The Mazda CX-5 – Is It A Good Car?

The Mazda CX-5 has enjoyed plenty of success in the mid-sized SUV class in Australia since it first launched in 2012. So much so that from 2013 to 2019 it has been Australia’s best selling medium SUV. Despite being knocked off the top spot and into second place since 2020, it’s clear that Mazda still gets it right to stay in the top two most popular medium SUV for almost a decade. But, with the mid-sized SUV rapidly becoming one of the largest growing segments of the Australian car market, it can’t afford to rest on its laurels if it wants to remain relevant.

So, is the Mazda CX-5 a good car, still? And can the second generation keep up with some of the newer kids on the block to continue its reign as Australia’s overall most popular mid-sized SUV? Let’s take a look at the 2022 CX-models and see if they have what it takes to hold onto that crown.

Performance

First up we have four available engine options.

• 2.0L Skyactiv petrol
• 2.2L Skyactiv diesel
• 2.5L Skyactive petrol
• 2.5L Skyactiv turbo petrol

The 2.0L engine puts out a pretty handy 115kW, which is impressive for its small size. Meanwhile the diesel engine and 2.5L engine both put out 140kW of power, with the turbo engine delivering a mighty 170kW.

Each engine is equipped with i-Stop technology to help keep emissions and fuel consumption down, at 6.9L/100km – 8.2L/100km depending on which petrol engine you’re using. Meanwhile the consumption figures for the diesel are as low as 5.7L/100km. Powerful stuff for a such a decently sized car.

Handling And Ride Comfort

What makes an SUV unique is it’s ability to offer the driver a little bit of everything. In a venn diagram, the SUV would sit right in the middle. It has to be comfortable because it’s going to be used for long drives though needs to be able to cut it in a busy city environment. It has to be fuel efficient but needs handle some tough off road conditions, whilst also keeping the kids entertained and exciting the driver.

This means the car needs to be very well engineered to meet all these demands, and that is exactly what has been achieved with the Mazda CX-5. With its all-wheel drive system, it’s highly responsive on the road, and will absolutely take it to the limit when you put your foot down (especially the 2.5L turbo), and provide a lovely smooth ride. It’s not so rigid that it rattles your bones yet not so soft that it fails to inspire any emotion when you get behind the wheel. And if you feel so inclined, you can always switch it over to sport mode to tighten everything up and increase the revs.

Mazda has also improved the sound insulation in the second generation CX-5 to reduce road noise, while the six-speed automatic transmission makes going up through the gears barely noticeable.

Design And Interior

The Mazda CX-5 interior very much sticks to the brand’s philosophy—practical, sleek and simple. Unlike many other compact crossovers, it doesn’t feel the need to put everything on full display. It doesn’t have an overly complicated centre console, nor does it clutter up the dashboard with cockpit controls. It just has a very neat and tidy arrangement of controls around the automatic transmission gear lever selector, an integrated steering wheel and the only thing that breaks up the flow of the dashboard is a 10.25 inch touch screen infotainment system. This makes for a nice, clean look.

It has all the creature comforts you would expect from a high-end family car —air conditioning, comfy and adjustable seats, plenty of phone charging ports and cup holders—all within a roomy cabin that has plenty of interior cargo space for your shopping bags and booster seats.

Safety

Getting home safely is a top priority, which is why all Mazda CX models have a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. All models come with front (driver and passenger) airbags, side (front) and curtain (front and rear) airbags as standard equipment.

Other safety features include:

• ABS brakes
• Blind spot monitoring
• Dynamic stability control
• Emergency brake assist
• Emergency stop signal
• ISOFIX child restraint anchor points and top tethers
• Lane departure warning

As you can see, the CX-5 comes with a variety of safety and driver assist features to keep you safe in the event of an accident, and preferably to help you avoid one in the first place. If you want to know more about them, and what else the car has, the brochure has it all.

The Fun Stuff

The Mazda CX-5 has a infotainment system to keep you and your passengers entertained on a long drive, where that may be. Its 10.25 inch touch screen includes Apple Carplay and Android Auto for full mobile connectivity. It boasts internet radio integration, multi-function commander control, 6 or 10-speaker sound system and, depending on the model, wireless phone charging.

It also has a 12V power outlet in the cargo area that is hooked up to the Mazda CX-5 battery just in case you need to plug some more toys in.

Reliability And Maintenance

Mazda covers the CX-5 with its standard five-year unlimited kilometre warranty across all models. However, Mazda’s suggested servicing schedule runs on a rather tight 12 month/10,000km basis, whichever comes first. That distance limit is below par compared to its rivals where 15,000km is the norm. So if you do a lot of driving, your CX-5 will spend more time at the service centre.

Servicing costs vary according to model but expect to pay between around $350 to $380 per visit to the dealership for scheduled maintenance, with additional ‘extra interval’ items such as brake fluid and air filters priced on top of the basic capped price program.

Come For A Drive

There’s a pretty good reason why the Mazda CX-5 has been at the top of the pile of compact SUVs for so long, and the new Mazda is sure to carry on that tradition. It’s simply a brilliant car, whichever model you opt for. It offers a great ride—comfortable yet nimble, and is loaded with more tech and safety features than you can poke a stick at. And the best part is that prices start from just $39,848. This represents some serious bang for your buck, so why don’t you book a test drive here and see for yourself?