Last month, we brought you news of the facelifted Mazda 6 arriving on Malaysian shores; today, the similarly-updated Mazda CX-5 surfaced at a showroom in Setia Alam, so we headed over to bring you a closer look.
Arriving in fully-imported form and in sole 2.5 litre configuration (locally-assembled 2.0 litre models are expected to be introduced later in the year), the refreshed Japanese C-segment crossover retails at RM167,610 for the two-wheel drive version and RM177,610 for all-wheel drive. Both prices – on-the-road without insurance – are a whole RM7,000 higher than before.
This recent nip-and-tuck, revealed at the LA Auto Show last year, brings along only minor changes purely to keep the still handsome CX-5 abreast with the competition. At the front, there are new LED headlights (now with LED daytime running lights!), a revised grille with grey slats and smaller fog lights set inside redesigned surrounds.
From the rear of the car, the only way you’ll be able to spot the new car is through the tail lights, which now feature LEDs. Unfortunately, we don’t get the spiffy new 19-inch two-tone alloy wheels, sticking with the current 17-inch design instead.
It’s much the same story on the inside as well – the basic design will be familiar to those who own the current car, but look closer and you’ll spot the new silver dashboard trim (previously piano black), updated climate control switchgear, a redesigned gear lever (now with a leather boot) as well as a new electronic parking brake that frees up space for a longer armrest.
The big news here is the new MZD Connect infotainment system, taken from newer models like the Mazda 2 and 3. Unlike those cars, the seven-inch touchscreen sits inside the old head unit binnacle (which surprisingly is now leather-lined), instead of being a freestanding item; apart from touch input, it is also controllable via a new iDrive-like Multimedia Commander knob, located behind the gear lever.
The 2.5 litre SkyActiv-G direct-injected four-cylinder petrol engine has been carried over, producing 184 hp at 5,700 rpm and 250 Nm of torque at 3,250 rpm. Also retained is the six-speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission, but it now receives a new, more responsive Sport mode, selectable via a rocker switch on the base of the gear lever.
Comfort has also been improved – cabin noise levels at a cruise are said to have been reduced by about 10%, while the seat structures have been redesigned for better comfort and cornering support.
Standard equipment is the same as before, so you get keyless entry, push-button start, auto lights and wipers, a sunroof, dual-zone auto climate control, power-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, navigation and i-stop auto start-stop. Safety kit has also been retained – six airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, stability control, Isofix rear child seat anchors and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).