Mazda CX 5 Turbo Review
The new Mazda CX5 Akera, which looks great and has a long features list, but it faces some stiff competition in the medium SUV market from popular rivals like the Kia Sportage, Honda CRV, and Toyota RAV4.
There are four grades for the CX5, and the top two grades have a choice between a 2.5 liter petrol engine or a turbo version.
Mazda CX 5 Turbo Pricing
We are talking about Akera with the turbo petrol engine. This particular combination will cost you $55,000 before on-road costs, which positions it more towards the top end of its rivals, but the new CRV is a tad more expensive.
Features
The Akera is really well-equipped and you get some great premium features like a sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, heated steering wheel, as well as a wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Design Mazda CX 5 Turbo
The Mazda CX5 hasn’t seen much change to the exterior other than a more horizontally-styled grill. Mazda CX 5 Turbo Review
It’s a medium SUV that has a handsome curbside presence with its full suite of LED lights and 19-inch alloy. Overall, it’s a very inoffensive design that should appeal to a wide audience.
Interior
The interior looks premium with the brown napper leather seats and leather upholstery. I really like how Mazda blends the traditional and the high-tech stuff in this.
You get a seven-inch digital instrument It’s a different cluster, but most of it’s analog still.
You get a 10.5-inch beautiful multimedia screen, but you still have physical buttons and dials to press.
You get a traditional gear shifter and an electric brake controller. The mix between the high-end tech and the traditional elements makes the cockpit feel very accessible, which is great. Mazda CX 5 Turbo Review
There’s just a general feeling of things being very well-built and quite solid with the chunkier dashboard and accents as well as just how solid the doors feel. It’s a really nice interior.
First Row
The front seats are narrow and a bit shorter than I like on a longer journey, but for the average A to B trip, they’re quite comfortable.
It has a 200-millimetre ground clearance, so it’s quite easy to get into, but I did find that the footwell has quite a tall lip, which means that you sometimes hit it when you get out.
Upfront, you get the best head and leg room, and the driver’s seat is the only one that gets powered lumbar support, but I love that both of them has the heat and ventilation function. Mazda CX 5 Turbo Review
Individual storage is about average for this class, but I do like that you get the removable shelf in the middle console, as well as a deep utility tray.
USB Port
Charging options are really good up front with a wireless charging pad a 12-volt port and two USB-C ports.
The multimedia system is clear, but it is accessed via a rotary dial, which means that it can be a little bit annoying to use while on the go.
It’s great that you get the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as built-in satellite navigation. The head-up display also pulls through the satellite navigation directions, which is also really good.
You get directional air vents as well as a fold-down armrest with two cup holders.
In this armrest, you also get two USB A ports and the heat seat function buttons.
Now, the only problem with this is that because of their placement and the fact that the seat’s quite narrow, this feels more like a two-seater rather than a three-seater row.
There are Isofix child seat amounts on the outboard seats plus three top tethers, but you’re only going to get two seats. Mazda CX 5 Turbo Review
I actually found that when it’s fitted, that it doesn’t hinder visibility out the back windows, which isn’t always the case for a medium SUV.
You get a power tailgate in this model, which I always find is a handy feature for families. You have a level load space, and underneath the floor, there is a temporary spare tire.
Boot Space
You get a decent amount of storage capacity at 438 liters, which was plenty for grocery. I do really like, though, that the retractable cargo cover attaches to the lid because it lifts it up and out of the way.
Mazda CX 5 Turbo Engine
The Akera is an all-wheel drive with a six-speed auto transmissiont and this model has the 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine that produces a max power output of 170 kilowatts and 420 newton-metres of torque.
The turbo It shows that it never feels sluggish even when you’re hitting hills. Steering feels very responsive, which makes it feel quite nimble when you’re tackling tight car parks or city streets. Mazda CX 5 Turbo Review
However, there is a little bit of roll when you tackle corners in this one. The cabin is really quiet, even at higher speeds, which is great.
The Akera is no different because it has an ultra-clear 360-degree view camera system as well as front and rear parking sensors.
There’s no guesswork on parking with this.
Efficiency
The compromise we’re getting that extra power with the turbo means that your fuel efficiency does take a hit. The official combined fuel cycle is 8.2 liters per 100 kilometers.
Based on the official combined cycle and the 58 liter fuel tank, expect to see a driving range of around 784 kilometers, which is still reasonable for the odd road trip.
Safety Feature In Mazda CX 5 Turbo
The Mazda CX5 comes with a bunch of safety features, which is always great to see on a family car.
An absolute standout is the 360 degree view camera system because it’s super clear and well positioned on the dashboard.
The previously awarded five-star NCAP safety rating has just expired, and models built from January 2024 are thus unrated. Mazda CX 5 Turbo Review
This has six airbags, which is a little bit low for a family car, but I like all of the other safety features this car has.
Ownership
The Mazda CX5 comes with a five-year unlimited kilometer warranty, which is average for the class, but some of its rivals do offer slightly better terms on this front.
You can get a five-year or up to 75,000 kilometer Cap Price Services Program, and services average just $423, which is quite competitive.
Services intervals are also reasonable at every 12 months or 15,000 kilometers, whichever occurs first. Mazda CX 5 Turbo Review
Final Word
The Mazda CX5 Akera G35 offers small families, a great host of premium features, as well as solid handling and power, all in an attractive package.
But the emphasis here is on small families because this does sit on the more compact side for a medium SUV, and its rivals offer better back seat space.