Two litres and 155hp is enough for most vehicles. Compact car? Fine. Early Miata with a feathery 1,000 kg curb weight?
Stupendous.
However, bolt that kind of power to a modern crossover and you'll have a hard time finding the fun. When Mazda launched its first generation CX-5 last year, it claimed punchy power from its small-bore four-cylinder - but there was something lacking.
Sure, spec the car in basic front-wheel-drive with a manual-transmission and you have the spiritual descendant of the old Protege5: plenty of hauling capacity, a willing chassis, and an engine that makes up for a lack of grunt with a willingness to rev.
However, start checking the boxes on everything most people actually want on a family car (automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive, tech goodies) and suddenly - Skyactiv weight-savings or no - the little-crossover-that-could starts feeling a bit over burdened. The steering remains sharp, but load up the kids and show it a hill and it's more snooze-snooze than zoom-zoom.
Turns out the hot-rod-ders were right, there's no replacement for displacement. For the 2014 model year, Mazda has outfitted the mid-and top-level trims of their CX-5 crossover with a 2.5L engine. That's only a pint's-worth more shove, so does it make a difference?
Design First off, a quick overview of everything to like about the old car: Mazda's clean-sheet design elbows its way solidly into the crowded crossover market with a return to appealing style.
In many ways, Mazda isn't a direct competitor to mainstream brands like Honda, Toyota and Nissan. It could be argued the stylized M-badge denotes the Japanese equivalent of Volkswagen - not necessarily a luxury brand, but perhaps a premium one nonetheless.
Sitting as it does on 19inch alloy wheels, my GT-level tester certainly looks like it costs more than your average CR-V or RAV-4 people-hauler. Mazda's new design-language is called Kodo: Soul of Motion, or something silly like that.
Never mind the PR department's relentless need to label everything with froofy names, this is a handsome little trucklet and should age well in the manner of the 2004-2008 Mazda3.
For those of you who immediately thought, "19inch alloy wheels, how much is a set of snow tires that big gonna cost?", good point. However, while replacing the factory all-season rubber isn't going to be inexpensive, smaller alloys or steel rims will clear the brakes if you want to run a second winter set, and the mid-line GS comes with the more-sensible 17inch wheels.
Environment
Business-like or gloomy: pick your adjective. In black, the interior of the CX-5 is very typically Mazda in terms of its no-nonsense layout and conservative use of colours.
Again, think VW-competitor, Spartan, with just a modicum of piano-black trim. There's plenty of space and the greenhouse provides decent visibility, perhaps better than average for a crossover. However, Mazda primarily builds cars for drivers, so much like the Mazda6, this is a cockpit-like feel, rather than a cruiser's cabin.
Rear seat passengers will have solid leg and headroom. Like most small crossovers, two child or booster seats will pretty much eliminate the possibility of a middle-seat passenger, but three adults could squeeze in for a quick cross-town trip.
Mazda has gone with a 40/20/40 split on the rear seat, which allows for a considerable amount of flexibility in cargo hauling. The hatchback has only a moderate slope to it, so overall behind-seat capacity is already good, and the option of folding down the centre section to hold skis and the like is pretty handy. Performance Now with 184hp from the upgraded 2.5L engine, the CX-5 finally has the power it deserves. Of course, on paper that's only about the same as a Honda CRV.
The two vehicles could not be more different. The Honda is all about laid-back motoring with a view to keeping a careful eye on the fuel-gauge. The Mazda, on the other hand, doesn't seem to actually know it's supposed to be a boring family-wagon.
When cold, the high-compression Skyactiv engine is a bit clattery.
The ride with the 19-inch alloys can be a trifle rough. There's slightly more wind-noise than some competitors. I am running out of nits to pick.
The fact is, the CX-5 had one Achilles' heel and adding an extra 30 horsepower has pretty much fixed it.
Anyone who is interested in driving will find the Mazda to be surprisingly good, finally "right-powered" and with a Goldilocks charm.
No, it's not as straight-line fast as the old turbocharged CX-7 was, but it's much more fuel efficient.
No, it's not quite as fuel-sipping as either the 2.0L or the upcoming diesel will be, but it's quicker than the former and less expensive than the latter. It's just right.
Features The base ($22,995) GX model still comes with the 2.0L four-cylinder, and comes decently equipped with automatic headlights, USB connectivity and a six-way manual driver's seat.
An optional $1,595 package is required to get Bluetooth connectivity, and rear seat folding is 60/40 in this trim only.
Mid-level ($28,150) GS models will represent the bulk of CX-5 sales, and add features like a power moon-roof and power driver's seat. The manual transmission is no longer an option at this level and up, but you do get the bigger engine, and coupled with safety features like a backup camera and blind-spot monitoring system, the $30,150 all-wheel-drive model is the pick for families on the go.
As with the rest of Mazda's range of cars, GT marks the top of the range with leather interior, keyless start, standard all-wheel-drive Bose audio and those great-looking 19-inch alloys. An optional $1,795 Tech package bundles the clunky satellite navigation with more useful features like bi-xenon headlights with adaptive front lighting - these turn with the steering wheel to "look" through a corner and I absolutely love them.
While the 2.0L front-drive boasts the best advertised numbers at 7.8/5.7L/100kms city/ highway, the 2.5L AWD is still very respectable at 8.5/6.6L/100kms. As ever, Mazda's fuel economy ratings seem to be not too far off the real-world results, even if you don't hypermile the car.
Green Light Nippy handling; great-feeling steering; quick-shifting automatic; practical interior layout; great fuel-economy; solid power.
Stop Sign No manual available with AWD models; no Bluetooth on base model; clunky navigation.
The Checkered Flag Basically, it's a Miata with a backpack.
