For 2016 Mazda freshens the exterior design of its popular CX5 with a number of styling elements that while new, continue the theme of its KODO Soul of Motion design language. On our fully optioned Grand Touring tester, the breadth of these updates can be fully seen.
Up front is a new grille design with more detailing, a revised fog light and grille set, and on our tester more elaborate LED adaptive headlamps which pivot and adjust for various conditions. New 19-inch wheels are also now available with black inset highlights.
At the rear, revised LED tail lamps are the major change here, giving a distinctive look at night. Dual exhaust outlets at the lower fascia remain a standout feature here too. Overall, the look remains contemporary even with some of the latest competitors arriving to market.
Inside, Mazda added a bolder horizontal trim spanning the dash panel and increased use of soft trims here and there. Some items like the rubberized molded finish surrounding the center screen was already peeling off however, giving some concern about long term quality.
A new center console design features an electric parking brake and the control center for the new infotainment system. That system is also new this year, a combination touch-screen and console controlled audio, navigation and connectivity package.
The new 7-inch display screen offers easy to follow menus, an a full range of connectivity choices both wired and wireless. The Bose audio sounded phenomenal with HD radio, satellite radio, CD, and multiple input jacks – able to play just about anything you’ve got.
The tilt and telescoping steering wheel features multiple controls for audio and connectivity as well as trip functions for the instrument cluster display but no paddle shifter. The instrument cluster does include a small LCD center screen but remains otherwise basic.
For 2016 Mazda offers a new I-Activesense driver-assistance package that has radar cruise-control with active braking and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross traffic-alert which works audibly and visually though its back-up camera system.
Our interior featured the near white parchment leather and black trim combination which was quite striking. Front seats are heated here with power adjustment for the driver and manual for the passenger. There aren’t any memory settings or the offering of ventilated seats.
Rear seat passengers will enjoy reasonable room for this class. There’s a fold down center arm-rest with cup holders, but there are no rear HVAC vents or adjustability for the seat backs which some competitors are starting to offer.
Those rear seats do fold in a 40/20/40 split however, and near perfectly flat for a cargo area of up to 65 cubic feet of space. Convenient release latches at the rear hatch make putting them down quite easy too. Under the cargo floor you will find a temporary spare tire.
Under the hood of the CX5 you can have either a standard 2.0 liter four-cylinder SkyActiv engine with 155 horsepower or the optional engine we have here. This one being the 2.5 liter version with 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque.
For 2016 it comes only with a six-speed automatic transmission which now has a Sport Mode which raises shift points to a higher RPM and provides more immediate rev-matched downshifts when braking into corners.
The 2016 Mazda CX5 as tested is rated by the EPA at 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined. In our time with the Mazda CX5 we achieved 25 mpg combined which covered highway, city, all with the air-conditioning on.
Chassis improvements for 2016 include revised damper mounting and bushing designs. Mazda says that overall noise, vibration and harshness is reduced with the changes as well as having a 10-percent quieter ride.
While Mazda has made the cabin a bit quieter and handling remains quite impressive in the sporting sense the ride remains at the edge of harshness in the class for rougher roads. In addition, its electric power steering felt heavy and numb at times.
The adoption of the new available driver assistance and crash avoidance systems for the 2016 model year and the Mazda CX5’s good performing structure earns it an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ honor. It performs with good ratings in their full battery of crash tests including the new brutal small-overlap test.
