The All-New 2014 Mazda CX-5 Touring All Wheel Drive was the perfect choice to drive to Sequoia National Park in search of clean air. Sturdy. Safe. Simple. And when I say simple, I mean simply reliable with easy-to-find and operate features.
I plugged my destination into the navigation system, and enjoyed the ride, which offered spunk and a lot of substance.
The Skyactiv-G 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine, rated at 184 horsepower with 185 lb-ft torque, is an upgrade from last year's 2.0. It felt powerful for a 4-cylinder! As for Mazda's Skyactiv vision to deliver driving pleasure and outstanding eco-friendly and safety performance to every customer with a unique combination of technological advancements, they delivered.
Gas Mileage
According to Mazda, the 2014 CX-5 gets the best freeway mileage of any other SUV, including hybrids! Keeping in mind that the average small SUV fuel economy ranges from 16-30 mpg, the Mazda CX-5 gas mileage averages 24 city/30 highway.
Excellent.
I drove the CX-5 mostly on freeways, passing farmlands, oil rigs, cows and sheep, making it from Los Angeles to Sequoia National Park and back (with short day trips in-between) on just a little over one tank of gas. About 450 miles.
Considering fuel-economy, comfort, safety, low-wind noise, and long-range driving (the prized all-electric cars are currently best for short "city" runs) Mazda created a winner with this attractive 2014 Mazda CX-5.
Let's break down the all-important safety features.
Safety First
- LIGHTS -- Let me start with lights and night driving. The halogen headlights shined wide and bright, making me confident that I could see what was coming even on windy roads. I was driving in the Sierra Nevada Mountains but imagining how wonderful these lights would be on windy Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles, which I frequent. And while I didn't need fog lights, (being that I hail from notoriously foggy San Francisco I understand importance), I'm confident Mazda's fog lights are an important safety feature you too will appreciate.
- BLIND SPOT MONITORING SYSTEM -- The navigation system includes lights on the side mirrors that shine bright when you get too close to another vehicle or object. It also beeps. No hitting Aunt Mary. Just kidding. No hitting that curb. Or where-did-it-come-from car.
- 4-WHEEL DISC BRAKES -- The brakes felt firm and reliable.
- Front and side impact air bags; and front and rear side air curtains.
- CRASH TESTS -- According to government 5-star safety ratings, side crashes in both front and rear seats got give 5 stars. Rollover got 4 stars. Front crash is yet to be rated.
- AIR CONDITIONING WITH POLLEN FILTER -- I can't prove that this works but I thought it was a nifty feature, and I'm curious what else it may filter out.
- POWER MIRRORS with turn lamps
- REAR PRIVACY GLASS much appreciated.
Check out the 17-inch alloy wheels!
Comfort and Ease
- It was spacious with 5-passenger seating and ample trunk room. Everything about this SUV felt spacious despite it being relatively small in its class, which I prefer.
- 6-way power driver's seat
- Remote keyless entry
- Push button engine start
- Latch child safety seat anchors
- I found Mazda's seats and head rest comfortable, though I brought a lumbar support pillow, which helped my recovering shoulder for the three-and-a-half-hour drive.
Affordability
- MSRP $25,865 for standard equipment
- 36-Month/36,000 Mile "Bumper-to-Bumper" Warranty
- 60-Month/60,000 Mile Powertrain Warranty
- 24-hour roadside assistance
I loved the 2014 Mazda CX-5 and applaud the engineers at Mazda for making a SUV that will go far on one tank of gas, give me space, spunk, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing safety features are a priority.
Perfect for a drive to one of California's glorious national parks. Here I am standing near a 2,200 year old Sequoia!
As for clean air, it had just rained and washed the sky clean.
By the way, automatic is standard with the 2.5 liter engine. If you want manual transmission, you'll be dropping back to 2.0. So I recommend simply sticking to standard, which, let's face it, is easier to drive in big cities where most of us live.
Mazda supplied the All-New 2014 CX-5 Touring All Wheel Drive and a tank of gas for review.
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To read my Sequoia National Park review with photos, click here.