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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