The future of driving starts now
The new Mazda CX-5 is inviting to drive, fun to drive and makes you want to drive it again.
The first production model to feature Mazda’s new design theme , “KODO – Soul of Motion’, the CX-5 is changing the world of SUV’s. The inspiration for the body design came from a cheetah’s stance when ready to pounce. The profile of the CX-5 further reiterates the vehicles powerful sense of forward motion. From the forward-inclined nose through the sloping cabin, CX-5 displays impressive and extremely dynamic proportions. Mazda’s original prominent fenders are reworked and combined with sculpted body sides to express the tension and release at the centre of the ‘KODO’ design theme, giving an impression of musculature tensed and ready for action.
Comfort, Convenience and Utiility
For a big car, the CX-5 is extremely comfortable to drive. With all the mod-cons including multi-function steering wheel, BOSE sound system, heated seats (on the top of the range), auto wipers and automatic gear box all you really have to do is pick a tune, put your foot down and enjoy the ride!
My design highlight of this vehicle was the back cabin area. When it comes to storage and ease of use the CX-5 comes out tops.
The CX-5 offers exceptional innovation and convenient flexibility. The world’s first remote control fold down 4:2:4 rear seats are an outstanding example. Levers located in the top trim of the luggage compartment allow individual folding of the left, centre and right seatbacks. This means that even with two child seats fitted, the centre seatback can be folded to enable the ‘centre-through mode’ for loading long items. Of course, all three seatbacks can be folded to create a large, completely flat luggage area. When the rear seats are in use, the luggage area provides 490 litres (VDA) of useable space — enough space to hold four golf bags. This is achieved by eliminating protrusions and dead space. With the seats folded down, there’s 1,390 litres (VDA, without subtrunk) of space, enough to accommodate two mountain bikes with front wheels removed.
The cleverly thought-out tonneau cover is a revised version of Mazda’s acclaimed karakuri tonneau cover. It opens and closes with the liftgate, making it as easy to use as the package tray of a hatchback and reducing the effort used in loading/unloading. In addition, the tonneau cover can be removed in a one-touch operation to allow loading of larger items.
Sustainable Zoom-Zoom
Mazda expects that for the foreseeable future the world’s key energy sources will continue to be mainly petroleum-based, and that most vehicles will still be powered by internal combustion engines. With this outlook in mind, Mazda is stating its goal of raising the average fuel economy of the Mazda vehicles sold worldwide by 30% by 2015 compared with 2008 levels.
To achieve this, Mazda is defying conventional thinking to comprehensively innovate all its core technologies — engines, transmissions, body and chassis — and progressively combining them with electric devices to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Mazda calls this development approach the Building Block Strategy.
Skyactiv Technology
One of Mazda’s recent developments towards an ideal engine configuration is the Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engine, which offers the advantages of petrol engines. Mazda has taken on the challenge of pursuing ideal combustion. As a result, with its SKYACTIV-G new-generation engine Mazda has attained a world-leading compression ratio of 13.0:1.
As well as the engine, Skyactiv Technology also includes a lighter, more rigid body which in turn aids fuel efficiency and safety. Mazda CX-5 is the first production model featuring the full range of Skyactiv Technology.
The CX-5 comes in three derivatives. All three feature Mazda’s dynamic new SKYACTIV-Petrol 2,0-litre direct injection petrol engine. The Active derivative is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission while the Dynamic and Individual are both available in 6-speed automatic guise.
The 2,0-litre engine produces 114kW of power and 200Nm of torque, all the while using an average of 6.8 litres per 100 kilometres of fuel and emitting 158 grams of CO2 per kilometre when matched with the manual transmission. The automatic derivates offer the same power and torque figures but utilise 6.9 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres and emit 161 grams of CO2 per 100 kilometres.
The Mazda CX-5 retails from R309 000. Every CX-5 will come with a 3 year Mazda Roadside Assistance plan, a 5 year/90,000 km (whichever occurs first) Service Plan and a 4-year/120,000 km warranty. Service intervals are every 15,000km.
