Mazda CX-5 long-term test
The previous version of the Mazda CX-5 was one of our favourite large SUVs. Can this new model follow in its footsteps?...
- The car: Mazda CX-5 2.2d 150 Sport Nav
- Run by: Darren Moss, deputy editor
- Why it’s here: The previous CX-5 was one of our favourite large SUVs. Can this new version shine in the face of even stronger competition?
- Needs to: Be economical on my daily commute, be comfortable on long journeys and have plenty of space inside. In short: be the perfect car for a growing family.
Price £28,695 Price as tested £29,495 Miles covered 4648 Official fuel economy 56.5mpg Test economy 41.8mpg CO2 132g/km Options Soul Red Crystal paint (£800)
8 February 2018 – Going green
It has been a very good month for the Mazda CX-5. You see, as well as being named as one of our favourite large SUVs at our recent Car of the Year Awards, it also drove away with a commendation in our True MPG category.
Why the commendation? Well, we found that despite Mazda choosing not to follow its competition in downsizing its engines to make them more frugal, the CX-5’s 2.2-litre diesel engine was actually cleaner and more efficient than the downsized engines of many rivals.
So let’s look at the numbers: in our tests, the 2.2 150 CX-5 in Sport Nav trim (the same as my long-termer) returned a True MPG result of 47.4mpg. Its two closest tested rivals, the Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 SE-L and Nissan X-Trail 1.6 N-Connecta, returned 43.1mpg and 45.1mpg respectively.
And it’s not just in real-world fuel economy where the Mazda CX-5 trounced its key rivals – it also recorded the lowest CO2 emissions by some margin. More power to Mazda, then, and continuing good news for my fuel bills.
Best plug-in hybrid cars 2024 – best and worst PHEVs named
Plug-in hybrid cars can reduce fuel consumption to an absolute minimum, but which models are the best all-rounders and which ones should you avoid?
