It is a car that is modern by all standards, but it does not have a lot of innovation in it, on the contrary, it sticks to well-established traditions. Electric motors have not found their way into it yet, but you can still buy it with gasoline without a turbo and also with diesel. You can still choose between automatic and manual transmission, which is no longer common in this class. And classic buttons rule the cabin. So, if you want a funky new car, but you don’t want to get used to futuristic design, revolutionary technologies and unfamiliar controls, Mazda is right for you.
You can learn a lot about a person by the color of the car, says the designer
Let’s take a look at a specific car, on which we will show all the pluses and possible minuses. At first glance, it catches the eye with its interesting grey-green shade. At Mazda, most people – and women in particular – automatically go for Soul Red Crystal red paint. I’m not surprised at all because the color is fantastic and when the sun shines on it, it’s impossible to take your eyes off it. Nevertheless, this time I would probably be solving a serious dilemma, because the khaki novelty offers the advantage of being unobtrusive and it really suits the car. It’s called Zircon Sand Metallic and it’s part of the Newground limited edition, which also includes neon yellow vent surrounds, decorative stitching on the black upholstery and subtle detailing on the front fascia. The whole looks extremely original, yet not flashy. I’m certainly not worried that after a while it will get on my nerves and I’ll start longing for the peace of the ordinary, as it happens to me with some overly expressive design elements.
Quality from posh boutiques
In the interior, Mazda has made a direct seven-mile jump in recent years. Where there used to be decent, but still rather average ready-to-wear, today you will find materials that are a joy to touch, and you can feel the quality at every touch. Even a car a few hundred thousand more expensive would not be ashamed of such processing. The cabin is clear and tidy, but all essential functions still have the good old buttons. I don’t know how you feel about the popularity of displays, I personally remain an old-timer. A weirdo is a weirdo. I press it after memory, it pops and I know the feature has been activated.
In this respect, Mazda is my blood type – the infotainment display is still controlled by the wheel on the center tunnel. It seems almost archaic in today’s world, but it is actually very comfortable to use. You have the wheel at hand, you don’t have to reach anywhere, it’s just a matter of habit. And the display will still be beautifully clean, no impressionism from fingerprints. In addition, the system remains relatively simple, so you will not get lost in it and in ten minutes you will learn to operate it as if you have known it forever. More and more people connect their own phone anyway and practically do not use car infotainment at all.
It does not compromise on safety
Despite the traditional atmosphere inside, the car is equipped with super-modern assistance technologies that ensure a smooth ride and the safety of the crew. They monitor vehicles in front and pedestrians around the road, can predict the risk of a collision and, if necessary, apply the brakes or even stop completely. Adaptive cruise control is a great helper when driving in city traffic or in highway traffic jams, it is a matter of course to monitor the blind spot or monitor traffic when reversing into the street. You will also appreciate the parking camera and sensors, because the view outside is not the best after all.
Even the passenger seat can be the safest place for a child
When you sit in the driver’s seat, you will have round alarm clocks in front of you, complete with digital indicators of consumption, range and other practical information. The steering wheel fits into your hand, which is still classically round and unusually thin by today’s standards, which will suit most women with small hands. You will also appreciate the seat itself, sufficiently spacious and comfortable, but not overly soft. The cabin is a really pleasant place to live, even in the rear seats, where both children and adults can travel comfortably. Let’s take a look in the trunk, where two goodies will please you. The floor is double-sided with the Newground equipment, so you can choose a carpet or washable plastic. And then there’s a blind with a transparent attachment, thanks to which you can see out from the driver’s seat, even when the trunk lid is raised. Or, on the contrary, you can see inside when you are loading things into the trunk. It’s a small thing, but it’s a pleasure.
An experience in every ride
In the test car, I have the most powerful gasoline engine with a volume of 2.5 liters and an output of 143 kW or 191 hp. In particular, this motorization is only available with an automatic transmission, but you can also get the weaker petrol with a manual transmission, if that’s closer to you. You can choose from the same options in the case of diesel engines. Both diesel and gasoline, then you can also buy with four-wheel drive. It’s worth considering for a large family SUV that you’re sure to take to the mountains in the winter.
I ended the test week with an average consumption of around 8 liters, which I think is adequate considering the petrol engine, automatic transmission and the size of the car. Most of all, I like to drive fast. The dynamics are pleasant and you will definitely not miss the performance on Czech roads. When overtaking, the sport mode will also help you, which speeds up the reaction to the gas and allows you to complete the entire maneuver in a shorter time. If you have a calmer nature and enjoy the scenery along the way, you can keep the consumption around six liters.
At the end, I kept a dessert for female drivers who like to drive and can perceive time behind the wheel as fun. Although the Mazda CX-5 is an SUV, i.e. a large, heavy car with a high center of gravity, it is still a real pleasure to drive. Thanks to the naturally aspirated engine, it accelerates smoothly and smoothly, it turns in with an abundance of willingness, and you still feel that the steering wheel is firmly in your hands, and not some mysterious control unit hidden in the bowels of sheet metal and wiring. The chassis mainly focuses on the comfort of the crew, but it reliably keeps track in corners, so you don’t have to worry about drifting and losing control. Although there is a lack of gear shifting for a real driving experience, the automatic makes up for this loss with flawless work that I can’t say a bad word about. Shifts logically and meaningfully without drawing attention to itself by jerking. I think the fact that in 2021 more than 70% of Mazda CX-5s were sold with an automatic transmission speaks volumes about its qualities. I dare say that even after a hard day at work, you can enjoy the drive home.
How much will it cost?
Since the offer of engines and equipment is wide, the amount you pay for the car can also vary considerably. The current starting price of the model with two-liter gasoline and the Emotion equipment is CZK 702,100, the Newground equipment with two-and-a-half-liter gasoline costs CZK 1,021,100. From cars of similar size and price, you can buy, for example, Ford Kuga, Hyundai Tucson, Kiu Sportage, Subaru Forester or Volkswagen Tiguan, comparing specific offers and configurations is up to you. Get in and take a ride! Some competitors have a chance to score with a lower price or consumption, but Mazda clearly wins with its ‘normality’, user-friendliness and, last but not least, driving pleasure.
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