Mazda reveals third-generation CX-5

The CX-5 has always been a strong seller for Mazda even amid the furiously contested compact SUV market. Now it is back with a new design and a new engine that will delight those with a taste for displacement. 

This third-generation CX-5 is slightly larger than before in all dimensions but onlookers would struggle to tell thanks to some clever touches to the bodywork courtesy of the refreshed Kodo design language. 

Indeed, it now feels a little sportier owing partly to a discrete boot spoiler, twin tailpipes and a sharper front face, but also a concerted effort to create width. From the horizontal lighting to the lines in the lower mask which point towards the tyres, there is stance aplenty. Even the rear has been widened by 15mm over the previous generation. 

It all combines well with the slightly fast roofline, too, which appears to lengthen the car and balance that focus on width. Design director for Mazda Motor Europe, Jo Stenuit, told Car Design News that the aim was always to find a blend between practicality and looks. 

"The nose of the car has also gone up by 5cm as well, which is quite a lot, but by raising the nose and putting power on the wheels, the car just looks more stable. We wanted it so that families don't feel scared of doing whatever they want with the car."

The nose is certainly more prominent but is complemented by the angles of the grille and lower mask, which cut in and out to create a series of distinct layers viewed side on; you wouldn't notice from the front. It is a nice 'easter egg' of sorts. 

The angles continue elsewhere, particularly at the rear where the three-dimensional tail lamps protrude as opposed to lying flat against the rest of the bodywork. "We've been doing a lot of trials with the lamps," says Stenuit. "At the front, we wanted to create the impression of human eyes, because the face is the part that you can really recognise a brand from. If we just started doing straight lines, you wouldn't [stand out]."

As would be expected of any contemporary Mazda, the surfacing is also layered and combines long sections of smooth panels with gentle creases here and there to nip in the hips, emphasise the arches and once emphasise the car's width. A soft shoulder line runs along the length of the car in line with both sets of lamps. 

Images of the CX-5 in studio lighting best illustrate the attention to detail here, with shadows and highlights adding additional 'lines' in the body. Our favourite is the flicker of light that trails off the main shoulder line below the rear door handle and towards the wheel arch. 

Contrast black cladding around the lower extremities draws the eye up and reduces visual bulk, particularly from side profile. Look closely, and the arch trims feature delicate indents, directly inspired by the Japanese construction technique 'Kigumi' which relies only on interlocking joints for strength. 

It would have been easy to tack on huge rims with painted on tyres to complete the look, but the model on display during our pre-reveal featured a healthy sidewall that in reality is more useful and fitting for a car that may find itself on the odd dirt track or kick up the curb on the morning school run. 

"You know what designers want: big wheels," Stenuit jokes. "But yes, the 19-inch wheels work well and are more practical. The black ones maybe look a bit smaller, but the diamond cut ones of course look a bit bigger. There are tricks we can use to adjust that perception, but wheel size is often decided by the engineers for road capability and driving precision." 

We are told that sizes will range from 17-inch in entry-level trim to the 19-inch ones we saw on higher trim levels, but also additional designs that are "in the pipeline for even greater scope to customise" according to press materials. 

It is also notable that there are no obvious protruding sensors on the exterior, which have been neatly hidden away and integrated cleanly. "It's a challenge, but it's part of what we want to do," says Stenuit. "We don't necessarily want to show the technology."

Inside, the cabin has been build around the principle of Ma which champions space, balance and harmony. Shown in the studio in a pleasant cream and grey colourway, it exudes calm and is minimalist but not boring. And rejoice, ambient lighting is just that — ambient, not engulfing — and casts a very gentle glow along the upper door card with different brightness and colour settings through the touchscreen. 

This screen is larger than before and at first glance would seem to go against the intended goal of reducing driver distraction. But Stenuit argues otherwise, pointing out that it is never fun having to hunt for buttons or menus because they are too small. 

"It's not about having more information on the screen, but making what is there more visible," he says. "And with a bigger screen, that's easier to do. That's also why its position is quite high on the dash, so it's easy to see information without shifting your eyes down to far."

There is a new steering wheel design which also puts the new Mazda logo centre stage. Stenuit says that alongside the brand style department, the design team had a major role in shaping this. "We felt that if we go into a new era, the whole visual identity has to follow and especially the logo, which still had the 1970s lettering," he notes. "It's a revamp, but just like with the cars it's an evolution not a revolution."

As for powertrains, Petrolistas rejoice. The new CX-5 carries a slightly larger engine than might be expected amid Europe's stringent emissions regulations. A torquey 2.5-litre petrol replaces the previous base 2.0-litre, and has been specifically designed to offer useful low-end grunt and improved efficiency. 

The naturally-aspirated 2.5 eSkyactiv G engine puts out 141PS and 238Nm and is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with front or all-wheel drive depending on grade: Prime-Line, Centre-Line, Exclusive-Line and at the top, Homura. Reflecting on Mazda's recent preference for larger displacement engines, Stenuit notes that the design team does take cues from the fact that there is often a larger unit up front.

"In the beginning, I was a bit surprised that we would have rear wheel drive and inline-six engines. That was seven years ago — I get it now," he laughs. 

"It's all about the efficiency and driving experience, which is completely different to a higher revving four- or three-cylinder engine. And of course a larger engine has influence on the design because of how you package it. With the CX60, the length of the engine means the gearbox tunnel is pushed back further into the interior — but you can play with that. You can make the centre console more prominent and give a bit more presence in the interior. There are options to play with all of that."