Fun Driving Dynamics + Turbo Pizzazz
Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Mazda.
Mazda never disappoints when it comes to making cars that are fun to drive. It doesn’t need to place a “sport” badge on the trunk lid to let you know something more than basic transportation is awaiting. Of course, it doesn’t hurt its heritage includes the MX-5 Miata, which is one of the best handling cars you can find.
But what about the crossovers in the Mazda line-up—the CX-3, CX-30, CX-5, and CX-9? Are they more than sedate family haulers? Clean Fleet Report drove the 2021 Mazda CX-5 Signature AWD and are pleased to say Mazda continues its fun-to-drive modus operandi in a compact crossover.
Getting There
The 2021 Mazda CX-5 has a base Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter engine, which is a smooth and responsive four-cylinder that produces 186 horsepower (hp) and 186 pound-feet of torque (lb.-ft.). Clean Fleet Report opted for the 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder that uniquely offered either 227 hp and 310 lb.-ft. of torque when using 87 octane—or 250 hp and 320 lb.-ft. of torque when pumping 91 octane. Based on your budget and the need for more oomph, going for high-test could be worthwhile. [Ed. note: Mazda has been broadcasting that its Skyactiv-D diesel engine was coming for several years; it now appears to be a “not for America” motor as Mazda shifts its attention to electric drive.]
The CX-5 comes standard with front-wheel drive, but our tester CX-5 had the i-Active all-wheel drive (AWD), which uses instantaneous driving data to anticipate wheel slippage, resulting in smooth traction in all conditions. Regardless if two or four wheels are driving the CX-5, the smooth shifting six-speed automatic transmission, with paddle shifters and Sport mode, was never at a loss to find the right gear. This was noticeable when climbing mountains and getting on-and-off the accelerator on tight curves.
The EPA rates the CX-5 2.5L Turbo AWD at 22 mpg city/27 highway/24 combined. In 200 miles driving through Southern California we averaged 27.2 mpg and 30.1 mpg on a 106-mile all-freeway run with the adaptive cruise control set at 65 mph. Fuel economy numbers reported by Clean Fleet Report are non-scientific and represent the reviewer’s driving experience using the dash gauge computer. Your numbers may differ.
Hitting the Road
The 2.5L Turbo is quiet and provides plenty of acceleration, with zero-to-60 times around 7.3 seconds, which was more than plenty for entering freeways and passing 18-wheelers. The 4,727-lb. weight may sound high, but it never feels that way as it provides a solid, safe and confident feel. What engine noise is heard, when accelerating hard, has a nice sporty note to it. Otherwise the cabin is quiet with little wind or tire noise.
The ride was smooth with agile handling, which is not surprising as it comes from the company that makes the fantastic handling MX-5 Miata. The list of suspension and chassis technology is long on the CX-5, all contributing to what Mazda says is “a feeling of oneness.” This list includes Toyo A36 all-season 225/55 tires on 19-inch alloy wheels, independent front and rear suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars, a nicely weighted and adjusted electric power assist steering, dynamic stability and traction control and the G-Vectoring Control Plus system. When cornering, the G-Vectoring Control Plus system adjusts engine torque to shift weight, increase steering response and apply a bit of the anti-lock brakes to ease cornering.
Car as Art Exterior Design
Mazda is positioning itself to be more upscale than its direct competitors that aren’t considered premium or luxury brands. With 2021 CX-5 trim levels of Carbon Edition, Grand Touring and Signature, which Clean Fleet Report drove, Mazda’s “car as art” philosophy is easy to see and appreciate.
Design cues for the 2021 CX-5, which employ Mazda’s Kodo: Soul of Motion design theme, include a distinctive and attractive front end that has Mazda’s signature grille, which does not suffer from being overly large. The narrow sleek headlights, daytime running lights and turn signals are made possible by LED technology that allows designers to take up as little real estate as possible on the fenders. The long hood, laid-back windshield, and short overhangs front and rear complete the look. The shark fin antenna, roof rails, integrated spoiler over the raked power lift gate and bright twin exhaust ports finish-off the rear with LED tail lights. The AWD, with traction assist, opens the possibility to go off-roading, but with only 7.5 inches of ground clearance, the extra traction will mostly be called upon for sloppy on-road conditions.
Clean Fleet Report’s CX-5 Signature AWD was painted in an eye-catching Soul Red Crystal Metallic. Other exterior colors, some with an added charge, include Sonic Silver Metallic, Machine Gray Metallic, Snowflake White Pearl Mica, Polymetal Gray Metallic, Jet Black Mica, Deep Crystal Blue Mica and Eternal Blue Mica.
