Mazda CX-5 gets a facelift, now with new nose and new eyes



While the new Mazda CX-3 is probably the most talked-about Mazda since the reveal at the LA Motor Show, Mazda has also given the CX-5 a facelift. The refresh brings styling update inside and out to the compact SUV that has been on sale since 2012.

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EXTERIOR

The nose receives a new grille with metallic gray horizontal inserts, and a new pair of Adaptive LED Headlights (ALH) with the new LED lighting signature that first appeared on the Mazda2. Lower down the front bumper, the foglamps have shrunk and now sandwiched between a couple of horizontal slats.

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At the back, the taillamps get the LED lighting signature but apart from that the CX-5 retains the rugged black plastic cladding that goes around the lower part of the vehicle. There’s also a new design for the 19-inch wheels and the addition of Sonic Silver Metallic and Titanium Flash Mica to the exterior colour palette.

INTERIOR

The dashboard design is retained, featuring a pop-up Head Up Display and MZD Connect car connectivity system but the cabin is now built from higher quality materials. Other than the piano black interior trim, there’s also the metallic-finish trim, and the vertical hairline finish with satin chrome strip.

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New fabric upholstery is used in the new CX-5, or buyers can also specify leather upholstery that comes in either black or pure white. The seat structures were redesigned which Mazda said to provide “a feeling of comfortable snugness and a good fit, excellent holding characteristics, as well as ride comfort”.

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Current CX-5 owners will notice that the new CX-5 is missing a handbrake lever on the center console. The CX-5 is now using an Electrical Parking Brake (EPB) which also frees up some space in the center console. The center console box is larger in capacity and the front door pockets are also bigger on the facelifted CX-5.

PERFORMANCE

The CX-5 continues to use the range of SKYACTIV-G petrol and SKYACTIV-D diesel powerplants which includes the 2.0-liter SKYACTIV-G petrol with 158 hp or 163 hp, 2.5-liter SKYACTIV-G petrol with 189 hp, and a 2.2-liter SKYACTIV-D diesel with 148 hp or 173 hp mated to either a six-speed SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic with Drive Selection or a six-speed SKYACTIV-MT manual transmission.

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Power is sent to the front wheels, or all four wheels while low-viscosity synthetic oil is used for the new-generation AWD system that helps to improve the fuel economy. The front lower arms bushings were updated along with a new structure for the front and rear dampers to provide a smooth and flat ride in the new CX-5.

WHAT ELSE?

The CX-5 is fitted with Mazda’s i-ACTIVSENSE advanced safety technologies that uses radars and cameras around the vehicle. They provide information for the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC), and the new Lane-keep Assist System (LAS) to detect the surroundings.

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