- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.5i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
140kW, 252Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 7.4L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2017)
Mazda CX-5 Akera 2018 Review
This is Australia’s favourite SUV. The Mazda CX-5 currently sits at the top of the pack, and in order to stay there it has been given a minor tweak for 2018.
The CX-5 Akera 2.5-litre petrol model we’re testing gets a number of small upgrades, including cylinder deactivation which improves fuel economy, as well as the addition of a new 360-degree parking camera system.
But are these changes enough to keep the CX-5 ahead of the chasing pack? Time to find out...
- Looks good.
- Drives well.
- Loaded with gear.
- No major improvement in fuel economy.
- Back seat feels spartan and tight on space.
- Noisy on road.
Is it right for me?
There’s a reason the CX-5 is so popular as it appeals to a lot of people because it does a lot of things very well.
For starters it’s a stylish SUV, and while it looks good and has the brand’s trademark Kodo design language, it doesn’t push the boundaries too far so it doesn’t offend anyone.
It also drives well, is well equipped for the money and comes in a wide range which has allowed Mazda to speak to a broad church and thus out-sell the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail and Hyundai Tucson.
Can I afford it ?
We’re driving the range-topping Akera that is priced from $46,190 (plus on-road costs), which is actually $800 cheaper than before after Mazda decided to give the price a trim as part of the upgrades.
However, if that’s too rich for you there are plenty of other CX-5 variants to choose from starting from as low as $28,690 for the Maxx with 2.0-litre petrol engine, manual transmission and front-wheel drive.
What do you get for your money?
Aside from the new 360-degree camera system, the CX-5 Akera comes as well equipped as you’d expect for the asking price. Standard gear includes 19-inch alloy wheels, leather trim, a sunroof, adaptive headlights, head-up display and a 10-speaker Bose sound system.
Plus there’s a comprehensive safety package that includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, adaptive LED headlights and autonomous emergency braking.
How much does it cost to maintain?
Servicing is covered by a capped price program for the first five-years/50,000km. According to Mazda you’ll need to visit the service department every 10,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first.
Prices are reasonable, with a major check-up costing $336 so over the five-year period you’re looking at $1795 to keep your CX-5 in tip-top shape.
Is it well built?
It should be that simple to keep your CX-5 running smoothly because a big part of Mazda’s recent appeal is its dependability. The Japanese brand utilises simple technology - there are no turbochargers or hybrid systems to add complexity - and the CX-5 shares most of its hardware with the Mazda6 and the rest of the range so the company has ironed out most of the kinks.
What are the Standout features?
Aside from the looks, Mazda has also managed to attract buyers with its ‘Zoom-zoom’ philosophy of making its cars - even the SUVs - fun to drive. While the latest CX-5 doesn’t feels quite as sharp as the old model it’s still one of the most engaging compact SUVs to drive.
What does it have that others don't?
The combination of an enjoyable drive, crowd-pleasing styling and mainstream value are qualities that few other brands can match.
Toyota, the market leader which Mazda is trying to catch, certainly has value covered and is working on making its cars more exciting to drive but has gone down a path of edgy, polarising styling.
How practical is it?
If Mazda has an Achilles heel it is its cabins. While certain elements are very nice, the brand has focused too much on front seat occupants and left those in the back feeling like an afterthought.
There are air-conditioning vents back there but that’s about it; there are no USB charging points and the door pockets are small.
Is it comfortable?
In the front seats things shape up a lot nicer. Mazda added some design flair when it launched this new generation CX-5 in 2017, with new materials to give it a more premium feel, particularly in the Akera.
The seats are comfortable and supportive and finished in good quality leather. The sunroof adds light and a feeling of space to the cabin.
Easy in, easy out?
Accessing the CX-5 is easy with good-sized door apertures. And the extra height of an SUV makes it easy for parents to pop smaller children inside but the trade-off is older toddlers and small children do have to climb up which can be troublesome for many.
Space and versatility?
Another issue for bigger kids and adults is the lack of space in the back. As mentioned earlier the rear seats do feel a bit of an afterthought in such an otherwise carefully styled car.
It’s bit tight on space, certainly kneeroom is less than in some of the CX-5’s rivals, notably the Honda CR-V and Holden Equinox.
The boot is small amongst its competitors too at 442-litres with the rear seats up. If you need more room you can drop the back chairs to liberate 1342-litres.
What's the engine like?
As mentioned at the start a big part of this upgrade the addition of cylinder deactivation to the 2.5-litre four-cylinder ‘Skyactiv-G’ engine. Power remains unchanged at 140kW but torque has increased by a single unit to 252Nm.
The new shut-down technology doesn’t change the way the engine feels, which is adequate with being underwhelming. The naturally-aspirated unit needs to be worked hard at times to get the best out of it so it can get a little noisy under hard acceleration.
Most of the time though, commuting around town, it feels relaxed and the six-speed automatic transmission works smoothly.
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How much fuel does it consume?
For those unfamiliar with the technology, cylinder deactivation does what it says, shutting down two of the engine’s four-cylinders when not required to save fuel. Primarily it does so when you’re cruising along and the engine isn’t under load.
While the system is integrated seamlessly, with no discernible difference in engine note or performance (as all four-cylinders immediately fire up when required) it doesn’t have a significant impact on fuel economy. Mazda claims only a 0.1-litres per 100km improvement over the old model, so it uses a claimed 7.4L/100km.
Is it enjoyable to drive?
As mentioned earlier Mazda has worked hard on making the CX-5 enjoyable for the person in the driver’s seat. For an SUV it does a good job with responsive handling, nicely weighted steering and a comfortable ride.
Disappointingly, however, Mazda hasn’t managed to improve its bugbear of a noisy cabin with road and wind noise unwelcome intruders. It’s surprising as the company has solved the problem with significantly quieter cabins for the CX-9 and the new Mazda6.
Does it perform as you expect?
Honestly, this updated CX-5 performs the same as the old model. The cylinder deactivation is the biggest change but given how well integrated it is, but also how minor its change to the fuel consumption, it’s hard to really quantify the changes.
But that’s a good thing, because the CX-5 is the best-selling SUV in the country so why change when you’re onto a winning formula?