It has been announced that the next-generation Mazda CX-5 will hit the market in the UK on June 30, 2017, and it will cost from £23,695. This means that the price of the new model has jumped by £500 compared to the ongoing car. However, it is not so drastic of a change considering that the new vehicle features a striking design and it comes with an abundance of standard equipment.
The Japanese automaker offers the new CX-5 in two trim levels only – the SE-L Nav and the Sport Nav. The standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, parking sensors, DAB radio, satellite navigation, a 7.0-inch color touchscreen and start/stop tech. The starting price of the Sport Nav version is £26,695, and it brings heated front seats, 19-inch alloys, keyless entry, and a 10-speaker Bose sound system, to name a few.
The Mazda CX-5 debuted at the LA Auto Show in November last year, and according to the manufacturer, this vehicle marks a beginning of a new era for its lineup. Not only does Mazda CX-5 bring simplistic and authentic design, but it also brings comfort and joy to the passengers. In Europe, this SUV will go against the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Tiguan and Ford Kuga.
The inspiration for the new model comes from the US-focused CX-9. Thus, the new vehicle comes with sleek headlights, split by a wide-mouth grille, whereas it also sports stylish bumper, tall doors and large wheel arches that give ruggedness to the overall look of this SUV. The wheelbase remained at its previous size, but the overhangs are shorter.
The ongoing CX-5 sits higher than the new model, and it is 10mm narrower at the front, which means that the new iteration has more space and a sportier stance. In addition, the A-pillars are moved back by 35mm resulting in an improved visibility for driver and the passengers in the front. The interior is driver-centered, and there are some familiar features such as a three-spoke steering wheel and clutter-free dashboard design on top of which is a 7.0-inch display. You can also see a 4.6-inch high-resolution TFT screen incorporated into the instrument panel and one head-up display on the windshield.
The driver and passengers can connect the infotainment system to their smartphones or any other devices using company’s MZD connected technology. Things like handsfree phone operation, SD-card-based satellite navigation and Harman cloud-based tech are included. We have already mentioned a 10-speaker Bose sound system which comes with ambient noise compensation technology and provides high-quality sound.
The base of the center console has been raised, and with it, the automatic gear selector is also raised by 60mm, on the other hand, the manual gear lever went up by about 40mm. You can also find a new two-step reclining mechanism for the rear bench and more comfortable cushions for better support. Under the hood of the 2017 Mazda CX-5, is the 2.2-liter Skyactiv-D diesel and you can also choose the 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G petrol engine. The first unit produces 163 bhp, whereas the latter one delivers 173 bhp.
In the US, Mazda will offer a 2.5-liter petrol engine that is carried over, but this unit is not going to make it to the UK. These powerplants are mated either to a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission which delivers power to the front wheels, or to all four wheels if you add Mazda’s i-Active AWD system, which comes as an option.
G-Vectoring Control (GVC) is the new comfort-improving technology that adjusts engine torque in response to steering angle in order to optimize the vertical load on each wheel. Thus, the amount of movement that passengers experience in the cabin is reduced, and a driver doesn’t have to make as much steering corrections as he/she would do without this tech. Of course, GVC can be found in the new Mazda CX-5.
According to the Japanese carmaker, they managed to improve structure and aerodynamics and reduce road noise. The new model is equipped with MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension. Some of the main safety features are driver assist ones such as radar cruise control and traffic sign recognition.
