Sometimes you just want more from your SUV than what others choose to give you. Let’s be honest, that’s all the time and often the budget keeps us from being able to buy the SUV we would really desire to have, especially in the luxury class. The Mazda CX-5 is an SUV that does more, gives you more and still protects your wallet, making it a great purchase at the right price. The CX-5 shows ups with great handling and a taller right height than other compact crossovers, adding better performance and a more comfortable ride than many of the others.
The CX-5 is able to do more with less thanks to the Skyactiv technology that is found inside which gives it a responsive engine, lightweight body and dynamically tuned suspension. This gives the CX-5 a fantast driving experience in an SUV that offers enjoyable fuel efficiency as well. The only area the CX-5 doesn’t lead its class is cargo capacity, the Toyota RAV4 is slightly larger in this area but the athletic appearance and performance as well as the overall value make the CX-5 one of the most attractive SUVs for 2016 for anyone on a budget.
Down to some specifics the new CX-5 shows up with all trims except the base model adding the more powerful 2.5-liter four cylinder engine as the standard offering. Other upgrades include an electronic parking break, a larger 7.0-inch touch screen display, new center console controls and an improved grill. For the models that have the automatic transmission, the performance is improved by use of a Sport mode. These improvements take the CX-5 to a new level of fun when behind the wheel, giving you an SUV that is fun to drive.
Those who choose a standard version of the CX-5 will see it comes in three trim levels, Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. The Sport model starts out offering smaller 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine that uses a six-speed manual transmission. This powertrain does offer a fuel mileage of 26 city/35 hwy mpg to enjoy, which is pretty good, but most shoppers will opt to move to a higher trim level. The Sport model also offers keyless entry, a push button starter, a four-speaker audio system with Bluetooth connectivity, and a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat.
Moving up the trim levels will certainly bring you more from the engine as well as from the equipment packages. The Touring trim shoppers will receive the new 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine which offers 184 horsepower and 185 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and can be had with either AWD or FWD. The FWD model brings in fuel numbers of 26 city/33 hwy mpg and the AWD model shows up with fuel numbers of 24 city/30 hwy mpg. Touring models add a power driver’s seat, seven-inch touch screen display and command system, a rearview camera, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alerts and the Mazda Connect system with Internet radio and a six-speaker audio system.
The Grand Touring model uses the same engine as the Touring and adds leather seating, a moonroof, heated front seats, a nine-speaker Bose audio system, 19-inch wheels and a dual-zone climate control. The towing capacity for the CX-5 tops out at 2,000 pounds, giving you the opportunity to haul a ton of gear with you to the fun destination of your choice. Of course any model can be upgraded using the optional equipment that can be included in one of these awesome vehicles.
The Options available for the CX-5 can give you a loaded model with all the equipment desires and still give you the price you want to have. These options start with adding AWD to all models for better capability. Many options vary by trim, some of the better values are the Rear Camera Package to add to the automatic-transmission Sport models with adds the camera, a 7-inch touch screen display and command controller, the Mazda Connect infotainment system and HD Radio. The Touring and Grand Touring models can benefit from a navigation system and the Smart Brake Support System. The Grand Touring can really up the ante by adding radar-based cruise control, lane departure warning, and LED headlights and taillights. One of the most recent improvement vehicles have that the CX-5 unfortunately does not is the inclusion of a power tailgate, but even without it, this is an awesome SUV to enjoy.
The power and performance combination of the CX-5 allow it to be one of the most active small SUVs on the market. It may not have the same power as a turbocharged model, but it offers an active and lively response to you pushing the gas pedal making you wonder when if the vehicle was just waiting for the right time to rocket up a hill or take on a curvy road that will make this SUV really enjoyable to live with.
The interior of the CX-5 offers an enjoyable amount of space with all controls and features laid out in an easy to use fashion, making it simple for you to step in and head out for a great drive. From the outside the Kodo body style philosophy is evident as the SUV appears to be in motion even when it isn’t, giving it a great look overall. The athletic style of the new Kodo body is what Mazda is heading into for upcoming years and the CX-5 shows it of magnificently.
The Mazda CX-5 for 2016 shows up as a great upgrade from previous years making it one of the most enjoyable vehicles to show up in the SUV lineup in recent years. The CX-5 carries in the “zoom-zoom” mantra with pride and pleasure, making a great vehicle for you to enjoy along any road. Selecting the new CX05 as your next SUV gives you the chance to have an SUV that offers great performance, an excellent use of the power aboard, and a lot of fun in a stylish and well-equipped model.
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