Mazda CX-5. Dubai, UAE. Unexpected Fun

Mazda’s CX-5 is a crossover SUV. But don’t let that put you off it – it’s actually rather fun to drive.

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We drive a range of cars at crankandpiston, and not all of them are deemed worthy of featuring. Sometimes we just drive them to increase our general knowledge of what’s on sale, to get a gist of what the market is like these days. Quite a lot of cars on sale today are really not that exciting.

And so it was without much enthusiasm that I got behind the wheel of the Mazda CX-5. It’s a crossover SUV, and I don’t remember the last time anyone got excited about a crossover SUV. Feel free to correct me in the comments if you can think of another one. Anyway, the CX-5, as its name suggests, sits below the CX-9 and CX-7. It’s all-new for 2013, and it’s cheap, starting at just $25,592 (UAE price).

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Visually, it’s certainly not bad on the eyes, if not quite as unusual as I’d hoped for from Mazda. A few years ago the design would have looked futuristic, but SUV penmanship has come on leaps and bounds of late. Cars like the Range Rover Evoque have shown that risks can be taken. That said, the sweeping lines, large grille and frowning headlamps give the CX-5 a certain presence.

The interior design is disappointing – our mid-range all-wheel drive test car is a sea of uninspiring black plastic, but it does feel well screwed together, with no squeaks or rattles to be found. And the driving position is good too, the seat not too high and not dropped down in the floor pan. It’s a happy medium that gives the driver a hint of command without feeling like a trucker.

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A start button fires up the naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine. In a time when the majority of manufacturers are bolting on turbos, Mazda has instead opted for a high compression petrol engine to boost torque and improve fuel economy. The result is 155bhp and 150lb ft, mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. And sadly, it isn’t enough. Acceleration in the CX-5 feels laboured and lacking in low-end torque, with little response to the throttle until it drops down a couple of gears.

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However, in other areas the CX-5 is a surprisingly good drive. It feels car-like, with none of the roll and softness associated with modern SUVs. The steering is also really good, perfectly weighted and with great feedback. It’s possible to enjoy the driving experience, although it would be even better with more grunt.

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If Mazda sees fit in the future to up the power options for the CX-5 I’d have no hesitation in recommending it. It feels like a car designed to drive, rather than merely transport, and it’s to be commended for that, especially at this price.

Pictures of the Mazda CX-5 Urban Concept courtesy of Mazda

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