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Mazda CX-5 review: One of the best compact crossovers on the market
The redesigned Honda CR-V stole headlines this year, with the segment king fighting to continue its reign. But quietly, and without the attention of the public, Mazda released one of the best crossovers on the market, the CX-5.
It's easy to forget about Mazda, because it tends to do the same thing over and over. Great tech, stellar looks and a price point that shows it isn't messing around.
And nobody buys it. Mazda just can't seem to get cars out the door. In May, Mazda sold 26,047 total vehicles. Toyota sold 32,547 Camrys. So you'd be forgiven if you ignored the new CX-5.
After a week with it, I have some advice: Don't.
Exterior: They made a compact crossover look desirable
For 2017, Mazda took the already-stellar CX-5 and sent it to finishing school, giving the crossover subtle tweaks that cement the CX-5 as the best-looking crossover in the world, bar none.
The most notable departure from the old CX-5 is the new concave, black grille. The old grille could look a bit cheap, but the new one is a great example of what a corporate face should be.
Many of the cars in this class look like automakers tried and failed to put their sedan-based styling language on a bigger, fatter canvas. Mazda, though, debuted the new iteration of its signature "KODO" styling. Expect to see more manufacturers follow their lead in launching styling languages on SUVs rather than cars, as that's the direction in which the market winds are blowing.
Interior: Steak taste, burger budget
Inside, you can see that the Japanese have started learning German. I had the happy coincidence of receiving this CX-5 just after I spent considerable time in an Audi Q5, and it's not hard to tell that's where Mazda got inspiration. Audi has nearly perfected the modern-but-attractive interior, with cutting-edge technology sandwiched between high quality controls and materials.
Mazda's followed the lead of the folks in Ingolstadt, bringing a very appealing interior that puts all essential controls within close reach. Even little details, like the volume knob being down by the shifter instead of on the dash, are borrowed from the Q5.
Material quality, of course, isn't on par with the high-dollar German competition. Things that look metal in the CX-5 are actually just plastics playing dress-up, and controls don't have the satisfying, industrial click-clack feel to them like they do in a Mercedes.
If it seems unfair that I'm comparing a $33,765 Mazda with Audis and BMWs, that's because I find the Mazda's interior to be so far above its price point that comparing it with other mainstream crossovers seems trivial.
Every piece of the interior feels higher in quality than what you get in your neighbor's Chevy Equinox. It's a passable steak on a burger-shack budget.
Design-wise, it's a smash hit. The CR-V is filled with clever cubbies and lots of passenger space to satisfy the needs of parents doing carpool duty, while the CX-5's focus on style makes it a bit less usable in day-to-day operation.
