![]() A diesel CX-5 is 0.2 second slower to 60 and gets the same EPA highway fuel-economy estimate as the base gas engine. With its 187-hp 2.5-liter base engine, it takes a leisurely 8.1 seconds to hit 60 mph, one of the slowest runs of the year. We’re not claiming that the CX-5 is perfect. With effortless and accurate steering, a controlled ride, and a carefully crafted interior, the CX-5 compares favorably with entry-level models from luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes. And once you’ve driven a CX-5, everything else in this class feels clumsy and burdensome. That ethos is just as apparent in the CX-5 and CX-9 as it is in the Miata. Mazda’s continued commitment to building classically attractive, luxuriously appointed, satisfying-to-drive vehicles doesn’t stop when a hatchback car becomes a high-roof crossover. ![]() Mazda's continued commitment to building classically attractive, luxuriously appointed, satisfying-to-drive vehicles doesn't stop when a hatchback car becomes a high-roof crossover. ![]() Kind of disappointing, right? Now imagine it’s a CX-5. Imagine yourself as one of these lifestyle-vehicle people in the ads: You’ve got your car packed for a camping trip, and you stop at home to pick up your dog before driving out of the city and onto winding mountain roads for a weekend getaway. Because even though there are a dozen or more cars on the market that check the same basic boxes as the CX-5, none are truly like it. ![]() When we say vehicles “like” the CX-5, we are describing a fairly loose association. But generally the words are used to make vehicles like the Mazda CX-5 (compact crossovers with optional all-wheel drive, moderate towing capacity, and a cargo hold that’s bigger than the typical trunk) seem more exciting. Taking your Fusion through the McDonald’s drive-through every morning is just as much a lifestyle as using a Jeep to rock crawl in Moab. “Lifestyle vehicle” has become an automotive buzz phrase on the order of the tech industry’s “internet of things” and the startup world’s “growth hacking.” Like most marketing speak, this phrase is essentially meaningless. Play icon The triangle icon that indicates to play
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |