Car Reviews > Mazda > CX-5 > Mazda CX-5 2.2D Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Engine: 2.2-litre 4-cylinder
Gearbox: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive Power: 148 bhp
0-62 mph: 9.2 seconds
Top Speed: 127 miles per hour
Economy: 62.8 miles per gallon
Emissions: 119g per kilometre
Equipment: GPS, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth, electric windows, lane keeping assist, 12-speaker stereo, automatic city braking
On Sale: April 2012

Will the new Mazda CX-5 prove to be the king of the crossovers? There is only way to find out…

Mazda has taken its time to join the crossover party, with a number of already well-established models including the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Nissan Qashqai having made it into one of the market’s most fiercely contested sectors. In order to join in, Mazda needed to create something special, and fortunately, that certainly seems to have been done with the CX-5, at least on paper, anyway.

The big news is the CX-5 being both the most fuel-efficient and the lightest car in its class thanks to the adoption of Skyactiv technology. The high strength steel boosts rigidity, while simultaneously cutting weight, whilst the very efficient 2.2-litre diesel engine has CO2 emissions of just 119g per kilometre, taking the lead in its class. Also available is a 2.0-litre petrol engine that has CO2 emissions as low as just 139g per kilometre, which is the same as the lowest emissions diesel Tiguan.

The CO2 figures are not the only big news when it comes to these engines, however. The diesel engine has a feel to it quite unlike any other, thanks to very quiet, smooth running and 5200 revs per minute red line. This 4-cylinder diesel is the most petrol-like engine to be found on the market.

Mazda is offering a choice of diesels with bhp ratings of either 148 or 172 together with the petrol engine, with 163 bhp. The latter two can be specified with 4-wheel drive, although the lower-powered diesel is available only as a front-wheel drive model.

That being said, if you are not interested in 4-wheel drive, the pick of the range is definitely the entry-level engine, which has terrific refinement and enough power to take the vehicle from 0-62 miles per hour in as little as just 9.2 seconds.

The CX-5 is also seriously cheap to run as well, with a fuel economy rating of 62.8 miles per gallon, while those low CO2 emissions of just 119g per kilometre mean that buyers will not have to pay road tax for the first year. While the figures for the 172 bhp diesel are yet to be released, they are expected to be pretty much the same, while the petrol vehicle claims figures of 47.1 miles per gallon.

Nor is the CX-5 just a class leader in terms of economy either, also winning the prize as the most practical crossover too. The 5-3-litre boot is unmatched in its class, while the canny back seats can fold flat into the floor with just the touch of a button, creating a huge load area of 1603-litres. Passengers in the rear also are treated to what is easily the best legroom in the class as well. Mazda is also promising a large improvement in the quality of its other products elsewhere in the cabin.

Handling is as sharp as you would expect from a Mazda, with weighty but responsive steering that nonetheless feels a tad inconsistent sometimes and could do with fine-tuning. The CX-5 moves quickly on twisting roads thanks to well-controlled body roll and the manual gearbox does a good job of evoking the snappy shift of the MX-5 sports car.

The CX-5 clearly has what it takes.

by Autoweb