Mazda CX-5: Are Small Crossovers Eclipsing Cars?

By Jonathan Welsh

It seems like the old-fashioned car can’t catch a break. In the 1990s many drivers ditched their traditional sedans in favor of sport-utility vehicles and large pickup trucks.

Rising fuel prices eventually put the brakes on that trend, but consumers still appreciate certain truck-style qualities like a high, upright seating position and a cabin with more headroom that is easier to enter and exit without ducking one’s head. Could those traits be built into a more fuel-efficient vehicle?

Enter the compact crossover.

Many car makers these days are betting on small sport-utility vehicles that are based on small-car platforms. These vehicles are cheap to develop because the chassis is mostly there already, underpinning their small cars. Crossovers also have more profit potential as drivers are generally willing to pay more for them than for compact cars. The Mazda CX-5′s base price ranges from $20,695 to $27, 045. The Mazda3 compact sedan costs $15,200 to $22,900.

Mazda’s CX-5 is meant to compete with other new or redesigned models including the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape. It is also meant to give a roomier, more flexible option to drivers on a small-car budget. The CX-5 is a lot of vehicle and drivers are likely to find it more comfortable and easy to live with in day-to-day use.

It seems like the old-fashioned car can’t catch a break. In the 1990s many drivers ditched their traditional sedans in favor of sport-utility vehicles and large pickup trucks.

Rising fuel prices eventually put the brakes on that trend, but consumers still appreciate certain truck-style qualities like a high, upright seating position and a cabin with more headroom that is easier to enter and exit without ducking one’s head. Could those traits be built into a more fuel-efficient vehicle?

Enter the compact crossover.

Many car makers these days are betting on small sport-utility vehicles that are based on small-car platforms. These vehicles are cheap to develop because the chassis is mostly there already, underpinning their small cars. Crossovers also have more profit potential as drivers are generally willing to pay more for them than for compact cars. The CX-5′s base price ranges from $20,695 to $27,045. The Mazda3 compact sedan costs $15,200 to $22,900.

Mazda’s CX-5 is meant to compete with other new or redesigned models including the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape. It is also meant to give a roomier, more flexible option to drivers on a small-car budget. The CX-5 is a lot of vehicle and drivers are likely to find it more comfortable and easy to live with in day-to-day use.

Compared with compact cars like the Mazda3, the CX-5 is easier to get into and feels like a larger vehicle. I felt fresh after driving long distances that typically leave me stiff and worn-out when driving small cars. The CX-5 also gave me a more commanding view of the road and didn’t make me feel as if I was sitting on the ground. Its fairly high seat also meant I could simply step out from behind the wheel instead of lifting myself out, which is difficult to do gracefully.

What set my CX-5 test vehicle apart from many small SUVs I have driven is its fuel economy. The front-wheel-drive sport model with a manual transmission is rated at 26 miles per gallon in city driving and 35 mpg on the highway. The automatic version has a 26/32 rating and the all-wheel-drive version is 25/31.

My automatic test car easily topped 30 miles per gallon on the highway with a smoother, quieter ride than the typical small car. Mazda attributes the CX-5′s gas mileage to a system called Skyactiv, a combination of features from electronic engine management to aerodynamics and friction-reducing parts. In the past it has been difficult to get anywhere near 30 mph in even the smallest crossovers and SUVs.

The downside is a lack of pep. While the CX-5′s 155-horsepower four-cylinder engine moves it competently around town, it seems to scream for mercy when accelerating to highway speed in fast traffic. Overall the CX-5 is pleasant to drive, but Mazda’s “Zoom-Zoom” marketing theme doesn’t apply.