Class Above Interior
The up-market interior on the Signature model immediately looks like a class above. The black color scheme with aluminum accents was pleasing to the eye. Cloth seats are standard on the Sport model, while leatherette and leather are optional on the Touring and Carbon Editions. Stepping-up, the Grand Touring and Signature trims get Nappa leather. The CX-5 Signature AWD comes with power, heated and ventilated front seats, with the driver getting eight-way power adjustments with lumbar and memory. The seats, with height adjustable shoulder belts, were supportive and comfortable. The adjustable, heated, leather-covered steering wheel, with cruise and audio controls, made for a comfortable and convenient driver setting.
The rear passengers were treated to leather seats; the outbound places are heated. There were reading lamps, a USB port, air vents and a center foldable armrest with cup holders. The cargo area, with a power port, is quite roomy with 59.6 cubic feet of storage space when the 60/40 split rear seat has been folded flat using the handy releases in the cargo area.
Up front, the dash has a simple, clean, logical layout with plenty of soft touch materials. Three easy-to-read round gauges with black faces and white letters, are part of a 7.0-inch multi-information display for the speedometer, odometer, average fuel economy and many other readings.
The 10.25-inch horizontal color display, which is not a touchscreen, rises from the dashboard and is home to navigation and the Bose premium audio system. With 10 speakers, the sound quality is excellent for the AM/FM/MP3/AUX HD radio, SiriusXM, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Mazda Connect connectivity system includes Bluetooth, voice recognition, Aha, Pandora and Stitcher radio integration. Missing, which Mazda will most likely address, was a lack of wireless phone charging.
To manage the radio there is a wheel on the center console that Mazda calls the Commander control and a smaller knob for volume control. We found the wheel cumbersome to use, requiring multiple steps to control usually simple functions, which diverted the driver’s eyes from the road.
Mazda says its system is safer to use than one with a touchscreen or channel preset buttons, and that we should “give it three weeks” for it to become easy-to-use. Maybe in time it becomes a by-touch operation, but after a week we did not get the hang of the system and found it to be overly complicated.
With many more intuitive systems in other cars, which Clean Fleet Report encounters on a weekly basis, we are confident Mazda’s excellent engineers could easily design a much more user-friendly interface.
Convenience comes with remote keyless door locks, push button start/stop, power windows, power sliding glass moonroof, rearview camera, carpeted floor mats, dual zone automatic HVAC, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt and telescopic steering column, rain-sensing windshield wipers, folding power and heated side mirrors with turn indicators and an electronic parking brake.
Safety
The 2021 Mazda CX-5 comes with an extensive list of standard and optional safety features, including front and side curtain airbags, driver attention alert, anti-theft engine immobilizer, windshield wiper deicer, hill launch assist, tire pressure monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, lane keep assist and rear cross traffic alert.
The Mazda Active Driving Display includes the head-up display (HUD) which is projected onto the windshield, directly before the driver. Being able to keep your vision straight ahead is a major safety factor as it minimizes distractions. The HUD shows driving speed, the speed limit, a red box if you exceed the posted speed, and street signs, such as “Stop” and “Do Not Enter”, as well as lane departure and brake warnings. The HUD is very helpful and useful, and should be standard equipment on all cars.
In crash testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the 2021 CX-5 received five stars (their highest rating) for overall crash protection, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the CX-5 its highest rating of Top Safety Pick.
Pricing and Warranties
Clean Fleet Report’s 2021 Mazda CX-5 Signature AWD had a base price of $37,405. With $720 in optional equipment and the $1,100 destination and handling fee, the MSRP came to $39,215.
The 2021 CX-5 comes with these warranties:
- Powertrain – Five years/60,000 miles
- Bumper-To-Bumper – Three years/36,000 miles
- Roadside Assistance – Three years/36,000 miles
Observations: 2021 Mazda CX-5 Signature AWD 2.5L Turbo
With seven trims to choose from–Sport, Touring, Carbon Edition, Carbon Edition Turbo, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Premium and Signature–there should be a CX-5 to meet your needs. Over the past few years, Mazda has slowly been taking its brand upscale and into the near-premium category with improvements in exterior and interior design, interior material upgrades and engine options. In doing so, they have not lost any of the fun-to-drive DNA than comes with the Mazda name.
Mazda says there is “More To Discover” with the 2021 CX-5, offering a “modern design and an energizing driving experience.” Designed with couples, singles, and families with small children in mind, Mazda’s best-selling vehicle in America offers a driving experience consistent with that of the company’s complete line-up.
The front cabin comfortably seats two, with the rear seat capable of carrying three adults, two for longer trips. The rear cargo capacity, 30.9 cubic inches with the rear seat upright, is plenty large enough for two, but may be a tight squeeze for all the gear necessary for four. The suspension delivers a smoother and quieter ride than is expected in a compact crossover, and the superb handling, especially with the i-Active AWD system, makes it fun to drive.
And when you are ready to move into a larger crossover SUV, Mazda makes the equally appealing midsize CX-9, so there may not be a need to leave the Mazda family.
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Disclosure:
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.
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