2015 Mazda CX-5 : Pricing and specifications

There has been a raft of revisions for the 2015 Mazda CX-5 that hits Australian showrooms next month, including price drops across almost all variants in the range following the recent free trade agreement with Japan.

The updated Mazda CX-5 is said to include “sharp internal and external styling changes”, though at first glance it could be hard to pick the differences.

The mesh grille of the outgoing model makes way for a new design with five horizontal fins, and the headlights and foglights as well as the tail-lights use LEDs. New wheel designs are also on offer on some models, while the colour palette has expanded to include two new hues: Sonic Silver Metallic and Titanium Flash Mica (Soul Red remains a $200 option).

Inside, the biggest change is the car’s infotainment system, with Mazda adding its MZD Connect media unit to the existing dashboard of the car (as opposed to adopting a tablet-style position, as is seen in the Mazda 3, Mazda 2, Mazda CX-3 and upcoming Mazda 6 facelift).

The 7.0-inch media unit includes a number of applications (including internet radio connectivity) that weren’t previously available on the CX-5. The cockpit also adopts an electronic park brake and a new Sport toggle switch alongside the gearshifter for petrol models.

Underneath the car, Mazda claims to have made changes to the CX-5’s suspension to “offer a smoother, flatter ride”. The Japanese brand also says it has improved noise, vibration and harshness by introducing “path-blocking and concentrated sound absorption”.

Mazda is now offering its i-ActivSense safety pack across nearly every variant in the range. On Maxx and Maxx Sport derivatives, the Safety Pack option ($1230) includes blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and Smart City Brake Support (forward collision warning and auto-braking). On the GT it costs $1060 (as that model has the auto-dimming mirror as standard), while the range-topping Akera has all the safety gear included in the cost.

The now slightly-dearer Akera also gets new items, including a driver fatigue monitoring system, and a new iteration of Smart City Brake Support that can automatically apply the brakes when the car is reversing (between 2km/h and 8km/h) to limit damage, while forward motion is protected between 4-30km/h.

Other new items include full LED headlights with auto high-beam control, lane-keep assistance with steering adjustment, radar cruise control and a side camera to help you keep an eye on the kerbside.

No changes have been made to the engine line-up â€" the entry-level front-drive CX-5 variants continue to be powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 114kW and 200Nm and fuel consumption of 6.4 litres per 100km (with either the six-speed manual or six-speed auto).

The all-wheel-drive offerings include the 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder (138kW and 250Nm, six-speed auto only, fuel use of 7.4L/100km), and the 2.2-litre turbo diesel with 129kW/420Nm, six-speed auto only with consumption claimed at 5.7L/100km.

The 2015 Mazda CX-5 will go on sale in Mazda showrooms across the country from February 1.

The CX-5 was the most popular SUV sold in Australia in 2014, and since its launch in 2012 has accumulated almost 60,000 sales.

2015 Mazda CX-5 specifications by variant:

Maxx:
17-inch steel wheels with 225/65 tyres
Headlamps (halogen)
Power mirrors (body coloured with folding function)
Power windows
Rear spoiler
Black cloth seat trim
60/40 split-fold rear seat
Cargo area cover
Cruise control
Electric parking brake
7.0-inch colour touchscreen display (MZD Connect) with reverse-view camera
Four-speaker audio system, with auxiliary input, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, USB inputs, internet radio integration (Pandora, Stitcher and Aha)
Steering wheel-mounted audio controls
Push-button start
Six airbags â€" front (driver and passenger), side (front) and curtain (front and rear)
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Maxx Sport (adds over Maxx):
17-inch alloy wheels
Front fog-lamps
Auto on/off headlights
Auto wipers
Rear seat with 40/20/40 split fold backrest
Dual-zone climate control
Leather wrapped gear knob and steering wheel
Front vanity mirrors with illumination
Six-speaker stereo system
Satellite navigation

GT (adds over Maxx Sport):
19-inch alloy wheels with 225/55 tyres
LED front fog-lamps
LED daytime running lamps
LED headlights with cornering beams
LED tail-lamps
Power sliding and tilt glass sunroof
Heated front seats with 2-position memory function (driver), 6-way power adjustment (passenger), 8-way power adjustment (driver) and lumbar adjustment, heating function
Choice of Black or Pure White leather (latter only available with Soul Red, Meteor Grey, Blue Reflex, Deep Crystal Blue exterior colours)
Rear-view mirror with auto dimming function
Bose stereo with 231-watt amplifier and 9 speakers
Advanced keyless entry (in addition to push-button start)
Parking sensors (front and rear)

Akera (adds over GT):
Radar cruise control
Adaptive LED headlamps with automatic high beam
Blind-spot monitoring
Driver attention alert (fatigue monitoring)
Forward obstruction warning
Lane departure warning
Lane-keep assist system
Rear cross-traffic Alert
Side monitor
Smart Brake Support
Smart City Brake Support [Forward/Reverse]

2015 Mazda CX-5 pricing, plus on-road costs (change in brackets):

2.0-litre petrol FWD:

Maxx six-speed manual â€" $27,190 (-$690)
Maxx Safety six-speed manual â€" $28,420
Maxx six-speed auto - $29,190 (-$690)
Maxx Safety six-speed auto â€" $30,420
Maxx Sport six-speed auto â€" $32,790 (-$830)
Maxx Sport Safety â€" six-speed auto â€" $34,020

2.5-litre petrol AWD:

Maxx six-speed auto â€" $32,190 (-$690)
Maxx Safety six-speed auto â€" $33,420
Maxx Sport six-speed auto â€" $35,790 (-$830)
Maxx Sport Safety six-speed auto â€" $37,020
GT six-speed auto â€" $43,390 (-$790)
GT Safety six-speed auto -$44,450
Akera six-speed auto â€" $47,410 (-$840)

2.2-litre turbo diesel AWD:

Maxx Sport six-speed auto â€" $38,990 (-$480)
Maxx Sport Safety six-speed auto â€" $40,220
GT six-speed auto â€" $46,590 (-$440)
GT Safety six-speed auto â€" $47,650
Akera six-speed auto â€" $50,610 (+$1190)