarket, mature and refined flavour to the Mazda2, and it’s not difficult to draw parallels between this and Audi interiors. Granted my test car was in top spec GT trim and the plush quotient was upped a bit by a posh two-tone, cream and black interior . But the combination of the clean, elegant lines of the dash, stylish circular vents, slick infotainment screen and sophisticated rotary dial commander, gives the Mazda2 serious style. Some European competitors could take some pointers from this.
Though compact on the outside, the Mazda2 is competitive in the small car class in terms of space. It’s comfortable up front, and in the rear, head and leg room is adequate for this class. The boot is 280 litres, which is a bit off say the 330 litres in a Skoda Fabia - but it’s close when compared to the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo and Opel Corsa. There is a quite a high lip.
There are four trim levels for the Mazda2 in Ireland – SE, Executive, Executive SE and GT - and a choice of a 1.5-litre diesel (105bhp) or a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with two power outputs, 75 or 90bhp. The 90bhp version is exclusively available on GT trim. While many rivals have turned to small turbocharged petrol units in the quest for more power and economy, such an engine is absent from the Mazda2 line-up.
Driving the Mazda2
A problem? Well certainly the Mazda2 is small and light so the 90bhp is adequate power and you will hit 100km/h from a standstill in 9.4 seconds. Emissions and economy are on par too - this model has an annual motor tax bill of €190 and will return up to 63mpg.
The power delivery is slightly different however. In the Mazda the power has to build, and the engine can feel a bit flat in higher gears. It’s not that it’s underpowered - it’s just that you have to search for the power through the gearbox to overtake and you never quite get the same sort of immediacy of throttle response and strong burst of power when you change gear as you would with the help of a turbo.
The Mazda2 balances easy progress, good handling with smooth comfort most of the time, though the manhole covers, potholes and other random bumps and ruts of Irish roads will make themselves known in the cabin.
There is a mature but fun feel to this car – mature in that it feels solid and stable on the road and cruises comfortably without too much intrusion from road and wind noise. It’s fun because of its natural, precise steering and composure through bends. The gearbox has a magnificent sporty action to it through a short throw. Find a series of fast flowing corners and the Mazda2 will change direction and glide around them with confidence and ease - and you will enjoy doing it (if the engine was a bit punchier for exiting those bends we’d be close to small car motoring nirvana!).
What's available?
An entry level SE model with the 75bhp, 1.5-litre petrol comes in at €15,995 with front electric windows and mirrors, remote central locking, tyre pressure monitor, hill hold assist, steering wheel mounted audio controls and keyless start. Executive trim with the same engine has a list price of €16,995 and adds 15” alloy wheels, electric windows all round, Bluetooth, air con, cruise control and front fog lights.
Executive SE trim comes in at €19,495 for the 90bhp petrol engine and the only automatic option in the line-up. This trim also opens up the option of a 105bhp diesel with a manual gearbox at €22,195. The highlights in terms of equipment are a lane departure warning system, smart city brake and the 7” inch screen for infotainment with a very nifty rotary dial commander and useful shortcut buttons located on the centre console. Top spec GT comes in at €19,495 or €20,595 with the leather and LED pack. This is for the buyer wanting something a little bit more special and the GT certainly delivers with a gorgeous interior that’s well kitted out.
The Mazda2 blends mature elegance with a lighter, fun side. Practicality wouldn’t be a stand-out feature and the engine line-up is not as extensive as some rivals. But the Mazda2 feels like a quality offering in this segment – not only does it have a smart, well-finished interior but it’s also a well-engineered small car that’s good to drive.
Check out my latest Mazda3 review here.
Model tested: Mazda 2 1.5-litre SkyActiv-G 90bhp GT
Price: €21,240 (Range starts at €15,995)
Engine: 1.5-litre petrol
Power: 90bhp
0-100km/h: 9.4 seconds
Economy: 63mpg (4.5l/100km)
CO2 emissions: 105g/km
Tax band: A3 (€190 per year)
Caroline Kidd