The Japanese automaker has released the latest installment of the compact crossover SUV CX-5, and the car has already bagged a five-star rating by the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA). In addition, the CX-5 has successfully defended the ‘Car And Driver’ award for four consecutive years. Mazda offers a sleek and stylish design for its popular SUV with a swanky interior in its new edition. Moreover, the Infotainment system is overhauled inside and outside and now has the largest screen ever. Buyers can also choose from two powerful engines.
The CX-5 is offered in six trim levels for 2021 - Sport, Touring, Carbon Edition, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve, and Signature. A four-cylinder engine is standard for the first four trims, while the top two trims are powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Moreover, the buyers can opt for the turbocharged engine for the special Carbon Edition.
A popular SUV of the automaker, in a redesigned avatar, seems better than ever and is all set to give tough competition to its rivals.
Soul Of Motion: Exterior Styling
The new CX-5 is based on Mazda’s amazing Kodo design philosophy that evokes the ‘soul of motion’ appearance in its vehicles. The car's exterior is garnished with a fluidic architecture that runs from the front to the rear. The design is featured with a smooth flow of crease and curves that generates a sense of motion even when the vehicle is at a standstill. The car has a long bonnet and short rear body sitting on 17-inch or optional 19-inches wheels.
Mazda has designed the new car with a low-profile gesture, and the body is devoid of any fancy bulges or curves. Though the CX-5 is 179 inches long with a curb-weight of 3,541 to 3,825 pounds depending on the trim level, Mazda has managed to keep the vehicle sleek and compact, contrary to the boxy and bulgy design of some other SUVs in the category. The compactness and clean design philosophy reflect in every part of the exterior. At the front, the car boasts a slim oval mesh grille that connects with the narrow extended headlamps on the sides. The sides are smooth with a slightly rearward-slanted roofline and finely sculptured rear.
Swanky And Spacious Interior
The five-seater interior of the CX-5 is generously spacious for the passengers, and it also has ample space for the luggage that amounts to 31 cubic feet at the rear, but with the back seat folded, space expands up to 60 cubic feet. The cargo hold on the rear is deep enough and intelligently crafted to accommodate excess items systematically without obstructing the rear window.
The 180-inch wheelbase of the car provides a comfortable seating experience inside. Both the front and rear seats offer plenty of leg and headroom. The front seating is featured with well-cushioned bucket seats equipped with power adjustment, heating, and cooling features. On the rear, the seating arrangement features a three-seater bench that is laden with premium quality cushioning and 40 inches of legroom. The rear seat is also equipped with latches and tethers to facilitate child seating. In addition, synthetic covering and high-end Nappa leather with real wood trims are used to garnish the upholstery. The interior environment is featured with dual-zone automatic climate control.
The infotainment system and driver’s console are thoroughly upgraded for the 2021 Mazda CX-5. The infotainment is featured with a category-leading 10.25-inch touchscreen powered by Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Also, the system has Mazda Connected services integrated that allow smartphone-based remote access to the vehicle. Further, CX-5 offers an onboard 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot powered by AT&T. The touch sensitivity and graphics of the display are significantly enhanced for an optimum experience. A rotary knob is added to the center console, an additional control to the infotainment system. The system is mated with a 4-speaker stereo and HD radio system as standard. However, the higher trims offer a 6-speaker stereo and 10-speaker Bose audio system and satellite radio.
Other interior features that may vary with the trim levels are a 7-inch driver’s information display, moonroof, universal garage door opener, keyless entry, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
Powerful Drivetrain Options
This stylish crossover SUV comes with two engine options. The first is a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine that produces 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft torque. The engine power is controlled by a 6-speed automatic transmission that delivers power to the front-wheel or optional all-wheel. Buyers can opt for a more powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine that pushes out 250 horsepower and 310 lb-ft torque.
The 187 HP engine accelerates from 0 to 60 MPH in just 9 seconds, and the turbocharged 250 HP does the same in 7 seconds. The engine, despite being powerful, is easy on fuel - a standard engine CX-5 offers 23/31 MPG in city/highway conditions. In contrast, a turbocharged engine CX-5 is a little thirstier with 23/28 MPG in the city/highway condition.
The new 2021 Mazda CX-5 upholds the honor of the series as reliable, robust, and safe. The car is equipped with a series of security and safety features that make it a leading contender in the category. Some of these features include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.