Life from the Slightly Faster Lane
An antidote of these acceleration ills is here by way of Mazda’s larger, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which occurs standard on the Touring and Grand Touring models in the 2014 model year. (The 2.0-liter keeps on in the Sport trim and, unlike the 2.5, which is obtainable simply with a six-speed auto, could become specific having a six-speed manual.) Although bigger by half a liter, a new mill bumps output by 29 horsepower and 35 lb-ft of torque. So endowed, our CX-5 cracked off a 7.6-second 0-to-60 time and knocked down the quarter in 15.8. Welcome improvements to be certain, but at the cost of a few mpg.
Our long-term 2013 CX-5 Touring AWD with the 2.0-liter and automatic has averaged a solid 28 mpg in mixed driving, however the 2014 2.5-liter test car returned only 21 mpg. Full disclosure: Approximately 40 percent in the mileage in our 2.5-liter test car was accrued in foot-to-the-floor, no-quarter-given driving in the backwoods of northern Michigan. More restraint using the accelerator could yield results nearer to the authorized EPA mixed amount of 26 mpg. Both engines are rated to tow up to 2000 pounds, enough tugging power for individual watercraft and small cargo trailers.
Although the numbers only tell an element of the story. Whereas the 155-hp, 2.0-liter CX-5 is a willing but weak companion, the 184-hp, 2.5-liter car is a little an instigator, cutting and running in traffic situations that the base car would best wait for the wider opening. All the chassis goodness in the 2.0-liter CX-5 remains, as well as the linear response and feedback in the electrically assisted steering are arguably finest in class. This can be a well-balanced, cogently damped package that follows through on turn-in together with the routine predictability of a Michael Bay summer blockbuster.
Although the braking components are away from exotic-single-pot calipers throughout, 11.7-inch vented front rotors and 11.9-inch solid rotors in back-Mazda has tuned the setup well, and our CX-5 2.5 stopped from 70 mph in 166 feet.
Discover more about:
Neat 2015 Mazda CX 5 Review Suv Complete Recent