The Mazda CX-5 Diesel's Economic Case Is Nonexistent

Timothy Cain
by Timothy Cain

Finally.

Mazda’s promised diesel-powered CX-5 is now open for pre-order in the United States, years after we began chronicling the Skyactiv-D’s lethargic march to North America.

TTAC’s coverage of Mazda diesel delays goes back nearly six years, when the future of Mazda’s Skyactiv-D was linked to a future Mazda 6. It was a story that received more attention in 2014. Eventually, in late 2016, there was confirmation of a Mazda CX-5 diesel. Arrival date: second half of 2017.

By the second half of 2017, however, the timing of the diesel CX-5’s arrival was unknown. Fast forward past a promising NHTSA filing, then a CARB certification, and then the release of EPA fuel economy ratings to the 2019 New York International Auto Show.

The Mazda CX-5 Signature AWD Diesel is ready, Mazda insists. But at $42,045, there’s simply no reason for its existence in America.

Granted, it’s not the first time a vehicle’s diesel engine option required a hefty financial burden. Generally, automakers would demand greater financial outlay, but owners were reimbursed with a significant torque advantage and meaningful fuel savings.

The Mazda CX-5’s Signature line – heretofore available exclusively as an all-wheel-drive model with the 2.5-liter turbo seen first in the larger CX-9 – will conduct itself in a different manner. There’s a huge horsepower deficit, a quantifiable torque disadvantage, and a modest fuel economy benefit. Factor in the extra cost of diesel fuel and the potential cost savings at the pump dwindle further.

Here’s the simple math.

With 250 horsepower (220 on regular fuel) and 310 lb-ft of torque, the current Mazda CX-5 Signature is priced at $37,935, destination included. You’ll need to find another $4,110 to select the 2.2-liter diesel, which produces 82 fewer ponies and 20 fewer lb-ft of torque. In both cases, max. torque is achieved at 2,000 rpm.

The CX-5 Skyactiv-D will use less fuel than the Skyactiv-G 2.5T, but the official ratings are hardly soul-stirring. The diesel’s 28 mpg combined fuel economy rating is only 4 mpg better than that of the 2.5T.

Over the course of 10,000 miles, the diesel CX-5 will consume 357 gallons of fuel. According to AAA’s current national average diesel price of $3.08, the CX-5’s annual diesel cost will be $1,100.

The gas-fired CX-5 2.5T will require 417 gallons of fuel over the course of a 10,000-mile year. The average price of regular fuel, $2.84/gallon, produces an annual cost of $1,183; or $1,417 on $3.40/gallon premium fuel if you want to maximize CX-5 2.5T horsepower.

Assuming, improbably, no extra interest charges accompanying the $4,110 Skyactiv-D upcharge, the diesel costs $822 extra per year over the course of a 5-year payment plan. (Throw in around $60 extra for added interest costs at 2.9 percent, if you’d like.)

With $83 of annual fuel savings, it’ll take 49.5 years to recoup the Skyactiv-D’s upfront costs; 13 years at best.

Diesel fanatics aren’t unfamiliar with vaguely similar payback timelines. In the past, however, there were torque considerations to be, well, considered. There were resale value equations to calculate. But in the case of the Skyactiv-D, the diesel-like mid-range umph of the 2.5T squashes the torque argument, while the harm done to diesel’s reputation by Volkswagen’s TDI emissions scandal does little to bolster any residual value assertion.

Sometimes, good things come to those who wait.

Not this time.

At one point, Mazda suggested 10 percent of CX-5 shoppers would choose diesel, a figure that now does not seem remotely believable. Maybe the diesel Mazda 6 will tell a different tale?

[Images: Mazda]

Timothy Cain is a contributing analyst at The Truth About Cars and Driving.ca and the founder and former editor of GoodCarBadCar.net. Follow on Twitter @timcaincars and Instagram.

Timothy Cain
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  • Inside Looking Out Inside Looking Out on Apr 22, 2019

    What's the point of diesel in the passenger car? Turbocharged engine has all the torque advantage you need without complications and problems of diesel engine. And if thats not enough - get EV with all its torque from zero rpm. Diesel is better suited for commercial use.

  • IBx1 IBx1 on Apr 23, 2019

    The time to release a diesel CX-5 was back when diesels weren't quite as restricted and could easily hit 40mpg in a car this size.

  • CanadaCraig You can just imagine how quickly the tires are going to wear out on a 5,800 lbs AWD 2024 Dodge Charger.
  • Luke42 I tried FSD for a month in December 2022 on my Model Y and wasn’t impressed.The building-blocks were amazing but sum of the all of those amazing parts was about as useful as Honda Sensing in terms of reducing the driver’s workload.I have a list of fixes I need to see in Autopilot before I blow another $200 renting FSD. But I will try it for free for a month.I would love it if FSD v12 lived up to the hype and my mind were changed. But I have no reason to believe I might be wrong at this point, based on the reviews I’ve read so far. [shrug]. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it once I get to test it.
  • FormerFF We bought three new and one used car last year, so we won't be visiting any showrooms this year unless a meteor hits one of them. Sorry to hear that Mini has terminated the manual transmission, a Mini could be a fun car to drive with a stick.It appears that 2025 is going to see a significant decrease in the number of models that can be had with a stick. The used car we bought is a Mk 7 GTI with a six speed manual, and my younger daughter and I are enjoying it quite a lot. We'll be hanging on to it for many years.
  • Oberkanone Where is the value here? Magna is assembling the vehicles. The IP is not novel. Just buy the IP at bankruptcy stage for next to nothing.
  • Jalop1991 what, no Turbo trim?
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