2012 Mazda 3: 5-Door Bright Spot in the Compact Crowd

2012 Mazda 3 5-Door     July 30, 2012     By: James Nelson

"Mazda Motors is still searching for a home in the North American market since the dissolution of its longtime partnership with Ford. Some have even said Mazda is still wandering trying to get its focus.

I disagree. I think they have their focus and are working diligently, albeit slowly, to execute and improve their market share

The 2012 Mazda 3 5-door is a Mazda bright spot in the crowded compact segment.

Despite some rumors to the contrary, Mazda is not dead or even close as our recent test drive of the remarkably well performing Mazda 3 i Touring 5-Door compact with the fuel efficient SkyActiv power train revealed to us.

Our test vehicle was a very bold Indigo Blue with a two tone cloth interior that impressed us with its room, power, very smooth operating manual transmission, fuel economy; material finishes inside, quietness, excellent road ability and price.

The Mazda 3 i Touring is the basic 5-door starting at $19,300 and powered by the very fuel efficient SkyActiv-G 2.0L 155 horsepower 4-cylinder mated to the Skyactiv-MT 6-speed manual transmission or the SkyActiv-Drive 6-speed Sport Automatic. This power train is EPA rated at 27/38 mpg city/highway with the manual and 28/39 mpg city/highway with the automatic transmission.

At the basic level, there are very few options available, so with an interior lighting kit, rear bumper step plate and Sirius satellite radio added along with delivery, this 2012 Mazda 3 i Touring priced at $20,425.

The Mazda 3 is a front wheel drive (FWD) compact 5-door that delivers a very nice ride with reasonable amenities, good fuel economy and competitive price. This base model Mazda 3 I Touring was equipped with 16 inch alloy wheels, rear window defogger and wiper, variable intermittent windshield wipers and roof spoiler on the rear liftgate.

The rear liftgate was easy to open, lifted high and out of the way and the deck level was an easy reach for placing groceries or luggage in the 17 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seats. A cargo cover is attached to the rear liftgate and covers the cargo when the hatch is closed.

The 2012 Mazda 3 i comes with a fold down 60/40 rear seat that easily folds flat increasing the cargo capacity to 48.2 cubic feet. It won’t hold 4X8 sheets of plywood, but you can put a very reasonable amount of luggage, groceries or stuff from the big box home and garden store easily in the Mazda 3 i.

On the inside, the Mazda 3 i really stands out. Materials fit and finishes were all well done with care taken on matching finish types with the design to enhance the look and feel of the interior.

We did not expect the two tone interior and, in particular, the lighter almost camel color of fabric on the seating. The two tone with the same fabric was carried into the door panels front and rear which is very much not the norm for door panels which tend to favor hard surface materials in this class of vehicle. Riding around for the week with this two tone interior, we found it to be very comfortable looking and feeling.

Other standard features on the Mazda 3 i include a tilt and telescoping steering wheel which has audio and Bluetooth controls and is leather wrapped. Power windows and power door locks, carpeted floor mats, leather wrapped shift knob, air conditioning with pollen filter and adjustable driver’s seat height all make the cabin of the Mazda 3 very nice.

Though the Mazda 3 i 5-door is a compact car, it has a full complement of safety features sufficient that it earned a 2012 Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).

SkyActiv from Mazda is a combination of engine and transmission refinements along with body design, vehicle weight and aerodynamic enhancements that enable Mazda to get more miles out of each gallon of gas.

The SkyActiv primary component is the refined engine which has been engineered to achieve very high compression ratios along with other internal changes to burn gasoline much more powerfully and efficiently than in previous Mazda power trains. The 2.0L SkyActiv engine in the Mazda 3 has a high compression ratio of 13.0:1.

The Mazda 3 comes in four models with SkyActiv power plants (“i” model) and a 2.5L 167 horsepower engines (“s” model) both with 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. Prices range from the basic Mazda 3 i touring at $19,300 to the Mazda 3 s Touring at $21,800, to the Mazda 3 i Grand Touring at $23,150 and Mazda 3 s Grand Touring at $23,400.

Normally, I would not pick the base model as a best choice in this segment, but I found the Mazda 3 i at the Touring level with the SkyActiv power train to have plenty to offer at a reasonable $20,425.

My observation of best feature was the solid performance of the SkyActiv engine and the 6-speed manual transmission which was a lot of fun to drive with a high degree of performance confidence.

