2017 Mazda CX-5 Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

The 2017 Mazda CX-5 is a compact crossover SUV that has two rows and seats five. The compact crossover vehicle class is increasing in popularity, and it is an incredibly competitive class. However, due to its combination of performance, comfort, and amenities, the CX-5 is at the top of the pack amongst competitors, appreciated by both professional reviewers and owners alike.

What's New for 2017?

The 2017 Mazda CX-5 has been completely redesigned for this year. The interior and exterior have subtle changes to make it more modern, sleek, and sophisticated. It now comes standard with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine on all trims, and it is no longer available with a manual transmission. The safety features and technology has been updated to include the i-Activsense safety suite and a more modern infotainment system.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2017 Mazda CX-5 – The Pros

1. The Powerful Engine and Smooth Transmission

This year finds the Mazda CX-5 equipped with a 2.5-liter, inline four-cylinder engine that offers a solid 187 horsepower. The engine is paired with a new six-speed automatic transmission with both manual shift and sport mode. The engine and transmission work together to provide acceleration that is both responsive and smooth.

2. Get a Smooth Drive with G-Vectoring Control

G-Vectoring Control is Mazda's exclusive technology that makes steering more responsive and improves performance in turns. It uses driving input to ensure accurate information and leads to more comfort and smoothness for both drivers and passengers. The GVC technology is available on all three trims of the CX-5.

3. Excellent Standard Infotainment Center

On the Sport (base) Trim of the 2017 Mazda CX-5, the 7-inch touchscreen is easy to see and efficient to use. The audio system offers an AM/FM/MP3 stereo with four speakers and both a USB and an auxiliary jack. Bluetooth is standard, allowing you to stay connected, even when you are on the go.

4. I-Active All Wheel Drive

For drivers seeking an all wheel drive (AWD) vehicle, the Mazda CX-5 has available i-Active AWD. Unlike regular AWD systems, the Mazda i-Active AWD uses outside and current driving conditions to determine when all wheel drive may be necessary. The vehicle engages it while re-distributing torque to make the drive smoother and safer.

5. Great Gas Mileage

The 2017 Mazda CX-5 offers some of the best mileage in its class. All three trims have an EPA rating of 24/31 mpg (city/highway) for front wheel drive models, while all wheel drive versions have a 23/29 mpg rating.

6. Standard Safety Features

The engineers at Mazda understand the importance of helping drivers avoid collisions and keeping them safe in the midst of one. All trims are equipped with a rear view camera and the Smart City Brake Support. The Smart City Brake Support helps avoid collisions and reduce damage by warning drivers of a potential danger and applying the brakes automatically if there is no response.

7. Available Suite of Safety Features on the Grand Touring Trim

For drivers seeking additional safety features, the Grand Touring trim comes equipped with some of the most modern safety technology available in the i-ActivSense. This can also be purchased as a package on the Touring trim. Included in the suite are:

• Blind spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Radar cruise control
• High beam control
• Lane departure and lane keep assistance and alerting

8. Luxury Interior Offerings at a Mid-Range Price

All trims are equipped with air conditioning, cruise control, power locks, and a new push-button start. The Touring trim adds several amenities, including heated, Leatherette seats, climate control with pollen filter, six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and more audio speakers. The top of the line Grand Touring trim offers leather seats, moon roof, navigation, and a Bose audio system, while a head-up display and heated rear seats are optional.

9. Gorgeous Exterior Craftsmanship

While most vehicles don't tout the paint jobs as a selling tool, they don't use the painting techniques found on the 2017 Mazda CX-5. The Soul Red Metallic was created using a four-step process involving an electro-deposition, metallic base, color base, and a clear coat. These four layers create a sense of "living color" while the vehicle is in motion.

10. A Quiet Ride

While previous versions of the CX-5 and also other SUVs have a lot of road noise, especially when travelling at high speeds, the 2017 Mazda CX-5 offers a quiet ride. The interior was redesigned to cut down on the amount of road noise drivers and passengers hear inside the cabin, and those changes were effective. Drivers will not have to turn up the stereo loudly to compete, nor will they have to strain to hear conversation.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2017 Mazda CX-5 – The Cons

1. Average Warranty

All new Mazdas have a 3-year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 5-year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty. While it is fairly standard, other manufacturers do offer longer warranties.

2. Less Cargo Space than Competitors

The CX-5 is fairly roomy and comfortable, but other vehicles in the compact crossover class do offer larger amounts of cargo space. The rear seats do fold down in a 40/20/40 split fold for added space. If you require a lot of cargo space, another vehicle may be better for you though.

3. Lack of V6 Engine

Offering 187 horsepower, the Mazda CX-5 has a solid amount of power. For drivers that need a higher performance, there are others in the compact crossover class that do come equipped with larger engines that provide more horsepower.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition

In the highly competitive compact crossover SUV class, the 2017 Mazda CX-5 is a great option. When held up against the Toyota Rav4, the Kia Sportage, and Ford Escape, the CX-5 offers a great combination of amenities and features at a mid-range price while being fun to drive.

Conclusion

Whether you are seeking a comfortable family vehicle or an SUV to make your daily commute, the 2017 Mazda CX-5 is an excellent choice for small SUV. The makers at Mazda created a solid all-around vehicle that is fun to drive with good acceleration and handling, but it also offers both active and passive safety features. The interior is roomy and comfortable so both short drives and long trips are pleasant, and the infotainment system ensures you can stay connected no matter the journey.