Mazda's Blue Sky Sensation
IT’S not often there is a chance to drive a car which is completely new from the ground up.
But that is what’s on the way from Mazda with its new CX-5 – the first model to feature the company’s super-efficient SKYACTIV technology.
In a nutshell, Mazda has thrown every aspect of motor vehicles up in the air and come up with a new take on everything.
That goes for the engines, gearboxes, suspension and chassis. Even the accelerator pedal has been reworked to make it more responsive and comfortable. It is a brave move to combine so many groundbreaking features in one model but for Mazda the CX-5 represents the beginning of the future.
From now on all Mazda models will be built under the SKYACTIV banner which is all about lightweight, fuel efficient and fun to drive vehicles. It also features a couple of world beating petrol and diesel engines designed to be more powerful but significantly more economical.
All will have stop/start systems and the CX-5 will be available in two and four-wheel-drive formats with both having either six speed manual or automatic gearboxes. If that is not enough there is more to come in the shape of a high end TomTom sat nav as standard and advanced safety systems including automatic braking to prevent low speed shunts in traffic.
It is also fitted with lane departure warning, blind spot alerts and an auto main beam function to provide optimum illumination at night. Prices will range from around £23,000 to £28,000 and the CX-5 will be available in two trims with higher grade models featuring leather upholstery and premium sound systems from Bose.
Of the three engines available the most impressive is the 2.2-litre 150ps diesel capable of averaging almost 63 miles to the gallon with emissions of 119g/km – amazingly low for a family sized SUV.
A key element of the SKACTIV programme has been to increase the compression ratio of the petrol engines and to reduce that of the diesels to improve efficiency.
In the CX-5 both are rated at 14:1 which in the case of the petrol engine is higher than anything else on the road – including supercars such as Ferraris and greater than that of a Formula 1 racer.
A characteristic of the two-litre petrol engine is much more torque. Through the gears it easily matches the diesel for punch. The cockpit is smart, well-trimmed and the dash incorporates a 5.8-inch colour touchscreen.
Legroom in the rear is of near limousine proportions and the cargo capacity is on the generous side ranging from 503 to 1,620 litres.
Lightweight it may be the CX-5 is super rigid in terms of construction with high tensile and ultra-high tensile steel cross members under the skin which not only aid the ride but also make for a safe passenger cell.
If ever a car maker has gone for broke with a new model then this has to be it – and it looks like Mazda has its chips on a winning number.
The CX-5 will be in the Essex Mazda Rayleigh showroom during March and the first deliveries are scheduled for May.
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