Mazda CX-5

Mazda’s highly anticipated replacement for the aging CX-7 arrived in the shape of the CX-5 in March 2012, and took almost no time in taking over as the biggest seller in the compact SUV segment.

A completely new vehicle when it arrived, the CX-5 was built using Mazda’s SkyActiv architecture which uses chassis, engine and body technologies to improve fuel efficiency and performance.

Originally offered with petrol engines only, diesel variants were added to the range a month after release.

There was a choice of either a 114kW-producing 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine with an output of 129kW.

Fuel economy for the SUV was 6.4L/100km in 2.0-litre mode while the 2.2-litre diesel engine was capable of achieving a respectable 5.7L/100km on the combined cycle.

The diesel was mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode while the base-model Maxx FWD was available with a six-speed manual gearbox.

The CX-5 was available in Maxx, Maxx Sport and range-topping Grand Touring variants.

Although the CX-5 was smaller overall than the CX-7, the Japanese car-maker managed to slightly increase cargo space to 403 litres.

Mazda claimed ‘premium sedan’ like levels of rigidity for the CX-5 thanks to a number of measures including stiffening the rear structure and enhancing engine and suspension mounting points.

Standard equipment in the Maxx Sport and Grand Touring included dual-zone climate-control, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, USB connectivity, Tom Tom satellite-navigation with 5.8-inch touchscreen, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control, automatic headlights, push-button start and leather-wrapped gear knob, handbrake and steering wheel.

The Grand Touring added leather seats with eight-way power adjustment, keyless entry, slide and tilt electric glass sunroof, adaptive bi-Xenon headlights, a premium nine-speaker 231-watt Bose sound system, front and rear parking sensors, and auto-dimming interior mirror.