The CX-5 was introduced three years ago, and it was the first Mazda with the Skyactiv technology and the Kodo design language, both of which became the trademark of the Japanese carmaker. What is the best of all is that the CX-5 is fun and easy to drive and this compact crossover has become one of the most popular Mazda models. The proof for this enormous popularity is the fact that CX-5 accounts for one in four Mazda vehicles sold.
Basic information
The 2017 Mazda CX-5 took some design lines from both the Mazda 3 and the latest CX-9 whereas it is about the same size as the previous version. Some of the new and good-looking parts on the 2017 model are large front grille, sharp, slim headlights and taillights and an improved cabin. The Mazda comes with three engine options. The first engine is the modified Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter I4 and the second option is Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter, both petrol unit. A diesel variant is also available, and it is a Skyactiv-D sequentially turbocharged 2.2-liter powerplant and the good news is that the CX-5 with the diesel engine will finally reach the US shore. What will not be offered in the States is the base 2.0-liter gasoline unit.
Driving The Diesel CX-5
The 2017 Mazda CX-5 has been tested for the first time at a Japanese media event near Mount Fuji. Although this is the car for the Japanese market, according to the CX-5 program manager Masaya Kodama it “is very close to the US-spec diesel.”
The diesel engine is similar to the one in the previous CX-5, but the performance figures have not yet been released for the US market. However, in a domestic market, diesel powerplant produces 173 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, and it is combined with a six-speed automatic transmission. The 2017 Mazda CX-5 is capable of attacking and exiting corners faster due to the transmission’s remapped shift schedule. According to Kodama, “natural sound smoothers” have been added inside the piston pins in order to reduce the noise of the diesel and improve the driving experience. They managed to reduce the noise to some extent, but the clatter is still here. Nevertheless, the new model is definitely better than the old one.
In addition, the new CX-5 features the new version of the chassis and the Japanese carmaker improved steering by adding G-Vectoring Control (GVC). The GVC is responsible for the speed of the car, throttle position and rate of steering-wheel rotation and as a result, we have a more precise initial turn-in response as well as fewer mid-corner corrections. Furthermore, the torsional rigidity has grown by 16 percent by using more high-tensile steel in the chassis and adding additional reinforcement around the A-pillars. Not only has this improved drive quality, but the handling has also benefited.
The Cabin of 2017 Mazda CX-5
The Mazda engineering team also reduced the noise inside the cabin by adding sound-absorbing materials (find out more at soundproofpanda.com) which targeted some specific characteristics and situations that trigger stress, as Kodama stated. The team has apparently been successful, and the new version is quieter than the 2016 model.
There have been some additional changes in the interior as well, and the passengers have the feeling that there is more space inside. This is mainly because the dashboard looks simpler, but it is still elegant and flatter than the dash in the previous version. The 2017 Mazda CX-5 is equipped with the center display that sits at the top of the horizontal dash, and the driver doesn’t have to take his eyes off the road too much if he/she wants to check the display out.
The seats have been improved as well, and they support the passengers from directly below, through the upper thighs and against the shoulder blades. This should reduce fatigue as the upgrades offer a higher level of comfort. The inevitable part of this vehicle is the i-Activesense safety package that contains radar-based adaptive cruise, Driver Attention Alert and blind-spot monitoring. In addition to that, there are dynamic LED headlights, lane-keeping assist, automatic braking and lane-departure warning.
Price
The starting price of the 2017 Mazda CX-5 should be between $23,000 and $31,000 depending on the chosen trim. Mazda managed to upgrade an already outstanding vehicle, and the new CX-5 is definitely a car close to perfection.