Mazda 3 sales for 2011 were 102,417 units. Through June 2012, they have held that pace selling 59,527 units.

Mazda still has a way to go to move up in market share. In June 2012, the Mazda 3 was the 9th bestselling car in its segment which is pretty crowded with some very capable competitors.
Leaders include the Honda Civic, Toyota Matrix, Ford Focus, Chevy Cruze, Hyundai Elantra, Volkswagen Jetta, Kia Soul and Nissan Versa.

But as it has been said before, the race is not always to the fastest, but sometimes to the most persistent. The 2012 Mazda 3 does have its work cut out for it to move up, but with the "zoom, zoom" in the Mazda 3, it is likely going to gain some ground."

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2014 Mazda6 teased in high resolution

We've seen a quadruplet of teaser videos of the 2014 Mazda6, the most recent of which showed off the car's (nearly complete) side profile. Now, thanks to the slippery fingers at Russian site AutoWP, this high-resolution image of the new midsize sedan has leaked onto the internet, clearly showing the sharp new front fascia.

If that new schnoz looks familiar, it's because the new Mazda6 will use the same Kodo design language first seen on the Takeri concept car and later brought into the production world on the 2013 CX-5 crossover. We certainly like it more than the Sir Smiles-A-Lot Nagare styling that has graced the last generation of Mazda vehicles.

Under the hood, Mazda will likely employ its 2.0-liter Skyactiv inline four-cylinder engine mated to six-speed transmissions. The Japanese automaker will be employing its 2.2-liter Skyactiv-D diesel engine in other markets, and while Mazda has confirmed that the oil-burning mill will make its way Stateside at some point, it's still unknown if it will show up in the Mazda6 or another vehicle like the CX-5.

Look for the 2014 Mazda6 to officially bow at the Paris Motor Show this September.

Mazda lets you add navigation to CX-5 any time

Nothing. At least not in the Mazda CX-5 Touring without a navigation system that we recently tested in our $25,000 Compact SUV Shootout.

And we were ready to be snarky about that. Seemed like a blatant reminder of options you couldn't afford, like one of those button panels plugged with black plastic fillers.

Turns out it's more like a reminder of what to ask Santa for next Christmas. That's because you can make that "Nav" button real at any time, thanks to Mazda's unusual offering of fully integrated navigation as a $500 stand-alone accessory for any CX-5 with the 5.8-inch color touch-screen. Only the base Sport trim does not have the screen.

You can add navi down the road to hold down your initial cost. Or the price (we found it offered online as low as $449) may prompt you to go this route even if you want navi right away. The accessory unit gives you the same Tom-Tom-based, in-dash navi as the factory-installed unit without having to take it in an option package that adds $2,315 to the sticker of a Touring model like our tester (because of another required package) or $1,325 to the top-level Grand Touring.

The kit includes a plug-in system module and SD card memory and can be dealer- or self-installed. We checked out the installation instructions online, and it appears to be DIY for any modestly techie owner.

Tracy Mazda 1st Annual Car Show!

Hey fans! This Sunday, July 28th from 9am to 3pm, stop by Tracy Mazda for our 1st annual Car Show! All makes and models are welcome. There will be plenty of food, fun and prizes for the entire family. Check out the flyer below for all the information and come hang out with us on Sunday. It's going to be a blast!

2014 Mazda6 Rendered into Reality

Japanese automakers Honda, Toyota and Nissan have all taken the conservative approach to restyling their mid-size sedans. Mazda, however, gave a clear indication when it revealed the Takeri concept at the Tokyo Motor Show, that it would take a chance and, as usual, march to the beat of a different drum.

 

With teasers of the 2014 Mazda6 already released and a collection of spy photos available, this expert rendering incorporates all we know to bring the next-generation mid-size Mazda to life. The brand’s Kodo design language is evident in the swooping creases of the sheetmetal with pronounced fenders and a sleek profile. Remarkably similar to the concept car, it’s a clear sign that Mazda may be alone among its Japanese kin in recognizing the threat from Korean automakers like Hyundai and Kia comes in part due to progressive new designs.

When it hits out shores in 2013, styling won’t be the only big news related to the all-new Mazda6. For starters it will ride on an all-new light weight platform as part of the brand’s Skyactiv initiative.  Mazda has committed to reducing the weight of its vehicles by at least 100 kg, or 220 lbs. With the current 6 tipping the scales at 3,272 lbs, this new model could approach, or even break through, the 3,000 lb barrier.

