Absolute power may corrupt
absolutely, but a little more of it never hurt. In fact, sometimes it can be a
big help. Case in point: Mazda’s CX-5. Since its debut as a 2013 model, the
CX-5 has impressed us with its styling, assembly, comfort, utility, fuel
economy, and, in particular, its dynamics. We’ve characterized that aspect of
this compact crossover’s persona as “compelling,” and it helped the utelet to a
comparison test victory over five other small SUVs.
Power vs. MPG
The CX-5 was the first full
manifestation of Mazda’s so-called Skyactiv Technology, a holistic approach to design focusing on
weight reduction, efficiency, and mpg. Power is supplied by a new 2.0-liter
DOHC direct-injected aluminum four, and there isn’t a whole lot of it: 155
horsepower, 150 lb-ft of torque.
Hitched to a 3500-pound crossover
with a six-speed automatic, this yields very good fuel-economy ratings from the
EPA—25 mpg city/31 highway with all-wheel drive—but acceleration is 0-to-60 mph in 9.2 seconds and a quarter-mile sprint in
17.1 at 81 according to our instrumented test runs.
The engineering challenge: pare
seconds off those dismal times without excessive mpg sacrifice. The answer: a
new 2.5-liter four for the CX-5’s top two trims, one shared with the new Mazda 6 sedan. This one offers 184 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of
torque.
An undersquare design (89-mm bore,
100-mm stroke), the new 2.5 has some interesting engineering details. Its
compression ratio is race-engine high at 13:1, but as with the 2.0-liter four,
the 2.5 operates on regular unleaded fuel. Also, as a member of the new
Skyactiv G engine family, it’s assembled on a line that can accommodate
four-cylinder engines that can range from 1.3 to 2.5 liters. What makes this
unusual is that the bore centers differ slightly from one displacement to
another.
Price and Payoff
Based on a half-day drive in the
Texas hill country around Austin, it seems as if the Mazda powertrain team has
hit its marks. We estimate 0-to-60 times for 2.5 AWD models in the
8.3–8.4-second range—a nice improvement
over the 2.0. And in the real world, it amplifies the CX-5’s exemplary
responses, enhancing corner exits, reducing passing exposure time on two-lane
roads, and lending more verve in the daily stoplight derby. Just as important,
the 2.5 maintains EPA fuel-economy ratings near the top of this class: 25
city/32 highway with front-wheel drive and with 24/30 with all-wheel drive.
In addition to the 2.5-liter four,
the 2014 CX-5 receives a number of small detail and equipment updates. Most
significant among these is the new Smart City Brake Support (SCBS), which uses
laser technology to monitor closing rates and ultimately prevent low-speed (up
to 19 mph) collisions by applying the brakes should the driver fail to respond
to system warnings.
We can say that the added power that comes with the new 2.5 makes the CX-5’s acceleration consistent with its other dynamic traits. Which adds up to a much more satisfying CX-5.
Courtesy of Car and Driver
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