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The second-generation Mazda CX-5 compact crossover / SUV stands equally the best choice for driving enthusiasts who need an affordable crossover to booty gear or family unit members. The 2017 CX-5 is also emerging as the category's technology champ with a caput-upwardly display, smart blind spot detection aler t, full-range adaptive cruise control, standard LED headlamps, and an intelligent all-cycle-drive system. Mazda makes a fair claim that the CX-5 has "form in a higher place" technology more than in line with what Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz offer. "We know we're already better than [Honda] CR-Vs and such, so nosotros benchmarked upscale," Mazda's chief engineer proclaims.

To appeal to mainstream buyers who've made Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 each outsell Mazda three-i concluding yr, Mazda has worked on sound-damping, improving ride quality, adding rear seat heaters, upping the quality of the sound organisation, and calculation rear seat USB jacks. Nobody's perfect and in Mazda's case in that location's still no operation engine for enthusiasts. For mainstream buyers, in that location's no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto offered, no satellite radio except on the costliest CX-5, and those rear seat heaters are an option on the costliest CX-5. Overall, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Second generation, looks like the beginning generation

Mazda says at that place are big changes within and out, as in that location take been almost every since the first-gen CX-5 arrived equally a 2013 model. For 2017 (lower image above), at that place'south a sharper nose, a black egg-carton grille (no horizontal strakes now), and a side body grapheme line that sweeps downwards instead of up every bit it moves rearward. It's still 179 inches long, right in the sweet spot for compact SUVs. There'southward one engine choice, a 187-hp usually aspirated (no turbo) four-cylinder engine, rated at 23 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, 26 mpg combined for all-wheel-drive, 24/31/27 for front-drive. The transmission is a half-dozen-speed automated.

Mazda said new features highly-seasoned to mainstream buyers are an available power liftgate, a second-row seat that reclines (slightly) and too folds fully flat, and improved NVH (dissonance, vibration, harshness) without degrading handling. Come across the slideshow below for the 10 tech improvements that make the CX-5, as Mazda says, punch above its weight, including full-range adaptive prowl control, G-Vectoring, more USB jacks, a head-up brandish that includes blind spot information, and traffic sign recognition.

Ten tech features brand the 2017 CX-5 stand out:

On the route

I test-drove the CX-five in San Diego and e along the United states-Mexico edge (lots of edge patrol agents, no sign of the wall). In comparison with the 2016 Mazda CX-5 I've been driving the past one-half-twelvemonth, the new one is indeed quieter and a bit less bouncy on rough roads. Mazda attributes this to more welds, acoustic laminated glass in forepart, extra door seals, and more audio insulation in the flooring.

The adaptive cruise command was smoother; the older one sometimes locked on to a car ahead and then a few seconds later braked firmly, enough to make the passengers await up. The head upwards brandish was a great addition, specially since it put the blind spot alert in the HUD (as well as in the side mirrors). When a car shows up in your blind spot, three sonar-looking waves turn orangish on the left, right, or both. If you lot're thinking about changing lanes, you have to shift your vision to the side mirror for a couple hundred milliseconds; with the HUD, you just glance down, all the while keeping your eyes on the road ahead. The steering wheel has even bigger buttons this year.

The engine is basically the aforementioned: Mazda'southward high-tech SkyActiv inline-four with depression emissions and adequate pickup for merging onto expressways. The mileage is decent, but you'll probably exist in the high 20s in combined driving; y'all demand a light pes to pass 30 mpg. Thus my interest in seeing how peppy and economical the 2.2-liter SkyActiv diesel will be this fall.

Navigation is adequate; there are better and worse from competitors, but it gets the job done. The new Bose audio with ten speakers sounds better. It's great having USB jacks for back seat passengers. I've grown to similar the Commander command wheel in the console. A nearby button to fetch audio presets (you scroll to the 1 you lot want) gives you equally many equally you want, but information technology's not as straight as having half-dozen or eight dedicated presets correct nether the center LCD.

The back is nevertheless roomy peculiarly for a small car. Iv adults tin can travel all mean solar day in condolement, and even more than so with back seat HVAC vents and the improved ride.

Where Mazda isn't notwithstanding form-above

Mazda wants to be compared with the large boys: Audi Q3 and Q5 (the CX-v falls in between in size), BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and the two Japanese crossovers that are 1-ii in premium SUV sales: Lexus NX and Acura RDX. Fair enough. Here'south where Mazda comes up brusque.

Bullheaded spot detection doesn't offer haptic feedback, pregnant a steering wheel or seat vibration that only alerts the driver. The beep is just a second long, which makes it only halfway abrasive. Lane deviation warning does offer a vibration now, along with either a beep or a rumble strip sound through the speakers (pick i).

Non having Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in 2017 is starting to look dated. We understand that adopting them puts a pocket-size automaker at the mercies of Apple and Google. At least it's in the works. Satellite radio is only offered on the costliest CX-5, the Grand Touring. It needs to be on every trim line.