If Mazda does decide to equip the 6 with its new Skyactiv-G gasoline engine, we’d expect a slight power bump from the motor, as it currently produces just 150 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque in the CX-5. No V6 engine will be offered but for those looking for added power, expect the 6 to be the first US Mazda to come equipped with a diesel engine. The new Skyactiv-D powerplant will make roughly 165 hp as as much as 300 lb-ft (or more) of torque.

We’ve already driven this new engine in a prototype Mazda6 and came away seriously impressed. What makes it so unique is its higher-than-usual redline and max power. The Skyactiv-D engine redlines at 5200 rpm, significantly higher than the 4500 rpm limit of its competitors and feels much more like a larger displacement gasoline motor, than a small diesel one. It also doesn’t require any AdBlue after treatment exhaust fluid, unlike many German diesels.

What isn’t clear yet is if the North American-spec Mazda6 will come equipped with the brand’s new regenerative braking or start-stop systems.

Rumors point to the official reveal of the 2014 Mazda6 at the Paris Motor Show this fall, although it’s likely to be just the European wagon version with a possible sedan debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January of 2013.

Tracy Mazda July Service Special!

New Details On Mazda-Based Alfa Romeo Spider

In May of this year Alfa Romeo and Mazda made the surprise announcement that the next-generation MX-5 Miata would form the basis of a new Alfa Romeo model and that both cars would be built at Mazda’s plant in Hiroshima, Japan.

The only other details revealed were that production of the Alfa Romeo model would commence in 2015 and that it would be differentiated from its Mazda cousin through unique styling and its own drivetrain.

As we last reported, the details of the partnership are still being worked on, though a final and binding agreement is expected to be signed later this year.

We now have a few more possible details by way of a report on Car and Driver.

The report suggests that the new Alfa Romeo model will revive the Duetto name and that it will be powered by a turbocharged and direct-injected 1,750-liter four-cylinder engine already found in some Fiat Group vehicles. This particular engine can develop up to 250 horsepower and also will be used for the limited edition Alfa Romeo 4C that will serve as a halo model for the Italian brand.

The engine will be matched to either a six-speed manual transmission or dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters. Alfa Romeo is reportedly trying to convince Mazda to use the dual-clutch ‘box on its next MX-5, though the Japanese automaker has been reluctant to adopt the technology so far and remains focused on its own SKYACTIV-Drive range of automatics.

The platform underpinning both cars will feature ultra-high tensile steel to help shed the pounds, with some suggesting they could end up weighing in at around 2,300 pounds or less. Aluminum is also being employed for most of the suspension components.

We expect the next-generation Mazda MX-5 to hit showrooms in 2014, with the Alfa Romeo to follow one year later.

Alfa Romeo has long been rumored to be working on a new ‘Spider’ and even rolled out the stunning 2uettottanta convertible concept in 2010 hinting at the possibility. Hopefully, the new Mazda-based model will herald a new age of affordable--and more reliable--sports car motoring for Alfa Romeo, exactly what the brand needs to spearhead its return to U.S. shores.

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Mazda reveals the refreshed 2013 MX-5 Miata

Mazda has officially pulled the wraps off of the 2013 model year update to its Japanese market Mazda Roadster, known elsewhere in the world as the MX-5 Miata.

The new Roadster gets a revised front end that further evolves the Nagare design language's trademark grin into something both that's more in line with the current generation of the Mazda3, but also less obviously a big happy face. A new front spoiler frames the Roadster's chin. It's a subtle change, as mid-cycle refreshes are wont to be. The rear end of the car appears to be completely unchanged.

nderneath the sheet metal, revisions have been made to the throttle management program of models with the manual transmission and to the brake assist in all models to improve control. Pedestrian safety is enhanced with a new "Active Bonnet" that pops up during frontal collisions to absorb energy and cushion against head trauma. Additionally, Mazda has shaved a mass here and there with new lighter parts in the front bumper, the active bonnet, the new 17-inch aluminum wheels, and even the internal wiring. Every gram counts, right?

The Power Retractable Hard Top (PRHT) and soft top Roadster models are distinguished by silver and black trim and detailing, respectively. This is most obvious when looking at the wheels; the soft top's rolling stock is obviously darker. Finally, the cabin gets a few new trim colors and materials.

