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Zooming back 1: 2014 Mazda 2014 CX-5

The crossover/SUV among Mazda SA’s latest stock of vehicles is the CX-5, a handsome and high-riding chap with the required modern lozenge look, that was introduced to South Africa during Mazda’s “quiet years” of its divorce proceedings from Ford.

The difference now is that the front-wheel drive CX-5 comes with a choice of petrol or diesel power with all-wheel drive on the Akera flagship model. Mazda SA says it’s the first new-generation vehicle to adopt the brand’s SkyActiv technology and KODO (Mazda’s capital letters) ‘Soul of Motion’ body design.

EXTRA FEATURES

The vehicle originally arrived in South Africa in 2012 with only a two-litre petrol engine. Now, for The Return, the range includes the latest models: a 2.5-litre petrol or 2.2-litre twin-turbo diesel.


IMAGE GALLERY: Mazda CX-5
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Features, the automaker says, have been added across the whole range and pricing is extremely competitive. The automaker says: “Particular attention was paid to design, dynamic performance, functionality, environmental and safety performance.

“This is a stylish vehicle with a predictable and responsive driving experience - insightful features, useful to the owner’s driving pleasure. Through SkyActiv more power, more torque and more kilometres/litre are possible by creating overall vehicle efficiency. Safety, spaciousness and style are even better than before.”

'BASIC ELEMENTS'

David Hughes, the new MD of Mazda SA, explained: "In this day and age, being environmentally friendly is a given. We offer our customers outstanding environmental and safety performance and driving enjoyment.

“To ensure that, Mazda has renewed all the basic elements of the car from the engine and transmission to the body and the chassis.”

“The CX-5 range has, Mazda says, already found popularity with buyers elsewhere in the world, partly through “one of the most comfortable and flexible interiors in its segment”.

The cars are available with either six-speed manual or an automatic transmission and here are the models and prices:

CX-5 2.0 Active – R316 600
CX-5 2.0 Active a/t – R326 600
CX-5 2.0 Dynamic – R326 600
CX-5 2.2 DE Active a/t – R375 400
CX-5 2.5 Individual a/t – R398 600
CX-5 2.2 DE Akera a/t – R456 100

Included are a three-year unlimited distance factory warranty, three years of roadside assistance, a three-year service plan and a five-year rust-through warranty.

FEATURES

Exterior
  • A new Mazda family face with a new ‘signature wing’
  •   Prominent front fenders and sculptured body sides.
  • Prominent rear fenders and a taut rear.
  • Excellent aerodynamics and a quiet cabin.

Interior
  • Deep, longitudinally stretched design that resembles a cockpit “that produces a sense of forward momentum” and a detailed instrument panel.
  • New soft materials for the instrument panel and door trim that are most often seen and touched.
  • Parts that are used most often, such as the steering-wheel spokes and inner door handles, have a satin chrome finish.

Functionality
  • A comfortable and user-friendly cabin with efficient use of space and instruments that “present information in an intuitive and easy-to-understand way that can be read in an instant.

Space and size
  • 2700mm wheelbase, “one of the segment’s longest”, for “a comfortable cabin.
  • Class-leading rear-seat legroom of 997mm with spacious rear seats whose backrests fold 40:20:40 split independent rear seats, the centre one creating a large flat luggage space when folded.
  • The tonneau cover lifts with the tail door.
  • Generous storage, including a large open space in the centre and pockets that can take a litre bottle.

Features
  • Mazda CX-5’s HMI system improves safety by minimizing the driver’s eye movement away from the road.
  • Steering-wheel controls for various functions, including cruise control.
  • A 14.7cm colour touch screen shows data related to the infotainment system – audio and phone. Can handle MP3 players or phone via USB or Bluetooth.
  • The Individual and Akera derivatives have a Bose surround-sound system.

Performance
SkyActive two-litre and 2.5 petrol engines with 13:1 compression ratios. The two-litre makes 200Nm at 4000rpm / 114 kW at 6000rpm with claimed fuel consumption 6.4 litres/100km (combined); the 2.5 makes 250Nm at 3250rpm / 138kW at 5700rpm and seven litres/100km (combined).

The all-new SkyActive 2.2 diesel comes in two states of tune, each with a 14:1 compression ratio: 110kW / 380Nm / 5.7 litres/100km on the a/t model and 129kW / 420Nm on the 2.2 Akera all-wheel drive auto.

For more information about the 2014 Mazda range, visit the Mazda SA website.

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