For a decade, CX-5 has been one of Mazda’s best sellers. During that lofty lifespan, it has had 10 nip-n-tucks, and a brand new model in 2018. By sales, Mazda is the 2nd top retailer in the country, behind Toyota at number 1.

The naming regime includes CX, and MX-30 for the cross-over/SUV range, BT for the pickup style ute, and Mazda2, Mazda3 and Mazda6 and MX-5 for the passenger cars. Like the rest of the market, most Mazda sales now come from the SUV/Ute offerings.

MX seems to signify the Japanese car-maker’s “niche” models. MX-30 is an odd-bod that comes in a hybrid and electric model, both with “suicide” doors, and the MX-5 is one of the world’s best known known 2-seater convertible sports cars.

CX-5 is Mazda’s best top seller, with 4,478 sold to the end of February. 1/3 of buyers chose the mid-spec Maxx-Sport model, with 2/3 of CX-5 being AWD.

What’s New in CX-5?

The 10-year anniversary sees a smoothing over of the front and rear ends, some trim and colour tweaks, and an excuse for a fabulous road trip.

Intentionally or not, Mazda has gone up-market and posh over the years, with classy cabins having real wood trim. Their sexy “Kodo” design with its slim lighting arrays and subtle body contouring without which would look rather bland.

Apart from the new lights, front grille and front guards, CX-5 gets new seats that better fit the S-curve of the human body. After hours in the saddle, you are meant to feel refreshed, and while “refreshed” might be a small over-reach, you certainly don’t feel tired.

Mazda improved the noise/vibration/handling (NVH) by making the body more rigid. However, when asked about the body being more rigid, Mazda bosses couldn’t tell us how that was done.

There is no active noise cancelling, so cabin calming elements include a new head liner to absorb 10% more random vibes that would otherwise be noticed by the passengers. We can’t have that on our road-trip can we?

There are other changes to the 6-speed automatic and steering that were less noticeable.

This Week: 2022 Mazda CX-5 at Kingsford the Barossa -FULL Review

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ABOVE: 2022 Mazda CX-5 at Kingsford The Barossa

Better Fuel Consumption:

One of the best features that flies under the radar is the fact that CX-5’s engines switch off cylinders when not needed for power. The 4 cylinder engines can run on 2, 3 or 4 cylinders with the driver completely oblivious to the transitions.

MI drive modes include an off-road programme for AWD models. There is up to 200mm ground clearance, but no one is fooling themselves into thinking you’ll be going too far into the mallee. The outback is an unforgiving place, and we’ll leave it at that.

The Drive:

CX-5 feels refined even in the FWD base models.

While I’m sure the lesser engines do their best, the 2.5L turbo petrol is the standout. Our film was in a turbo and non turbo model, and we drove various other trim and engine options over the 2 day event.

Let me set the scene:

CX-5 is an SUV that is going to be used around town, right? It is good at that. It has oodles of space, a clever double rear floor and comfy seats for short runs.

For this test, we were heading out of town to a proper country house hotel.

The weather was a trifle moody, with drizzle making moist roads slippery. In town, CX-5 in incredibly comfortable. Apart from the 2.5L turbo, the engines are leisurely.

Despite Mazda’s claims, the 6-speed automatic is several cogs short of expectation. It is beautifully smooth and is no doubt up to the task, but fuel figures would look better with 8 or 10 cogs to pick from.

The gloominess continued throughout the day as we wended our way through the South Australian countryside. I’d like to report rolling green hills, but the rains come in winter, so the hills were rolling brown, which doesn’t have quite the same ring.

In any drivetrain, but especially the 2.5L turbo Akira dispatches corners with alacrity, even in the hands of a modestly skilled driver. 170kw, and AWD helps in the dampness and gloom, but the suspension is set more for comfort than track, and is all the better for it.

Drive modes help, but if you want a sports car, buy one. Don’t expect a comfortable, cosy, family SUV to behave like a nippy 2-seater.

Kingsford, in the heart of the Barossa Valley, is only a short drive from Adelaide airport and in 15 minutes you’ve left the city behind.

Imagine you and your hunny, the back loaded with bags, heading out for a naughty weekend break. In just under an hour, you arrive at a very long driveway and a quintessential mid-Victorian country house, Kingsford.

In British terms, the mansion is small but CX-5 seemed strangely at home parked up at the front door. Don’t expect a cut-price affair here, it is 1st class all the way.

The bigger rooms go for $1,800 a night on the weekend, and there is the food and drink to consider.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved the spin in the CX-5, but I’d be lying if I said I’d rather ride the 2km driveway in a CX-5 than a Rolls Royce Dawn.

Conclusion:

Mazda could, and should, do more. There should be a full hybrid option, an 8-speed automatic, and fuel figures of sub 6L/100k. Why? Because it can be found in the opposition. RAV4 is the biggest seller in the segment partially because it is a Toyota, but mostly because 60% of RAV4s are hybrid drives.

None of that makes CX-5 any less capable or comfortable, but it does show that with recent world unrest, our fuel security and vulnerable pricing are very firmly on show.

One ting is certain, Kingsford The Barossa was definitely the right place to showcase all of the best the CX-5 has to offer.

Full details and specifications HERE: Mazda CX-5 

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