The Mazda CX-5's sporty looks match its driving feel. It's one of the most fun ... - nwitimes.com
Crossovers — those spacious vehicles that look like SUVs but are actually built like passenger cars — have been the hottest, most competitive, fastest growing part of the automotive market for several years. For the Mazda CX-5, that happens to be its driving feel. Like all Mazda’s products, the CX-5 crossover has a zippy, sporty vibe that makes it enjoyable on winding roads. While the base engine is a 2. 0-liter four-cylinder that makes 155 horsepower, my test car came with the optional, bigger 2. 5-liter engine. By the numbers, it shouldn’t feel so quick — with just 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque on tap — but through the brilliance of Mazda’s engineering, it drives like a faster, more powerful car. Lots of weight reduction in the body structure and an emphasis on making the car respond instantly to all driver inputs, almost like a sports car, give it the impression of something more powerful. Despite having front-wheel drive (or, optionally, sending power to all four wheels) it’s nearly as fun and rewarding as a sports sedan from the driver’s seat. In fact, the only downside I see to the CX-5 is for people who don’t like. Source: www.nwitimes.com
