Neat, upmarket design

The CX-5 replaces the edgy and larger CX-7 model in South Africa and also introduces the brand's new Kodo design language. It's attractive, if unspectacular offering in its base Active trim, mostly because it makes do without any brightwork. There is no chrome to brighten things up, only lots of black plastic cladding. There are also no fog lamps and, worst of all, no alloy wheels! The CX-5 rides on 17-inch steel items that unfortunately are not acceptable at this price level. All that said, the CX-5 is not unattractive, with a very noticeable wedge shape due to the steeply rising waistline and a particularly attractive rear end with an integrated spoiler. It’s a similar hit-and-miss story inside, where the build quality is exceptional and the solidity perhaps unparalleled in this segment, but the design is not special and it lacks some key features. But let's focus on the good news first. Besides the quality of it all, we really like the driving position the driver's chair boasts generous vertical adjustability and the steering wheel also offers rake/reach adjustment. Mazda is always good at making the driver feel connected with a car, and they've done the same here. More good news is the design of the instrumentation the three dials look superb and sporty, and the dial on the far right contains a digital readout that endows the otherwise straightforward facia with a sense of sophistication. But… the audio system looks like an aftermarket item and is also slightly old-fashioned with its orange readouts. And then there are the specification oversights. Given the price of the CX-5, the plastic steering wheel is not acceptable, and the lack of a luggage cover is a security concern. What you do get, however, are; air-conditioning, electric mirrors/windows, radio/CD with USB/aux support, multi-function steering wheel, six airbags, and ESP (electronic stability system). Cruise control, park distance control, and other such items are not offered on this model. The seats are upholstered in good-looking and comfortable cloth. In defense of the CX-5, however, the lack of some features has not made it an uncomfortable vehicle to spend time in. The wheelbase is long (2 700 mm), so the rear legroom is very impressive. The boot, too, is big at 403 L. As is to be expected, the rear seats can fold down to allow for the transportation of bigger items.

Introducing Mazda's SkyActiv

The CX-5 is the first local offering to feature Mazda's much-hyped SkyActiv efficiency-boosting features. Essentially, SkyActiv refers to a package of optimizations, rather than any groundbreaking technology. For example, lightweight construction is an important part of the SkyActiv measures and, indeed, at 1 415 kg the CX-5 is not heavy for its size. The 2,0-litre petrol engine, too, has been optimized to achieve better fuel consumption. In essence, SkyActiv is Mazda's short- to medium-term response to the hybrids and turbodiesel models on offer from rivals. Does it work? Well as is the case with the hybrids out there, it really comes down to driving style. Shift early and drive lazily, and you may come relatively close to the quoted 6,8 L/100 km consumption figure, but a more likely average is closer to 8,5. Why? The CX-5's efficiency goals notwithstanding, there's still plenty of the company's Zoom-Zoom character on display, too, so it likes to rev, and it encourages enthusiastic driving. The impressive 0-100 km/h time of 9,3 seconds is evidence of this. With its slick and robust-feeling transmission, this is a compact SUV that is enjoyable to drive and which encourages you to explore the upper reaches of its power delivery this, in turn, means it drinks more fuel.

Great ride/handling balance

Another area in which Mazda usually excels is in the handling department. In a compact SUV's case, however, ride comfort is the more important consideration and the CX-5 must be applauded for the balance it manages to find. The multi-link, control-blade rear suspension arguably plays a big role, as do the relatively high-profile tyres. The Mazda remains supple and controlled on most road surfaces and even when pushed displays admirable body control for what it is. Like most 4×2 versions of compact SUV line-ups, this CX-5 has no off-road ambitions, and the ground clearance is a relatively limited 150 mm.