The pre-production Mazda CX-5 crossover has been tested and here is everything you should know about this car. It has been already five years since we have seen the currently available Mazda CX-5 for the first time and it was the first model that combined Kodo design language and Skyactiv technology – the brand’s trademarks.
The one you can see in the photos is the second-generation vehicle, and its design cues slightly hint at the Mazda 3, while when it comes to proportions, it is one of the best in the segment. The 2017 Mazda CX-5 is company’s most important crossover, and it is equipped with a fashionable front grille made out of chrome, narrower headlights, and sleeker taillights. In addition, the cabin comes refreshed with seats that offer better support for your back, and there is a more vivacious version of the manufacturer’s signature Soul Red paint.
Engine Details
According to the Japanese company, the new CX-5 has improved noise and vibration insulation by a large margin, while the new G-Vectoring Control (GVC) enhances steering in turns and provides better throttle response. A pre-production model that was tested is powered by a 2.2-liter turbodiesel engine, and it was driven on the roads near Mount Fuji. The engine produces 173 bhp and 420 Nm of torque at 4,500 and 2,000 rotations per minute respectively. This unit comes combined with a six-speed automatic transmission, but it is also for this model to be paired with a six-speed manual gearbox as well.
Masaya Kodama, the CX-5 chief engineer, said that the tweaks on the powerplant include “air being forced in earlier – a change that enhances throttle response.” This upgrade is apparent immediately, especially when you exit the corners. The boost comes approximately at 2,500 rpm, and it goes on until it reaches 4,000 rpm. The transmission is in perfect harmony with the engine, and it also helps with faster exits out of curves, while downshifts are quicker.
Noise Reduction
According to Kodama, improving refinement was essential for the 2017 Mazda CX-5, and the team has managed to do so by dropping “natural sound smoothers” inside the piston pins of the engine. Compared to the ongoing version the intensity of the clatter has been reduced significantly, but they couldn’t get rid of the diesel sound and vibration completely. Due to the new sound-absorbing materials, the carmaker managed to make the CX-5 more refined, and this is what matters at the end of the day.
GVC
The chassis of the popular crossover has always been one of the best in the class, and the steering response of this vehicle has reached the new level thanks to the G-Vectoring Control. The GVC is in charge of cars speed, throttle position, and steering wheel rotation rate. Because of this new technology, the engine torque has been reduced in response to steering inputs, and according to Mazda the turn-in becomes more precise, and there are fewer mid-corner corrections. To improve ride quality and agility, Mazda structurally reinforced the A-pillars and used more high-strength steel for the chassis.
i-Activ AWD
The 2017 Mazda CX-5 comes with a 4WD configuration that is not operational all the time. Usually, the car uses the front-wheel drive and only when the traction of those tires is lost, or at a lower level, the system will send the power to the rear wheels by reducing front-wheel torque in order to regain grip. This is what Mazda calls i-Active AWD. The rear will engage immediately, and it will help the car overcome the obstacles on the road effortlessly.
Features
Some of the features you can find in the 2017 Mazda CX-5 are company’s i-Activsense safety package that consists of automatic braking, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Also included are Driver Attention Alert, radar-based adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and active LED headlights. All of these safety and driver-assist features work properly boosting safety and comfort to another level. The cabin is more beautiful than on the current model, and the interior seems to be rather spacious due to the flatter and more horizontal fascia.
What do you think about the 2017 Mazda CX-5?
