Mazda CX-5

Mazda CX-5 is the latest entry to the crossover segment, and Mazda is promising it's also the best

 When you’re as late to the crossover party as the Mazda CX-5 is, you really need to bring something special. Cars like the Skoda Yeti, Nissan Qashqai and VW Tiguan are well established, so why would you buy a CX-5?

It one of the lightest crossovers on the market thanks to its hi-tech SkyActiv chassis, so it’s very fuel-efficient. There’s class-leading rear legroom and boot space, while the cabin has quality soft-touch plastics and solid switchgear.

It drives well, too. Mazda will offer a choice of 2.2-litre diesel engines, producing 148bhp or 172bhp, alongside a 163bhp 2.0-litre petrol. All except the petrol version will be available with four-wheel drive.

We tested the range-topping 172bhp diesel, which claims a 0-62mph time of 8.8 seconds. It’s very refined and power delivery is so smooth that it feels like a naturally aspirated petrol. If you don’t need four-wheel drive, then the 148bhp diesel is just as good and only a second slower from 0-62mph. No matter which model you go for, you get a short-shift gearbox inspired by the MX-5’s.

Considering its performance and four-wheel-drive set-up, our test car claimed a very impressive 54.3mpg and 136g/km of CO2. The lower-powered diesel posts 61.4mpg and 119g/km, which are the best figures in the class.

We drove an early prototype of the CX-5 in Issue 1,181 and loved its tight handling and sporty steering. This production version has been tweaked and the focus has shifted. The suspension is softer, so it’s not as agile – yet it still corners well – and the steering is lighter to make life easier around town. There’s little to complain about, but the prototype offered something different in the class – this car feels like any of its rivals.

That’s not a bad thing, but the CX-5 was shaping up to be a 4x4 with a real emphasis on driving thrills; now it’s just a consistent all-rounder. If it’s aiming to be just like the competition, you’d expect a price to match.

The range kicks off at £21,395, but our flagship Sport Nav is £27,595 – roughly the same as a top-spec Qashqai – and has everything you could possibly need, from sat-nav, heated front seats and a Bose stereo to keyless entry, 19-inch alloys and full leather.

It’s an impressive checklist, but when you consider a range-topping four-wheel-drive diesel Skoda Yeti is £23,790, it’s worth thinking twice before buying.

By Luke Madden