2024 Mazda CX-5 2.5 Turbo Signature - Review by David Colman

Energetic and exciting alternative to clumsy compact SUVs

David Colman

Photos and Story by David Colman
Special Correspondent to THE AUTO CHANNEL

Over the last year, Mazda has been laser-focused on converting their product line from svelte crossovers like the CX-5 to boxy SUVs like the new CX-50. This trend might lead you to believe that the CX-5's days are numbered, but the seven-year-old design soldiers into 2024 with a couple of new twists to keep it looking fresh and vibrant. From a cosmetic standpoint, the new 2.5 Carbon Turbo, with a starting price of $37,000, is quite distinctive, with its Zircon Sand Metallic exterior finish ($450), exclusive Terracotta and Black leather upholstery and Black Metallic 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The model we tested was the CX-5 2.5 Turbo Signature which is even better appointed than the Carbon Turbo. Our test carried a base price of $40,600, plus $595 for a Machine Gray Metallic Paint job, and a $135 Rear Bumper Guard. The grand total came to $42,705. For 2024, Mazda has jazzed up the exterior of the Signature with a :Gunmetal Finish" front grill, silver accents on the side mirrors and bumpers, and silver metallic alloy rims that complement the soft gray exterior color.

The Signature's vaunted level of interior finish rivals cars costing twice as much as this CX-5. Seats are trimmed in Caturra Brown Nappa leather, and the dash is fitted with a discrete veneer of "genuine layered" wood trim. All of the distinctive ventilation outlets are rimmed in glare-free aluminum, as are the spokes of the steering wheel and the trim surrounding the shift console. This absence of chrome eliminates distracting reflections. The instrument panel conveys information clearly and concisely, with a complete lack of the Las Vegas-style razzle-dazzle that has become the norm in so many digital information extravaganzas. Both front seats are completely power-adjustable, and the split rear bench also offers ventilation controls and unexpected comfort dividends. CX-5's human-centric cockpit remains its top selling point.

As Mazda's larger, boxier SUVs move closer to the current oversize industry norm, the tidier CX-5 still hews to a formula that emphasizes performance over acreage. From an operational standpoint, the CX-5 Turbo is a pleasure to drive. The shift mechanism remains centered atop the console between the front seats, with a simple but tactile knob that slides easily through just four classic choices (Park, Drive, Reverse and Neutral). Unlike so many manufacturers that feel compelled to reinvent the shift pattern with each new model, Mazda sticks steadfastly to the long-proven basics of car control. This kind of familiarity breeds confidence in the driver. You know by rote where to search for the gear or the button you need without hesitation.

Compounding this ergonomic satisfaction is the performance of the CX-5's Skyactive-G 2.5 liter turbocharged inline-4. This motor produces 227hp and 310 lb.-ft. of torque on regular-grade gas. Feed it 91 octane fuel, and the output jumps to 256hp and 320lb.-ft. of torque. The 3,832 pound CX-5 cuts a quarter mile time of 14.9 seconds at 93mph, sprints from zero to sixty in 6.2 seconds, and posts a top speed of 129 mph. Fitted with a proper 6-speed (non-CVT) automatic transmission, and full-time all-wheel-drive, the CX-5 proved a real sleeper in tackling challenging back roads. The 19-inch alloys sport all-weather Toyo A36 radials (22/55R19) that are happy hunting apexes thanks to the CX-5's fine balance and masterful suspension geometry. No matter how corrugated the road surface, the sure-footed Mazda never loses its composure nor its grip on the pavement. If you engage Sport Drive Mode, the steering response stiffens notably, and the floor-hinged throttle pedal reacts more quickly to toe pressure. But even in Normal Drive Mode, the CX-5 feels lively and responsive. It's a syncopated euphoria that is distinctly missing from comparably-sized SUVs from Toyota, Honda and also from Mazda's newly introduced CX-50.

We're happy that Mazda has chosen to retain the CX-5 in the company lineup for the foreseeable future because it provides an energetic and exciting alternative to most of the clumsy compact SUVs currently on the market.

2024 MAZDA CX-5 2.5 TURBO SIGNATURE

• ENGINE: 2.5 liter inline-4, turbocharged and intercooled, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
• HORSEPOWER: 256hp@5000rpm
• TORQUE: 320lb.-ft.@2500rpm
• FUEL CONSUMPTION: 22MPG City/27MPG Highway
• PRICE AS TESTED: $42,705

HYPES: Near-Miata Level Handling

GRIPES: The Hood Weighs a Ton

STAR RATING: 9 Stars out of 10

©2024 David E Colman