The 2019 Mazda CX-5 range will land in Australia from November sporting 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine availability, a full suite of active safety technology standard across the range, plus more luxury for the flagship model grades.
Although pricing hasn’t yet been announced, the 2019 Mazda CX-5 range will continue to run Maxx, Maxx Sport, Touring, GT and Akera, however only the latter two score the new turbo-petrol engine that first debuted in the CX-9 large SUV and more recently the Mazda6 medium sedan and wagon.
With the same 170kW of power at 5500rpm, and 420Nm of torque at 2000rpm, and claimed combined-cycle fuel consumption of 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres, the new 2.5L turbo-petrol squeezes in between the existing 140kW/252Nm 2.5L non-turbo petrol and 140kW/450Nm 2.2L turbo diesel.
It is, however, thirstier than their 7.4L/100km and 5.7L/100km claims, respectively. And all three engines utilise a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD).
Meanwhile even the entry-level CX-5 Maxx now scores automatic up/down high-beam, lane-departure warning with active lane-keep assistance, adaptive cruise control and driver attention alert as standard, in addition to the previously-standard autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and blind-spot monitor.
That base model picks up the most equipment, with automatic on/off headlights and wipers, electric-fold door mirrors, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearknob, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto standard, adding to 17-inch steel wheels, digital radio and push-button start (though no keyless auto-entry).
Indeed the gap to the CX-5 Maxx Sport is now smaller, with it continuing to add 17in alloys, foglights, satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control air-conditioning, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and rear USB ports, as before. It does, however, gain all the aforementioned active safety tech for the first time, as well as offering more engine choice.
While the Maxx continues to be the only model grade available with a six-speed manual transmission, both it and the Maxx Sport are the only duo to get a 115kW/200Nm 2.0L non-turbo four-cylinder with front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic. The latter model grade also offers 2.5L non-turbo petrol/AWD and 2.2L diesel/AWD availability too.
The CX-5 Touring continues to offer only the latter two engine options, continuing with leather-look/suede trim, head-up display, keyless auto-entry, front parking sensors and traffic-sign recognition.
Then there’s the CX-5 GT and CX-5 Akera, now with 2.5L non-turbo petrol/AWD, 2.5L turbo-petrol/AWD and 2.2L turbo-diesel/AWD.
The GT still gets 19s, adaptive headlights, electric tailgate, electric sunroof, full leather trim, electrically adjustable and heated front seats, and 10-speaker Bose audio.
It’s the Akera (pictured) that steps things up with first-time additions of darker-finish and unique-design 19s, 7.0in colour driver display, dark-red Nappa leather, ventilated front seats, heated outboard-rear seats, heated steering wheel, black rooflining, real wood trim, ambient lighting and a special roof console. That’s in addition to the 360-degree camera and adaptive-auto high-beam already standard.
Mazda says that further refinements were made to the suspension across the range, in order to deliver a smoother and flatter ride, while the G-Vectoring Control has been upgraded to now feature the word ‘Plus’ at the end, with GVC-Plus denoting a “direct yaw moment” sensor having been added.
The update can be spotted by white licence plate lighting, dark-grey finish to all the alloy wheels of Maxx Sport and Touring, Akera’s new alloy design and interior enhancements, plus a redesigned climate control panel on the inside for all model grades bar the Maxx (which gets manual air-conditioning).
The 2019 Mazda CX-5 range will go on-sale in November, when pricing will be announced.
