Once we were there, we drove it around the different parts of the city which meant going up and down the mountainous area for the next few days. The week that we had the CX-5 Skyactiv-D, we drove it through the stop-and-go traffic of the Alabang-Zapote road-on a weekend, no less-and then around Metro Manila before taking it some 300 kilometers up north to Baguio City through the picturesque Kennon Road. The six-speed Skactiv-Drive six-speed automatic proved capable enough to be left alone throughout the drive although if needed, some manual control can be exerted through it by pulling the lever all the way down into Drive and to the left, with upshifts achieved by pulling the stick down and then pushing it upwards for downshifts. With that kind of power available under your right foot, it’s no wonder the climb up to the mountains of Baguio City hardly posed a problem for the vehicle, despite its 1,586kg of curb weight and enough change of clothes for a family of four on a weekend getaway to the Summer Capital of the Philippines in the cargo area. The CX-5 Skyactiv-D is powered by the same 2.2-liter diesel mill that propels the Mazda 6 Skyactiv-D, which means it has the same power output of 173hp and 420Nm of torque. Thankfully, it still operates like the traditional one: while you’re stepping on the brake, you either pull it up with your finger to activate or pull it up and then push it down to deactivate it. To make way for the Command Control System, Mazda eliminated the traditional hydraulic parking brake and replaced it with an electronically-activated button. Still, thanks to the Mazda Command Control System, most of the buttons you’d usually find on the dashboard and center console have been eliminated, with the controls for the automatic dual-zone air-condition system as the lone holdover from the era of buttons, levers, and switches. It’s a shame though that the midlife refresh of the CX-5 didn’t give it the same dashboard design as that found in the Mazda 3 and Mazda 6, as the seven-inch touchscreen is nestled deep into the dashboard unlike in the two aforementioned models where it's standing upright and front and center outside the dashboard like a permanently-mounted tablet. The red stitching adds a touch of sportiness to the interior. INTERIOR Black cowhide leather sees extensive use throughout the cabin as you’ll see the material on the seats, the door panel, the steering wheel, the center console, and even on the dashboard. Out back, the only significant change is the design of the taillights, with the brake lights now mimicking the design of the daytime running lights up front. Also gone is the halogen headlights for an adaptive LED pair with LED-like daytime running lights that look like mascara around the projector housing. Gone is the beak-like grille for a more traditional five-slot grille which gives the vehicle a more mature countenance. While the CX-5’s silhouette remains, the subtle changes to the exterior has given the vehicle a newer, cleaner look. The update though, coupled with Mazda’s commendable Yojin3 Total Care aftersales package, has given its vehicle owners very little to complain but a lot of reasons to rejoice. In the CX-5’s case, it’s a very welcome one because prior to the update, Mazda’s crossover wasn’t a very popular one. STYLING – 8/10Īs is the case with most midlife refresh, it’s done to give vehicles a new lease in life before it’s due for a full model change. And third, it’s the first model to feature Mazda’s Skyactiv Technology suite, which essentially means that Mazda reengineered what a car is supposed to be to make it stronger yet lighter and more fuel-efficient. Second, it’s the first model to bear Mazda's "Kodo: Soul of Motion" design language, which has now been adopted across its entire model range, including the new-generation Mazda CX-9. First, it’s the very first model to be created by Mazda after its split with Ford, which is why it effectively replaced both the Mazda Tribute, which was essentially a rebadged first-generation Ford Escape, and the Mazda CX-7. Many may not know it but the Mazda CX-5 is a very special vehicle for the Japanese carmaker for a number of reasons.
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