MAZDA Australia has given all-wheel-drive versions of its best-selling CX-5 compact SUV a welcome dose of extra firepower, adding a more powerful 2.5-litre SkyActiv engine in place of the 2.0-litre unit in return for a $500 price hike. , , The beefier new direct-injection 138kW/250Nm four-cylinder engine, transplanted from the just-launched Mazda6, headlines a range update now streaming into showrooms that arrives a mere 12 months after the CX-5’s original local launch. , , Following the start of its rolling launch in February 2012, the CX-5 swiftly raced to the top of the segment sales charts, averaging 1600 sales per month and regularly shading rivals such as the Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester. , , However, the fast-growing compact SUV market has seen some substantial changes over the ensuing months, with new-generation versions of the RAV4, Forester, Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Outlander going on sale in recent months., , By transplanting the more powerful new naturally aspirated engine into AWD versions of the CX-5, Mazda Australia simultaneously keeps the car fresh against newer contenders and addresses a major criticism of the previous version – its underpowered engine compared to key rivals. , , The new engine produces 25kW more power and 52Nm more torque than the 2.0-litre unit still used in the price-leading front-drive variants, although oddly the braked towing capacity is unchanged at 1800kg. , , The extra power comes at a price, however, with the Maxx, Maxx Sport and Grand Touring variants all copping $500 price increases over their less-powerful predecessors. , , Despite this price jump and the raft of refreshed rivals, Mazda expects to maintain its lofty sales numbers. , , The company expects 70 per cent of sales to be petrol-powered – either the 2.0 FWD or 2.5 AWD – and 60 per cent of all variants sold to be AWD. , , Peak power for the new engine of 138kW arrives at a high 5700rpm, while maximum torque hits at 4000rpm. , , Power is sent to all four wheels via a standard six-speed automatic transmission (a six-speed manual gearbox is offered only on base 2.0 Maxx front-drive variants as a price-leader). , , Driving the front wheels most of the time, the AWD system employs variably controlled rear torque and slip-detection technology to apportion up to 50 per cent of drive to the rear axle. , , Combined-cycle fuel economy of 7.4 litres per 100km is up 0.5L/100km, but in real-world driving the difference may be less, as the 2.0-litre engine needs to be revved harder to achieve the same result., , Furthermore, the 2.5 CX-5 still trumps the RAV4 and CR-V by more than a litre per 100km, and shades the Outlander by 0.1L/100km. , , All CX-5 variants come with idle-stop. , , The new engine is only available in AWD versions, with cheaper front-drive variants (still from $27,880) retaining the existing SkyActiv 113kW/198Nm 2.0-litre unit. , , The potent 129kW/420Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine option continues unchanged. , , In addition to the new powertrain, Mazda has upgraded the Bluetooth system on all variants, added three new paint colours (Soul Red, Jet Black and Meteor Grey) and introduced a new flagship Akera variant that will sit above the Grand Touring thanks to a host of active safety technologies. , , Kicking off the AWD petrol range is the 2.5 Maxx, priced from $32,880 plus on-road costs and fitted with a 5.8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth and USB, cruise control, push-button start, power windows and 17-inch steel wheels., , The Maxx Sport, from $36,620, adds automatic headlights, dual-zone climate-control, leather-covered gear-shifter, handbrake and steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, fog lights, satellite navigation, six-speaker audio, 17-inch alloy wheels and 40/20/40 split-fold rear seats. , , The Grand Touring, from $43,780, adds adaptive bi-Xenon headlights, daytime-running lights, an electric sunroof, auto-dimming interior mirror, heated leather seats with eight-way power adjustment for the driver, keyless entry, a nine-speaker BOSE sound system and 19-inch alloy wheels. , , The new Akera, which features active safety equipment including blind-spot monitoring, high-beam control and lane-departure warning, headlines the range from $45,770 as a petrol or $48,620 as a diesel. , , All CX-5s come with the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating and feature six airbags, a reversing camera, hill-start assist, emergency brake assist and whiplash-minimising seats as standard. , , As before, cargo capacity is listed as 403 litres with the seats up, expanding to 1560 litres with the rear seats folded flat. , , Suspension comprises MacPherson struts up front and an independent multi-link set-up in the rear, the spare wheel across the range is a space-saving steel unit, and the turning circle is listed as 11.2 metres. , , The CX-5 range has been a global hit since launch, with waiting lists in several major global markets, forcing Mazda to bring forward a planned upgrade to one of its Japanese plant, allowing it to increase global production from 200,000 units to 240,000 per year. , ,
, , | , 2013 Mazda CX-5 pricing*,
, , | Maxx 2.0l Petrol FWD | , $27,880 | ,
, , | Maxx 2.0l Petrol FWD (a) | , $29,880 | ,
, , | Maxx 2.5l Petrol AWD (a) | , $32,880 | ,
, , | Maxx Sport 2.0l Petrol FWD (a) | , $33,620 | ,
, , | Maxx Sport 2.5l Petrol AWD (a) | , $36,620 | ,
, , | Maxx Sport 2.2l Diesel AWD (a) | , $39,470 | ,
, , | Grand Touring 2.5l Petrol AWD (a) | , $43,780 | ,
, , | Grand Touring 2.2l Diesel AWD (a) | , $46,630 | ,
, , | Akera 2.5l Petrol AWD (a) | , $45,770 | ,
, , | Akera 2.2l Diesel AWD (a) | , $48,620 | ,
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, , *Plus on-road costs
