Photo: Florin Profir
At the end of the 2000s, the majority of the Mazda portfolio was made up of models with a fair share of Ford bits and bobs under the skin. After the strategic partnership between the manufacturers crumbled, the Japanese outfit put its sleeves up to reinvent itself.
The CX-5 is the first effort at that and the 2016 Mazda CX-5 facelift continues the trend. When it was launched in 2012, nobody was expecting the Hiroshima-based outfit to launch the most complete model in the non-premium crossover SUV segment.
At that time, the CX-5 was dubbed the athlete of its class and a frugal one at that thanks to its SkyActiv technologies. With the 2016 Mazda CX-5 facelift, everything got chiseled up.
We don’t usually believe the hype surrounding a car, but Mazda models of late live up to it. The mid-cycle revamp does what the label promises - it’s better. Don’t expect the handling characteristics of a BMW X3 or the fit & finish of a Mercedes-Benz GLK/GLC, but do expect this: the best all-rounder of the non-premium compact crossover genre.
As we found out from out diesel-powered test car, the 2016 Mazda CX-5 still suffers from some drawbacks that can be described as diamonds in the rough. NVH levels and the refreshing but boring simplicity of the cabin design come to mind.
But these are just two bad peas in a pod brimming with good peas. The cavernous boot, modularity of the rear seats, space, and fuel economy are some of its highlights.
Towering above all else is the all-wheel drive control on and off-road, mild-mannered nature, abundant resources of the 2.2-liter SkyActiv-D turbo diesel, the laid-back six-speed automatic, and composed yet slightly hard suspension.
It’s a versatile machine this and, for less money than most of its segment rivals, it does a fairly good job at being a complete compact crossover. Find everything there is to know about it from our review of the 2016 Mazda CX-5.
The CX-5 is the first effort at that and the 2016 Mazda CX-5 facelift continues the trend. When it was launched in 2012, nobody was expecting the Hiroshima-based outfit to launch the most complete model in the non-premium crossover SUV segment.
At that time, the CX-5 was dubbed the athlete of its class and a frugal one at that thanks to its SkyActiv technologies. With the 2016 Mazda CX-5 facelift, everything got chiseled up.
We don’t usually believe the hype surrounding a car, but Mazda models of late live up to it. The mid-cycle revamp does what the label promises - it’s better. Don’t expect the handling characteristics of a BMW X3 or the fit & finish of a Mercedes-Benz GLK/GLC, but do expect this: the best all-rounder of the non-premium compact crossover genre.
As we found out from out diesel-powered test car, the 2016 Mazda CX-5 still suffers from some drawbacks that can be described as diamonds in the rough. NVH levels and the refreshing but boring simplicity of the cabin design come to mind.
But these are just two bad peas in a pod brimming with good peas. The cavernous boot, modularity of the rear seats, space, and fuel economy are some of its highlights.
Towering above all else is the all-wheel drive control on and off-road, mild-mannered nature, abundant resources of the 2.2-liter SkyActiv-D turbo diesel, the laid-back six-speed automatic, and composed yet slightly hard suspension.
It’s a versatile machine this and, for less money than most of its segment rivals, it does a fairly good job at being a complete compact crossover. Find everything there is to know about it from our review of the 2016 Mazda CX-5.
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