Some, non all, class-higher up competitors offering side window screens (the CX-9 does, too) and it'southward groovy for long trips. The CX-5 also lacks environs vision cameras, automated parallel parking, and manufacturing plant-installed rear parking sonar (as a dealer accessory, it'southward costly). Campers and boaters would wish for three,500-pound towing capacity, not just 2,000 pounds; it's rare in affordable compact SUVs (Toyota offers a special RAV4 that tows 3,500 pounds), but not uncommon amid higher terminate competitors.

Mazda equally yet offers no telematics parcel like GM OnStar. It will become more than and more useful to get real-time updates on road conditions, detours, and restaurant and hotel information. Mazda at least gets current speed data by reading roadside speed limit signs (also stop signs and traffic lights).

There are also little things: BMW and Audi take roller wheels on the steering wheel for adjusting volume or sound choices, which is faster, smoother, and cooler than up-downwardly buttons. It also costs a bit more than.

The interior leather trim is either off-white or black; a medium chocolate-brown or anecdote would be a good in-between option. For Mazda, the challenge is that every fourth dimension it offers some other option, at that place's more complication in finding exactly what you want in stock. (Although information technology's nothing percent at present if yous desire a tobacco-color leather.)

Mazda doesn't lose all the comparisons. Mazda has LED headlamps standard; BMW offers LED headlamps on the X3 for $1,900. Advantage, Mazda.

Mazda CX-v pricing: $25,000 to $34,000 all-in

Mazda pricing is on par with most other mainstream compact crossovers. In that location are 3 trim lines, or model variants.  The technology builds with each trim line.

CX-five Sport. $24,985 (including $940 freight), $26,285 with all-bike-drive. Standard equipment includes LED headlamps, Smart City Restriction Support, backup camera, ii USB jacks, phone and audio Bluetooth, 7-inch dash mounted LCD, AM/FM/Hard disk drive radio, and 17-inch alloy wheels. Seats are manual with textile trim. There are no options packages other than Soul Red Crystal paint: $595 for a dazzling blood-red.

CX-five Touring.$26,855, $28,155 with AWD. It adds blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, keyless entry, two rear USB jacks, leatherette heated front end seats with "lux suede" inserts and six-mode power driver'southward seat, motorcar-leveling LED headlamps, six-speaker audio, rear center armrest, and rear HVAC vents. The $780 Preferred Equipment Bundle adds 10-speaker Bose sound, a moonroof, a ability liftgate, navigation, machine-dimming mirrors, Homelink (garage door opener), and motorcar on/off headlamps. The Touring i-Activsense parcel, $625, adds lane difference warning, automated high beams, lane keep-assist, stop and get adaptive cruise control ("radar prowl control"), and smart restriction support. Machine Grayness Metallic pigment is $300, and Snowflake White Pearl is $200.

CX-5 G Touring. $30,335, $31,635 with AWD. In addition to the Touring's standard and optional features, it adds steerable headlamps, LED fog and tail lamps, satellite radio, rain-sensing wipers, heated outside mirrors, 8-manner power commuter's seat, leather seats, and 19-inch alloy wheels. The $1,830 Grand Touring package includes a true head upwards brandish ("Active Driving Display") with traffic sign recognition, power front end rider seat, heated outboard rear seats, heated steering wheel, and windshield wiper de-icer.

Is this the meaty SUV to buy?

Mazda makes a potent instance that its compact crossover has the well-nigh features offered at a competitive price. If marriage and a baby make you merchandise your sports sedan for a minor SUV, this is hands-down the best crossover for enthusiasts who don't want to pay BMW X3, Audi Q5, or Mercedes-Benz GLC kinds of coin. A loaded CX-five is a couple thousand less than a stripped Lexus NX or Acura RDX, the two sales leaders among premium compact SUVs, and about $6,000 less than an zero-options X3. Comparably equipped, a premium compact SUV volition be $10,000-$xv,000 more, although they'll likely have better resale value, meaning attractive lease rates.

With the tweaks in the 2017 model, you lot'll notice the new CX-5 more palatable for passengers who don't similar a business firm ride. The interior is upscale. The exterior lines are crisper. The Soul Red Crystal paint is to die for (at almost $600, you might feel a small twinge). The sum of the technology is best-in-category against the CR-5, RAV4, Nissan Rogue, Ford Escape, and Chevrolet Equinox, the five compact SUVs that sold 242,000 (Chevy) to 357,000 units (Honda) terminal yr versus Mazda's 112,000.

If y'all value engineering science, the 2017 Mazda CX-5 is your motorcar. The case for the 2017 CX-5 is best if you're looking at the very top trim line, the Chiliad Touring with the Premium package. It shows the most changes from the outgoing 2016.5 CX-5, peculiarly the adaptive cruise and HUD. The blindside-for-the buck CX-v is the CX-five Touring with the two options packages that give you lane departure warning, automatic high beams, lane keep-assist, terminate and get adaptive cruise control, the power liftgate, premium audio, and the sunroof: just under $30,000, all in.

If you lot're non a fan of new technology, then you should also look at leftover 2016 models, making sure that your spouse/partner goes along for the test ride and so your both comfortable with how it feels on shine and bumpy roads. Mazda indeed punches above its weight.