LA MOTOR SHOW: Mazda caresses CX-5
Mazda's first all-SKYACTIV model comes in for a mild midlife overhaulAustralia's top-selling SUV has come in for a raft of cosmetic, comfort, refinement and safety upgrades.
Revealed at the Los Angeles motor show overnight, the midlife CX-5 makeover emerges less than three years after its local release in February 2012, and arrives in Australia in the first half of next year.
Like the facelifted Mazda6 also revealed in LA, the 2015 CX-5 receives a bolder grille and revised headlights – this time with horizontal metallic grey fins and a new LED lighting signature respectively. The new headlights are claimed to look more 'eye-like' and the LED DRLs are echoed in the tail-lights.
Rounding out the exterior changes are new-design 19-inch alloy wheels with 3D-look machining, and the addition of two new colours: Titanium Flash Mica from the Mazda3 and Sonic Silver Metallic.
Inside, as with the Mazda6, there's a revised instrument panel and centre console. According to Mazda, "the coordination of the ornamentation and mating of parts aim to achieve a unified look."
As expected, the CX-5 gains Mazda's latest MZD Connect infotainment system and, like the Mazda6, an electric park brake, plus a larger console box and door pockets, and metallic-finish trim.
While the updated CX-5 continues to offer a black leather interior, as well as black or sand coloured fabric, there's now a new pure white leather trim and new materials for the centre of fabric-trimmed seats.
Three types of decorative panels are available for the instrument panel: metallic-finish, piano black and aluminium-look with a vertical hairline finish and thin satin chrome strip.
As per the 2015 Mazda6, there are suspension damping and bushing changes aimed at improving ride quality, plus more comfortable and supportive front seat structures and extra body sound-proofing that Mazda says reduces highway noise by 10 per cent.
Mazda says all-wheel drive models come with a new low-viscosity synthetic oil "that contributes to better real-world fuel economy".
Finally, as expected, the CX-5 scores a host of safety features since released in newer Mazda models. Although many of them will be optional, they include Adaptive LED Headlights (ALH), Lane-keep Assist System (LAS), Driver Attention Alert (DAA), Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) and Smart Brake Support (SBS).
In addition, the existing low-speed Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) and Pre-collision Throttle Control (PTC) system gain the ability to detect vehicles and obstacles at the rear of the car. Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) continues to incorporate Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).
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