The all-new Mazda CX-5 has been officially unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show, featuring the latest expression of the company’s Kodo Soul of Motion design philosophy, and heralds the next age of Mazda car design, according to Julien Montousse, Mazda North America’s design director.
We start with the looks, where there’s a new grille at the front finished in gunmetal grey, which differs from the multi-slat arrangement seen on the current CX-3 and CX-9. The curious-looking badge seen plays hosts to the car’s sensors, used for a range of active safety systems that are part of the i-Activsense suite.
This includes the latest version of Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC), which can follow the vehicle ahead from a standing stop, and Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR). Other safety-related bits a 15.5% increase in torsional rigidity over the previous model, and additional use of ultra-high-tensile steel – 1,180 MPa steel on the A-pillars and 980 MPa steel on the side sills and B-pillars.
Elsewhere, there are slimmer LED headlamps than before, and the lower apron features an off-coloured lip section, a variation of the design seen on the CX-3’s front fascia. On the mention of colour, the shade of red here is also new, an evolution of Mazda’s Soul Red Metallic called Soul Red Crystal. Mazda says it provides a “fresher, even more stunning level of transparency.”
Moving further back, the CX-5’s A-pillars have been moved back approximately 35 mm, while the relative positions of the front axle and A-pillars have been optimised as well. The new car now measures 4,550 mm in length (-5 mm without a license plate holder), 1,840 mm in width (unchanged) and 1,690 mm in height (+20 mm), with a wheelbase of 2,700 mm (unchanged). All these help to give the SUV a more “powerful physique,” the company says.
In other areas, the changes are less dramatic, with redesigned crease lines running across the front and rear doors, while the rear gets a new taillight arrangement inspired by the CX-9, with a line linking the two lighting units. If you feel a “baby CX-9” vibe to the whole package, we won’t blame you.
As for the cabin, the dashboard has been totally redesigned to offer a better sense of symmetry than before, the centre console has been raised for better ergonomics, and there’s better visibility thanks to the revised A-pillars. Furthermore, the angular air-con vents are unlike any found on current Mazdas, and the MZD infotainment display is no longer encased as before. Buyers also get to choose from three interior packages – pure white or black leather, or black fabric.
Elsewhere, there’s the new three-spoke steering wheel from the CX-9, accompanied by other items such as the air-con switchgear, Commander Control dial, gear selector, engine start/stop button, full-colour Active Driving Display, 10-speaker Bose sound system and 4.6-inch colour TFT LCD display instrument cluster, some of which are as per current Mazda models.
Mazda also boasts improved NVH performance, citing 10% clearer conversation levels within the cabin when travelling at a cruising speed of 100 km/h, and a reduction of noise by approximately 1.3 dB when traveling on rough road surfaces. For those conscious of practicality, there’s now 505 litres of boot space, five more than before.
Under the hood, the new CX-5 retains the same engine line-up as before (no 2.5 litre turbo like on the CX-9) – two SkyActiv-G petrol units in 2.0 litre and 2.5 litre guises, as well as a sole 2.2 litre SkyActiv-D diesel powerplant. The engines are paired with a six-speed automatic or manual transmission, with the i-Activ AWD system available as an option.
The SUV also gains the SkyActiv-Vehicle Dynamics vehicle motion control technologies, which includes brand’s G-Vectoring Control (GVC) system, which we have detailed for you, here.
According to Mazda, the SUV will be launched in Japan in February next year before it begins its roll out to other global markets. Malaysia is bound to be one of its target destinations. It is an important nameplate for the brand, sold in more than 120 countries and represents around one-quarter of Mazda’s global unit sales. What do you think of the all-new CX-5?
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Now everybody in Malaysia boycott Mazda and the CX5. This is because of the last price increase 2 weeks ago. This increase was despite the 2 other increases the past 1 year.
Mazda has become a greedy company in Malaysia. Already Malaysians susah, yet, they hantam maximum. 3 times suka hati increase the car prices blaming the US dollar. Last increase they blame the YEN.
Their modus operandi is simple. When US dollar high, they blame US dollar. When Yen high, they blame the YEN.
One day they say they transact in YEN. Another day, they say they transact in US dollar. Tomorrow they will tell you they transact in Rupiah.
this car needs sound proofing , and lots of it…
test drove lexus RX200T, sound proof also so so only to me
Really nice in & out in most aspects
Worth waiting for
if only they come out with better engine compression technology
Current one looks better, especially the rear.
look better than HRV 2017…
Mazda pulled a fast one straight out of audi’s playbook….
Dont fix whats not broken they say….
Good time to buy old CX-5 now at heavily discounted prices since the New CX-5 does not come with a new engine. It is a real shame the top specked do not include the 2.5 turbo.
i feel its a bit too safe…and some angles are awkwardly gaudy…the rims are a no go too
Very evolutionary but my have they up the quality of the interior. Feels a lot more premium but at the same time, dated. It’s no bad thing, if you look higher in the market, Aston Martin are basically that compared to its German counterparts.
But a few things I am disappointed at it’s absent; a bigger touch screen to compliment the rotary knob, Apple Car Play or Android Audio and while I’m asking, the smaller 1.6unit of the 2.5l Turbo seen duty in the CX-9. It’s grace and pace as well as overall quality will be dominant in its segment, but compared to the SUVs from the big names in Japan, the little (relatively)Hiroshima company still has lots to improve but will sell on what it’s good at.
Not bad looking but too minimal changes to raise any eyebrows. Interior looks a lot better though. Again, not too crazy about the exterior design, I think it might look dated very quickly.
Some people will complain why it looks like the old model. Newsflash – this is only achieved by companies with strong design language and who take that element very seriously. Others who change designs like plasticine are usually lower ranked brands.
Hope your opinion applies to BMW, Mercedes and Audi as well.
Mazda, epitome of design and Jap engineering.
Why so crampy?
The interior is insane nice
I have posted this before, Mazda need to sort out the battery drain problem. No matter how good the car is, if you need to change the battery every 6 months, then something wrong with the electrical system. I have changed my battery on my CX9 twice in the period of 1 year. My ex CX-5 (sold it oredi), changed it just after 1 year. My colleague who owned a brand new Mazda 3 (bought in Feb 2016) also changed once already this year. What happened here, Mazda???
My Mazda 6 battery lasted on average 2 1/2 years. Perhaps due to owner care?
funny u r saying this. have 2 Mazda 3’s in the family. one older and one current gen. no battery drain as you said.
Should be a strong contender to 2017 CR-V
I think by end of next year more people will buy turbo CR-V than this CX-5
Exterior i think the current model looks better. Rear and side view look almost the same…Mazda u can do better than this… More like facelift to me. zzz
Mazda mazda… They always have a clean looking front view, but once you slap some front plates it looks awkward af. I wish it was legal to drive it without front plates
The new CR-V is nicer, bigger interior space, 1.5 turbo, lower road tax. CX-5 needs 19″ rim to look good, exp to change tyre. Do prefer MZD compare to Honda connect tho.
I guess I will just have the CX3, CX5 and CX9 in my garage. So hard to choose
It looks a lot like the old one – which makes it look dated even before it goes on sale. To these eyes, the new CR-V, which has a very nice profile and some interesting details, looks nicer overall. Who would’ve thought that a Honda would look more adventurous than a Mazda?
Toyota Harrier being 2 years older….still mile ahead
looks more like a heavy face lift rather than a total new model