The first thing people notice about the 2014 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD is the styling. It is pretty sharp looking, especially with its Mazda Soul Red metallic paint and accompanying black interior. Those were the colors last week’s test drive. The eye travels over this compact crossover and sees its narrow exterior that shows off a car that has more room overall than one would think. It looks leaner and with a sporty quality to it. A power moon roof and 19 –inch alloy wheels add to the smooth exterior. How does the CX-5 Grand Touring perform? What is it like on the inside? Let me tell you.
Interior
Image from motortrend.com
Climbing into the Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring, which seats five comfortably, I took notice of the satiny black interior and leather seats. It is narrow seating in the front with a bit more room in the passenger and back seats. I’m 5’6” and about under 130 lbs. and I found the driver’s side to be a bit of a crunch. It was better once I elevated the seat but I wasn’t in love with the lack of space while driving. Handling and reaching the console/c-stack section of the CX-5 is easy. This car has mastered simplicity. That is the key to owning, driving and liking this vehicle. Even as a Grand Touring it is a basic car that will get you where you need to go in relative comfort and ease but without fanfare and fuss. A leather wrapped steering wheel and leather trimmed seats are standard in a Grand Touring with its remote keyless entry. Push to start, something that I think should be standard in all cars today, is present. There is the requisite lumbar support and 8-way seating for the driver and front heated seats. Sirius/XM radio and Pandora and HD radio are also available. This is where the extras end unless you count blind spot monitoring and a rear view back up assist camera as a luxury, another area I think should be standard on all vehicles today.
The car has a relatively smooth ride and steering is a bit looser and less intuitive than I would like but it isn’t touchy so it works. The one major issue I had while driving the CX-5 is that both acceleration and braking could be incredibly stiff. Putting my foot gradually or hard on the gas caused the same jerking motion that I did not enjoy. Acceleration was slower than I would have liked in this 2.0, 4-Liter engine. Something that Mazda struggles with on this model. Likewise the brakes were soft and slow to come to a full stop but then suddenly I felt whipped forward. The more I drove the car the more this frustrated me. However, the Mazda CX-5 gets great reviews elsewhere like Edmunds which stated that the CX-5 possessed a, “blend of good looks, generous feature content, ample space and carlike driving dynamics has apparently resonated with folks looking for a compact crossover SUV.” While I may not totally agree I can see their point. Each time I drove it I was asked about this car. Up to a week later I am still being asked about its features and how it seems like a good fit for them and their next car purchase. That’s great news for Mazda!
The 2014 Mazda CX-5 is a safe, compact crossover that gets the job done. The exterior styling will draw you in and the gas mileage of 24 city/30 hwy with Skyactiv technology , 5 star safety rating and price tag of $31, 890 (with all the bells and whistles, $27,820 to start) will keep you interested.
TMC Rating: Three Stars.