This 2013 model (which still hasn't officially been announced for the U.S. market) should be the last revision that the Miata gets before getting the big overhaul we're expecting in 2014

First Mazda6 teaser is out

Don't blink, or you might just miss the first teaser for the next-generation Mazda6. Mazda has released a 21-second spot designed to give the world a glimpse of the company's new sedan. From the look of things, the Mazda6 will borrow heavily from the Takeri Concept Car we saw debut at the Tokyo Motor Show last year. While details remain scarce about the upcoming model, rumor has it the four-door may bow with nothing but four-cylinder engines under the hood. Automakers like Chevrolet, Hyundai and Kia have already embraced that move for their family sedans, resulting in lighter, more efficient platforms.

Whether or not Mazda does eschew a traditional V6 engine engine for a four-pot, odds are buyers will find a Skyactiv mill behind the headlights. That means direct injection will make a showing on the car for the first time in the model's history. Currently, the most powerful Skyactiv four-cylinder in the Mazda stable tops out at 155 horsepower, which would be low for an entry-level model in this segment. We expect a more powerful tune of the 2.0-liter Skyactiv engine in the Mazda3 to be the base powerplant, but we imagine the technology will need to be mated with either a larger-displacement block or forced induction if Mazda intends to stay competitive with other automakers' higher-power engine options. Check out the teaser video below.

Next-gen Mazda6 wagon reveals its stylish new shape

Get used to the aesthetics of the Mazda CX-5 – you're going to be seeing a lot more of it. Yes, the automaker's new Kodo design language will be rapidly spreading across the entire lineup, and that's clearly evident in these spy shots of the next-generation Mazda6 wagon. Friendly as the Nagare styling may have been, we're happy that Mazdas won't be smiling at us anymore.

Here, we can clearly see the automaker's new corporate face with prominent details like a larger, more upright grille with a strong character line that extends into the headlamp surrounds. Around back, there's a rakish rump design with taillamps that appear to have been pulled straight off of the larger CX-5 crossover.

Under that shapely new skin, expect a full suite of Skyactiv technologies to be employed – everything from lightweight materials to more efficient powertrains. Expect Mazda's 2.2-liter Skyactiv-D diesel engine to be the breadwinner elsewhere in the world. Here in the U.S., it's unclear if we'll even get the wagon variant, let alone the diesel. Mazda has confirmed that the Skyactiv-D engine will be coming to the States at some point, though what vehicle it will reside in is still unknown.

The Mazda6 wagon will reportedly debut at the Moscow Motor Show at the end of August with the sedan to show up sometime thereafter. Click through the gallery above to see the sleek new hauler for yourself.

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KEN'S 500 USED CAR SALES EVENT!

Starting tomorrow, the 4th of July, Ken's 500 Used Car Sales Event is beginning. The first 500 used cars we sell on a Ken Harvey lot will come with 0% financing! You heard right, from the 4th to the 8th, the first 500 buyers we see will get 0% financing on their used vehicle. Don't wait until the 8th, you never know when that 500th buyer will come in through those doors. Click anywhere to start shopping online now.

2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring review

The 2013 Mazda CX-5 represents a number of firsts for Mazda. It's the first new vehicle to be built from the ground up using that automaker's SkyActiv suite of technologies and lightweight construction techniques. It's the first new vehicle to showcase the automaker's new Kodo design language. It's also the first vehicle to incorporate the new Mazda navigation system, which is powered by TomTom.

There's never been a Mazda before that's quite like the CX-5, but is that a good thing? I grabbed the smart-key transponder for a 2013 CX-5 Grand Touring, pressed the start button, and hit the road to find out.

Kodo 'Soul of Motion'
Gone is the goofy grin that the rest of Mazda's current generation of vehicles are either blessed or cursed with, depending upon your aesthetic preference. The old style has been replaced with Mazda's new Kodo "Soul of Motion" design language. Large, eyelike headlamps and a large, inverted-pentagon-shaped black grille make the CX-5 look a bit like a mischievous cartoon puppy from certain angles. From other angles, particularly the side and rear quarter, the crossover's compactness is evident. Mazda clearly wants its drivers to think "zoom-zoom" upon approaching it.

Although much taller than, for example, a Mazda3, the CX-5 is still relatively easy to enter and exit. There is a step up to the crossover's elevated seating position, but not much of one. Once inside this Grand Touring model, I was greeted with a simple, yet crisp electroluminescent instrument cluster and a start button. The center stack is home to simple amber illuminated automatic climate controls. And at the top of that center stack is Mazda's new touch-screen infotainment system, which looks like an entry-level aftermarket unit. The whole cabin is remarkably understated, which for fans of Mazda simplicity is a good thing.

