2017 Mazda CX-5 GT All Wheel Drive review

2017 Mazda CX-5 GT

My road test of the Mazda CX-5 GT (All wheel drive) started with a flight from Prince George, British Columbia, to Vancouver, one of my favourite short hauls. The turboprop aircraft fly low enough that on a clear day, the passengers get a fantastic view of parts of the Chilcotin Plateau and Coast Mountains. I usually spend my time staring out the window like an excited child, thinking of previous adventures and adventures to come. In the backcountry I prefer human power to motors, so don’t do much off-road bashing, but the approaches to certain trailheads can be a bit tricky, as can winters in the mountains. All wheel drive and a bit more ground clearance are therefore desirable features. Many buyers also go for SUVs because of the higher seating position, as well as easier entry and egress.

One day after leaving Prince George, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on Saturday morning, I walk up to my Metallic Grey Mazda CX-5 test car. Every manufacturer has a pet name for its styling philosophy. For Mazda it is Kodo, or soul of motion, and yes I did have to look that up. The results are hard to argue with, the CX-5 is a clean design and looks more athletic than the competition. After a walk-around, I get in and set my seating position. The Mazda’s interior looks upmarket and is nicely trimmed. Ergonomics are good, the steering wheel is perfect for my 9 and 3 hand position. Still nothing unique here, in the hotly contested compact SUV category all the top players, such as the Hyundai Tucson and Honda CR-V, have good ergonomics. 

A few kilometres down the road, I find myself smiling. Mazda, the Driving Matters company, has absolutely aced the driving dynamics, from chassis tuning to steering feel. Mazda seems to have moved into the territory once occupied by BMW, and still present in that company’s smaller vehicles. The CX-5 is a treat to drive for a skilled or enthusiastic motorist. It just feels right.

With my cousin, Croatia-based professional photographer Rino Gropuzzo, strapped into the passenger seat, we head up Nova Scotia’s south shore. The first leg is highway, with a 110 k/hr speed limit and quite a bit of holiday traffic. Again, well tuned dynamics make a difference. I use the shifter-operated manual mode of the six-speed gearbox, in Sport setting, to facilitate overtaking.  While decently quick, with 187 horsepower and 184 lb/ft of torque, the Mazda CX-5 is no rocket ship, so planning is required. The upcoming diesel version might be a better pick for heavy loads or trailer towing.

The rest of our drive, not counting stops for seafood chowder and scallops, includes half an hour on weatherbeaten, twisty blacktop, then a stretch on gravel. You can get Mazda’s quality of driving dynamics in compact luxury SUVs, such as a Volvo XC 60 Polestar or a Porsche Macan, but at a considerably higher price.

On the gravel road section, my cousin took his camera equipment and positioned himself on the outside of a corner. I did a run with traction control engaged, then switched off the traction control for a bit of rally stage type of action. Sliding sideways on corner entry, the CX-5 GT proved completely user-friendly and predictable.

At this point, the Mazda CX-5 is unquestionably the driver’s car in this segment. I run an advanced driving school and am a racing driver, which does make me a critical test driver, especially where vehicle dynamics are concerned. The CX-5 GT is one of the few mainstream vehicles I’ve driven this year that I would actually consider owning.