Vehicle Tested
| 2016 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD
Base Price: $29,476
As-Tested Price: $34,146
Built in Japan.
Options
Special Paint
Cargo Cover
Door Sill Plates
Technology Package
i-ActiveSense Package
Engine: 2.5-liter I4, 184 horsepower
Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic
Drive Wheels: All-Wheel Drive
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Mazda's CX-5 is a 5-passenger, compact crossover that competes with vehicles like the Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Cherokee, Kia Sportage, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. For 2016, the CX-5 gets a thorough reworking featuring updated exterior and interior styling, revised suspension tuning, additional sound insulation and an updated infotainment system. Also new are LED lights, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert and lane departure warning.
Three trim levels are offered: Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. All are available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Two engines are offered. Available only on the front-drive Sport is a 155-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Standard on all other models is a 184-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder. The 2.0-liter engine is available with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. The 2.5-liter engine comes only with the 6-speed automatic.
The Sport has an MSRP of $21,795 and comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, cruise control, height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, Bluetooth and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, auxiliary audio jack and an iPod /USB interface.
The $25,215 Touring adds keyless ignition and entry, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert, six-way power driver seat, a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat, a six-speaker sound system, upgraded cloth upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel and a six-speaker sound system. A Moonroof and Bose Audio option adds a sunroof and an upgraded nine-speaker Bose audio system.
The Grand Touring starts at $28,220 and adds all of the above plus 19-inch wheels, auto headlights and wipers, heated mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, satellite radio, heated front seats and leather upholstery.
Available on both the Touring and Grand Touring is a $1625 Technology package that features a navigation system, Smart City Brake Support System, adaptive LED head lights, running lights, fog lights and tail lights and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. On the Touring, the package also includes automatic headlights and automatic windshield wipers. Optional on Grand Touring is i-ActiveSense that includes adaptive cruise control, Smart Brake Support, lane departure warning and automatic high beam headlight control.
The Mazda CX-5 is built in Japan and has a $880 destination charge.
Get Up and Go It is not likely anyone will run across the 2.0-liter engine since it is offered only on the base trim in front-drive form. That's probably a good thing as it struggles with the CX-5's 3300 pound curb weight. Additionally, its 2 mpg highway fuel economy savings is likely more theoretical than actual.
Most shoppers will run across the peppy and frugal 2.5-liter four. With all-wheel drive, that engine can push the CX-5 from 0 to 60 mph in 8 seconds flat --very respectable for the class but certainly not class leading. Transmission performance is adequate as well. Most shifts go unnoticed and downshifts are undramatic. Still, it's not the smoothest transmission in the class and could use a bit more refinement when the CX-5 is traversing hilly terrain.
The 2.5-lliter engine nicely balances performance with economy, returning a respectable 26 mpg city and 35 mpg highway in the EPA cycle. Those numbers drop slightly when equipped with all-wheel drive. In real-world driving, you'll likely average about 28 mpg overall as long as you aren't stuck in a city slog all day. In that situation, best-base scenario is likely 24 mpg. Still not bad, considering.
The CX-5's all-wheel drive system isn't intended for extreme off-road use and does not come with a low-speed transfer case. Still, it does offer a locking center differential that helps out in extremely slippery situations. When properly equipped, towing capacity is 2000 pounds.
On the Road While most compact crossovers play the middle of the road when it comes to ride-and-handling characteristics, the CX-5 leans decidedly sporty. Just a few minutes behind the wheel and drivers will notice the crisp steering, firm suspension and responsive braking. That's not to say that the CX-5 is a sports car -- far from it -- but it certainly is among the most athletic mainstream crossovers on the market.
The penalty for sporty handling is usually a choppy ride, but that isn't the case in the CX-5. Somehow the suspension remains compliant enough to soak up most bumps and expansion joints. Occasionally, a particularly deep pothole will thump through, but the extremely stiff body structure doesn't shutter or creak like some competitors, it simply shrugs and moves on.
Isolation from road and engine noise has long been a Mazda CX-5 weak point. That's not the case any longer as Mazda engineers added additional sound insulation and redesigned engine mounts to smooth out CX-5's rough edges. Wind rush can still get intrusive at speeds above 70 mph, but that's standard operating practice in most crossovers.
Behind the Wheel The biggest difference between the 2015 and '16 CX-5 is inside. Materials are noticeably more elegant and refined and the new infotainment system is light-years ahead of the previous generation. The design is modern, attractive and extremely functional.
Driver's face no-nonsense gauges that are easy to read, day or night. The steering wheel boasts quite a few redundant controls -- as is the industry norm -- and the center stack features a large 7-inch screen. Climate controls are large and clearly marked, if not a bit low. About the only downside is a jog dial that controls the infotainment system. It's certainly not as easy to use as a touch screen and can be an awkward reach for some drivers.
Front seats are comfortable, if a bit firm, and offer plenty of support for long-trip comfort. Head and leg room are good. Rear-seats are plenty spacious for the class and provide above-average comfort levels for full-size adults. Three abreast seating is possible, but everyone is going to be a bit squeezed.
Mazda added a number of important safety features for 2016, including automatic crash notification, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert, and Smart City Brake Support. The system uses a sensor to detect objects in front of the vehicle and can bring the CX-5 to a stop from speeds as high as 19 mph. The Grand Touring is also available with adaptive cruise control, Smart Brake Support (allows automatic braking from higher speeds than the City system) and lane-departure warning.
Cargo space is class competitive. With the rear seats in use there's 34.1 cubic feet of space. Rear seats folded, room expands to 64.8 cubic feet. The rear seats also have a nice feature that flips the seat bottom forward to create a nearly flat load floor. Interior storage is merely adequate and no more. Mazda could add a few more power outlets or USB ports -- especially in the rear.
Bottom Line Seems like compact crossovers are multiplying like bunnies, indeed these useful carryalls are among the most popular vehicles sold today. That said, many vehicle offerings in a class make for great deals for shoppers. The CX-5 leans decidedly sporty and that gives it a leg up for buyers looking for a compact crossover with a little more flavor.
Roomy and fun to drive, Mazda's CX-5 sees huge improvements for 2016 that make it class competitive or better in all facets. Pricing is also attractive. If you are in market, you certainly want to take the CX-5 for a test drive.
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