Navigation by TomTom
Digging into the 5.8-inch Mazda multi-information display, I see that it's not just a drop-in aftermarket deal. This system is deeply integrated with the CX-5's security and convenience features, so you can adjust everything from the behavior of the keyless entry system to the timing of the courtesy headlamp illumination when approaching the vehicle. This screen is also where you'll view the CX-5 Grand Touring's standard rearview camera while reversing.

More prominently, this receiver boasts GPS navigation powered by TomTom. Tapping the NAV button to the left of the screen drops you into an interface that will be immediately familiar to anyone who has used one of TomTom's most recent portable navigation devices. Tapping anywhere on the Live Map screen brings the user to the main menu, where there are options for selecting a destination or browsing the map. There are also smaller buttons that let you browse traffic reports, supplied by TomTom's HD Traffic service, and adjust more options specific to the TomTom navigation interface, such as map color and routing options.

Like every TomTom PND that I've tested, this interface does have its weakness. For starters, it's more complex than it needs to be. There are two different map screens: the live updating Live Map that is used for navigation and the second, browsable, scrollable map that is accessible via the menu screen. Also, getting back to the Live Map requires tapping the small Done button in the bottom-right corner of the TomTom menu interface, sometimes repeatedly depending on how deep into the menu you happen to be at the time. It would be nice if tapping the physical NAV button dropped you back on the Live Map like it does in most cars, but in the CX-5 this just cues the system's text-to-speech engine to read the last direction -- which if you're not currently navigating is, "You have reached your destination."

Fight up the interface's maddening learning curve and you'll be rewarded with TomTom's excellent IQ Routes trip planning algorithms, which take into account historical and current traffic data supplied anonymously by other TomTom users to plan the best possible route specific to the time the route is being planned. So, a trip from point A to B planned at 8 a.m. could be different from the same trip planned at 5 p.m., if historically there's a significant difference between the traffic on that route -- for example, it's rush hour on a weekday.

Additionally, you can skip the bizarre menu structure for many trips by simply using the TomTom system's voice command system, which lets you search for points of interest by simply speaking a category name and enter full addresses in one go. Tap the microphone icon to initiate the voice command function, say "Drive to an address" and then "2300 Jackson Street, Gary, Indiana," and you'll be on your way. This is one thing that the TomTom-powered navigation system does extremely well, so take full advantage of it.

The navigation software lives on an SD card stored in a slot to the left of the steering wheel, which can be removed and plugged into an Internet-connected computer to periodically update the IQ Routes traffic algorithm.

Bose premium audio
In addition to the TomTom navigation system, the Mazda infotainment system features an array of digital-audio sources, including a USB port for iPod and mass-storage connectivity, Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming, AM/FM tuning with HD Radio decoding, satellite radio provided by SiriusXM, a single-disc CD player with MP3 decoding, and an auxiliary audio input. Audio is output through a nine-speaker Bose-branded stereo that features a powered subwoofer, speed-sensitive volume, and surround-sound enhancement for its stereo audio sources. If you've ever uttered the phrase, "I like the part where the bass drops," you'll find a lot to like about this system's cabin-filling low end.

I did run into an weird glitch with the Bluetooth audio system and its ability to decode A2DP metadata. When playing an audio source that displayed metadata, the system worked just fine. However, if I attempted to switch to an audio source that did not output its "Now playing" information over Bluetooth, the Mazda system would assume that the audio playback had been paused or stopped and mute its output. This meant that the only app that I was able to listen to on my Android phone was the stock music player -- no podcasting apps like Stitcher or Doggcatcher and no streaming apps like Pandora, Spotify, or Mog. I ended up unpairing my phone and simply using the auxiliary input for all but hands-free calls.

Other standard comfort features at the Grand Touring trim level include a power moonroof, heated leather front seats with power adjustment for the driver, and a blind-spot monitoring system that watches for obstructions flanking the vehicle at highway speeds and warns the driver with an illuminated icon in the side mirrors and an audible beep.

SkyActiv technology
Lifting the CX-5's Zeal Red Metallic hood reveals the 2.0-liter SkyActiv G engine, itself mostly hidden beneath a Sky Blue Metallic engine cover. This is the same four-cylinder engine found in the new 2012 Mazda Mazda3 i, outputting 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. If Mazda's numbers are to be believed, the larger CX-5 crossover actually weighs about 30 pounds less than the Mazda3 hatchback, thanks to new lightweight building techniques that are part of Mazda's SkyActiv efficiency initiative.

