Completing the Mazda trifecta of the all-new CX-3 and refreshed Mazda6 comes the revised CX-5.
The 2016 update gives the crossover a face updated for the times, LED accents, 19-inch wheels, and nine colors from which to paint your world. As for the interior, higher-quality materials, improved NVH and seating, and more places to store all the things are now available, as well as an electronic parking brake to keep things in place.
Under the hood, two engines deliver the power to the front or all four wheels: a 2-liter four-pot, and a 2.5-liter variant that is expected to save the driver from spending more at the pump than necessary.
Finally, the cyborgs in your life can enjoy the automaker’s Mazda Connect infotainment system, as well as the i-Activsense safety suite, which makes driving a little easier with features like radar-based cruise control and smart braking.
19″ tires equals horrible suspension wear, driving over US roads and expensive tires that wear out quickly.
Every Mazda looks like the front end got caught in a guillotine.
Mazda’s reasonable decision not to redesign the whole dashboard means that you’ll get the newer infotainment system in the CX-5, without being horrified by the iPad-on-dash look that seems to be so unpopular around here, a la Mazda3 (although I personally like it).
I don’t mind the look of it, but it can’t be good for glare.
The sat nav screen in the current CX5 is much too small.
Please tell me the stick shift model will continue on.
“nine colors from which to paint your world”
…and please tell me the stick shift model will be available in more than 3 shades of gray, as is Mazda’s current practice.
Dark wheels appear increasingly popular these days. Used to be mostly aftermarket on sporty cars. It’s one thing on a Mustang or Challenger, but probably too aggressive for most likely customers of a CX-6 or Mazda6.
Serious question:
The “car guys/gals” I know would know that wheels can be changed.
The “non-car guys/gals” I know would say “hey, look! the wheels are round!”
Do you know people who have said something like, “I chose the CR-V over the CX-5 because I thought the wheels on the Mazda looked too aggressive”??
If we’re judging by the CX-5 in the photo, the wheels are natural finish with dark gray painted inserts, not the same as Wranglers and Range Rovers with solid black for everything(windows included).
Is this the first time that an auto maker is copying a Hyundai. Took a double take, thought it was a Hyundai SantaFe sport from that picture.
CX-5 was out first, just barely, although the concept CX-5 dates back to 2010.
I don’t see the current Santa Fa in the current cx-5. But the above pic from that angle is a copy of the current Santa Fa. Mazda could be the first auto maker to copy a Korean brand. If sales don’t get better soon, Mazda could be the next Isuzu for North America.
As you said Mazda came out with the concept first so they are not copying. Second they have a much wider range than Isuzu and their sales are increasing. They also have good global range.
Madza is one of a no. of automakers which uses a pentagon-shaped grill, whereas Hyundai and numerous others, use a hexagonal shaped grill.
The one thing that Mazda has followed is in using “stretched” headlights that are placed more towards the side and don’t intrude into the hoodline.
Glad to see the touchscreen audio system from the 3 makes its way to the CX-5 and 6. When I test drove the CX-5, in its first model year, I thought the audio system was adequate, but you read a lot of hate for it, from people who have to put up with it every day.
And improved NVH is welcome.
Would have preferred the manual parking brake. Maybe they had to make room in the center console for the infotainment knob (which worked pretty well in the 3) / more storage room under the armrest.
Hopefully those 19″ wheels are not standard across all trims. (The ’15 has 17″ for Sport and Touring, with 19″ for Grand Touring.)
Clever thinking on Mazda’s part to use the expensive grille to protect the front licence plate.
So, what are the nine colors? White, off-white, silver, silver 2, gray, dark gray, brownish gray, black, and red?
Usually there’s a blue carefully calibrated to be unattractive to people who might buy a blue car.
But that would give them two non-grayscale colors. Why would a car company do that?
Maybe it’s a blueish gray?
Why oh why doesn’t Mazda provide a more powerful engine option for this and the 6 – diesel or turbo gas, something! The 2.5L in a fully loaded awd CX-5 felt totally gutless.
It’s just a matter of allocating limited resources at this point in time. Once the volume trims/models are all up to date, then they can get into some performance stuff.
You are asking why don’t they offer an engine they don’t have.
1. Diesel: Their diesel doesn’t yet pass US emissions requirements while being an “upgrade” over the gas engine.
2. Turbo-4: They don’t have one yet. Rumors are they will have one for the CX-9/Speed3 in the 2016-2017 time period.
What you ask for, very few consumers actually buy. I believe the take rate on V6 in the prior 6 was only something like 5%. Mazda is making the correct business decision to get their product line filled/fleshed out before saturating the niches.