the lot with shift paddles. The infotainment screen is
small, but its audio and nav functions are controlled via a
pair of knobs conveniently located on the center console.
No vehicle could win a comparison test on aesthetics
alone, of course. The CX- 5 is also good to drive—very
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damped over rough pavement but never brutal. Its steer-
ing is true and progressive. This ute moves with surpris-
ing grace and hangs tough even when you bend it into
quick corners. Near perfect throttle response makes it
feel more powerful than it is. The Mazda is the second
quickest to 60 mph in this relatively lethargic group. And
it ties the RAV 4 for quietest at 70 mph, reg-
istering a mere 66 decibels.
“Driven back-to-back with the compet-
itors, the CX- 5 is a revelation,” said Annie
White. “It’s lighter and nimbler than you’d
expect.” This Mazda fetes you with a sophis-
ticated, engaging, and always fun driving
experience—the kind typically associated
with cars from Audi and BMW.
The one place the CX- 5 doesn’t measure
up—literally—is interior space. Though the
specs claim otherwise, the Mazda’s back
seat feels the smallest here. And the CX- 5 ’s cargo hold is
average, at best, among this group.
The CX- 5 is not a car that wows on paper but disappoints
in person. Just the opposite, in fact. But as good as it is, the
competition is closing in. It won this comparison test by
a slim margin. Setting aside the Escape, each of the other
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it sportiness, roominess, cargo volume, or feature count—
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But none of them put it all together in an equally compel-
ling package. At least not yet. We’ll see how much longer the
CX- 5 can hold its advantage.The upscale and light-
footed Mazda CX-5 does
everything well as long
as your kids aren’t six
feet tall. If space is a
priority, the Tiguan would
make a fine consolation.59
Mazda CX-5 Plus Handsome exterior, luxe interior, expertly
tuned chassis and powertrain. Minus Worst observed fuel
economy, short on rear legroom. Equals As luxurious as it is
fun to drive, a combination yet to be equaled in this class.