The low-displacement, direct-injected engine uses lightweight, low-friction materials and is mated with a six-speed automatic transmission with both front- and all-wheel drive variants. The EPA reckons the FWD model I tested will get 32 mpg on the highway and 26 mpg in the city, averaging out to a combined 29 mpg. My empty-tank average of 27.2 mpg at the end of a week that included highway cruising, city stop-and-go, and a bit of spirited backroad motoring seems to affirm that claim.

On those spirited backroads, I learned two things: First, that Mazda's suspension engineers may be geniuses, but they're no miracle workers. Secondly, that the price you pay for the SkyActiv G's fuel economy is lackluster acceleration.

Handling and performance
Let's start with the good: the suspension tuning. The CX-5's ride is controlled and firm. I felt all of the bumps and cracks of San Francisco's streets, but the crossover didn't crash over them. Additionally, I liked that the chassis was very responsive to my steering inputs. There wasn't a lot of mush between my fingertips and the treads of the front wheels, which made it easy to guide the crossover between slower-moving traffic, around those potholes, and through the tight turns of the city. At seven-tenths on a flowing back road with minor elevation changes, you may be able to fool yourself into thinking this is a much smaller car. However, push too hard and the laws of physics will reassert themselves. The relatively lightweight crossover still features a higher center of gravity than a sporty hatchback and is subject to a bit of lean when taxed. Keep pushing and the CX-5 never gets scary, just dull.

Fortunately, the CX-5 simply isn't powerful enough to be in much real danger of outperforming its suspension. The 155-horsepower SkyActiv G engine supplies, at best, merely an adequate amount of power. There's a reasonable amount of torque at low speeds to make the crossover feel responsive in that 0 to 35 mph band where most urban driving happens. However, hop on the freeway and you'll find that the 2.0-liter engine simply runs out of steam at the 50 mph mark. Toss a moderate uphill grade or a headwind into the mix and you'll have a hard time maintaining 60 mph without dropping down to fifth or even fourth gear.

Part of what's happening here involves the CX-5's automatic transmission, which, like most auto-boxes on the road today, is madly in love with top gear. At lower speeds, the transmission is much more likely to stay in the meaty part of the torque curve, which is why the crossover feels so responsive around town. Pay close attention and you may even catch it downshifting as you slow for a corner. However, cross the threshold into what the CX-5's electronic brain considers highway speed and it will jump to sixth gear and hold onto it as though its very life were at stake. Goad the gearbox enough with the accelerator pedal and it will drop down and give you the power to maintain your speed, but the CX-5 just never feels as effortless on the highway as it does on lower-speed roads.

In sum
The CX-5 is a harbinger of many great things to come from Mazda. Its new styling is less polarizing than the clown faces of the previous generation. Its SkyActiv suite of technologies helps this crossover to be lighter and more agile than you think it should be and more efficient to boot. Additionally, the new suite of TomTom-powered infotainment is a step in the right direction.

However, it's not perfect. There is room for improvement. While the cabin tech has all of the right building blocks, it's needlessly complex and could do with a great deal of simplifying. More competent performance at highway speeds would also help.

This fully loaded 2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring weighs in at $29,165 as tested. That includes a $795 destination charge and a $1,325 Tech Package that adds navigation, keyless entry and start, HID headlamps that steer slightly with the wheels, and an autodimming rearview mirror. All-wheel drive is available for an additional $1,250, but our vehicle was not so equipped.

Drivers who want to save a buck can step down to the CX-5 Touring for $23,895, which loses many comfort and convenience functions, such as the heated leather seats, power adjustments for the driver's seat, the automatic climate controls, and automatic headlights and wipers. You'll also lose the nine-speaker Bose audio system in favor of a basic six-speaker rig. And those who hold fast to the "less is more" Mazda Miata school of car shopping can drop down to the CX-5 Sport for $22,095, ditching the Bluetooth connectivity, blind-spot monitoring, the rearview camera and 5.8-inch touch-screen display, HD Radio, and the split-fold rear seat, while stepping further down to a four-speaker stereo and cheaper seat upholstery. The Sport trim level has the distinction of being the only trim level that's available with a six-speed manual transmission, for $20,695.