Family Car Review: Mazda CX-5

For me, the Mazda brand always delivers a reliably fun driving experience. This month, we got to test drive the Mazda CX-5, a crossover sport utility vehicle. The Mazda CX-5 is smaller than many other SUVs on the road, but still comfortably seated five passengers and offered ample storage space for my family’s luggage or groceries.

The fun part for me is the Mazda CX-5’s pick up, and sporty vibe. It’s just a pleasure to drive around the City. As residents of Los Angeles, driving truly is a way of life for us. I almost forget the daily driving headaches when a car is this much fun to drive.

With aggressive urban drivers, and frequent traffic stops, I really appreciate the safety features of the Mazda CX-5. The Smart City Brake support senses possible collisions, and traffic ahead. A nice tool for my daily drives around LA. between the lower speeds on busy neighborhoods, and high speeds of the freeways. With the daily driving distractions, I could really learn to rely upon safety features too, such as the lane departure warning, back-up cameras, and advanced blind spot monitoring. It’s nice to know that your car is watching out for you.

The navigation system is straight forward, but I suggest plugging in your destination prior to hitting the road. It seems to take extra time to set up the details. The center console is designed nicely with easy, intuitive accessibility – allowing me to keep my eyes on the road (where they truly belong!)

Everyone in my family has a say in our family ride. I appreciate the extras, like the retractable cargo cover. When we have valuables with us, I just feel a bit more secure knowing that our gear is out of sight. I’m also a fan of the powered lift gate. My daughter loves cars that have back seat arm rests with built-in cup holders. And honestly, it makes sense that those back rows share some of the same cool amenities normally only reserved for the front row seats. She likes to spread out all her travel essentials as we head out on weekend trips. A happier child on a road trip makes the trip more pleasant for all in the vehicle! My husband is 6′ 3′, so he frequently finds cars uncomfortably lacking in adequate leg space or head room. The Mazda CX-5 with its curved front end was a plus on the leg room, but the head space was tight.

While our test drive didn’t allow us to test all the benefits of the Mazda CX-5 there are many, including the Skyactiv Technology Suite which offers efficient engines and transmissions resulting in reduced emissions and fuel consumption.

The Mazda CX-5 comes in four trim options, with a starting price of $24k for the Sport, and up to $29k for the Grand Touring. All models are available in all wheel drive. Mazda offers solid choices for attractive cars packed with family-friendly features that I would recommend to my friends and family.