Changes to Hiroshima's best-selling model are small, but easy to spot.
Refreshed towards the end of last year in the United States and Europe, Mazda has now announced price and spec details of the updated CX-5 for South Africa.
Consistently Hiroshima’s best-selling model, the updates to the now five-year old CX-5, though small, are easy to spot in the shape of a new grille taken from the recently launched, US market only CX-50, redesigned front and rear bumpers, updated LED head-and-taillights, and a new tailgate.
Inside, the tweaks are not as more prominent with the only new addition across the range being revised seats.
Reserved for the top-spec Akera though is a black leather interior with red stitching on the gear lever, steering wheel, the seats themselves, doors and dashboard, as well as black decorative inserts.
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In an unexpected move, Mazda has retuned the CX-5 underneath its skin with the inclusion of improved dampers and a more ridged frame it claims has resulted in a quieter, more refined cabin and a sportier driving experience.
On the model front, the CX-5 continues unchanged with the Active serving as the base trim level, followed by the Dynamic, the Carbon Edition, Individual and the mentioned Akera.
Specification-wise, Mazda has not made any model bespoke alterations with features on the Active comprising folding and electric mirrors, one-touch all around electric windows, rain sense wipers and auto-levelling LED headlights, plus the following:
Building on the Active, the Dynamic swaps the cloth seats for full leather in addition to also receiving keyless entry, paddle shifters, electric adjustment and lumbar support for the driver’s seat, plus auto folding electric mirrors.
Although based on the Dynamic, the Carbon’s gains are not restricted to its exterior, which comprises model bespoke black 19-inch alloy wheels, a gloss black faux diffuser, chrome exhaust outlets and a gloss finish for the mirror caps and on the grille.
Instead, it also receives leatherette and suede seats with red stitching, black accents, a ten-speaker Bose sound system, as well as:
Upping the ante further, the Individual receives a surround-view monitor system and a panoramic sunroof, while the Akera’s sole addition is gloss black exterior trim.
Providing motivation, the CX-5 offers a choice of three powerunits; the 2.0 SkyActiv-G petrol that makes 121kW/213Nm in the Active, Dynamic and Carbon, and the 2.5 SkyActiv-G that delivers 143kW/258Nm in the Individual.
A six-speed manual gearbox is standard on the Active with a six-speed automatic optional, and standard on the Dynamic, Carbon and Individual. Bar the all-wheel-drive Individual, all of the 2.0-litre models are front-wheel-drive.
Once again the line-up’s flagship, the Akera is motivated by the 2.2 SkyActiv-D turbodiesel engine that sends 140kW/450Nm to all four wheels via the six-speed automatic ‘box.
Along with a new hue called Zircon Silver, the CX-5’s colour palette consists of nine other choices;
As before, all models are covered by a three-year/unlimited km warranty and service plan.
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