Driving the popular Mazda CX-5 SUV today, Mazda’s top seller, it’s been around a
long time in ten models, a mix of petrol and diesel and front or all-wheel drive. No
hybrid but I’m told its coming. I drove the second tier 2.5-litre six-speed automatic
CX-5 Maxx Sport front wheel drive - $43,184 drive-away, which included optional
Soul Red Chrystal Metallic paint at $795. A colour that has in many ways become
a trademark of Mazda. The CX-5 a good looker, still our fourth best-selling
medium SUV, behind Toyota’s RAV4 and getting some strong competition these
days from Kia’s Sportage and Hyundai’s Tuscon. I did nearly 900km in urban and
country driving and it really surprised - well sorted, extremely comfortable for
four adults – the Maxx Sport well specified apart from the lack of wireless phone
charging and a power rear door. But it has dual zone air-conditioning with rear
outlets, a welcome head up display, a rather small 8-inch display screen on the
dash but just so safe to use with a rotary dialer to let you scroll through a menu –
so much safer than many of the new Chinese SUV’s with their large touchscreens
and no active buttons. Warranty 5-years/unlimited km.