2019 Mazda CX-5 adds turbo petrol for Australia

As scooped exclusively by Chasing Cars in August of this year, Mazda Australia has confirmed local pricing and specifications for the 2019 Mazda CX-5 range, which goes on sale at the end of November. Addressing one of the CX-5’s sole issues – its need for more power to match its excellent chassis – is a new 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.

Mazda has also added important active safety features to every CX-5, which sees equipment such as adaptive cruise control made standard across the whole range for 2019. The top-spec Akera has also been given a more premium feel, and the range starts from $29,770 plus on-road costs – $1,080 more than the 2018 model.

“The new additions are certain to make New Mazda CX-5 an SUV that fully satisfies not just the driver, but all who ride in it.” said Hideki Matsuoka, program manager for the CX-5.

“There is something unique about the way Mazda makes cars, with an abiding thirst for challenge and uncompromising convictions about how vehicles should be engineered and why. I also believe that the New Mazda CX-5 will delight customers and enrich their lives.”
 

Priced at $2,500 more than the non-turbo 2.5-litre engine in GT and Akera models, centrepiece of the 2019 Mazda CX-5 update is the addition of turbo petrol power, which gives the CX-5 a big shot in the arm for performance. Producing 170kW at 5,000rpm, and a strong 420Nm at just 2,000rpm, the CX-5’s 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine has been used in the Mazda 6 and CX-9 previously. Using technology such as a dynamic pressure turbo and a 4-3-1 manifold, and capable of running on 91RON regular unleaded fuel, Mazda claims a combined cycle fuel consumption rating of 8.2L/100km – only 0.7L/100km more than the non-turbo 2.5-litre petrol engine.

These figures put the CX-5 2.5-litre turbo petrol against some of the most powerful medium SUVs including the 177kW Ford Escape, the 162kW Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI and the 188kW Holden Equinox – all of which use 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines, albeit with less torque than the Mazda’s 420Nm figure. In fact, the Mazda’s turbo petrol engine is torquier compared with most diesel units in the segment, and only Mazda’s own 450Nm 2.2-litre twin-turbo diesel engine is stronger.

Aside from the new 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, Mazda has fitted a new version of its electronic chassis control system called G-Vectoring Control Plus to the car, as well as revised suspension settings for a more refined ride quality. There have been no changes to the other available drivetrains – the 115kW/200Nm 2.0-litre and 140kW/252Nm 2.5-litre petrol engines, as well as the 140kW/450Nm 2.2-litre twin-turbo diesel engines and transmissions were heavily updated earlier in 2018.

Mazda has also seen fit to upgrade the top spec Akera’s interior with the same 7.0-inch digital driver’s display, Dark Russet Nappa leather upholstery, revised climate controls with ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated outboard rear seats, a frameless auto-dimming rear view mirror, LED interior lighting, a revised overhead console with LED mood lighting, a black headliner and new wood door and dashboard inlays all now standard.

Powertrain and interior upgrades aside, the most important change with the 2019 Mazda CX-5 is the standard fitment of important active safety equipment to the whole local range. Adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, driver attention alert and automatic high beam are now standard across the range. That’s in addition to already standard equipment, including autonomous emergency braking in both forward and reverse, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, traffic sign recognition and a colour heads-up display (Touring and above) and headlights with adaptive high beam (Akera only). This update gives the 2019 Mazda CX-5 class-leading active safety credentials.

The whole 2019 Mazda CX-5 range also finally offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard equipment, while the Maxx receives automatic headlights and wipers, and the Maxx Sport, Touring and Akera receive newly-designed alloy wheels – 17s on the former two, and 19s on the latter. The Maxx continues with its simple 17-inch steel wheels, and the GT on its 19-inch alloys, while the whole range now receives LED plate lighting.

2019 Mazda CX-5 pricing (plus on-road costs – drive away figures are yet to be announced):
Maxx 2.0-litre 2WD 6-speed manual: $29,770
Maxx 2.0-litre 2WD 6-speed automatic: $31,770
Maxx 2.5-litre AWD 6-speed automatic: $34,770

Maxx Sport 2.0-litre 2WD 6-speed automatic: $34,870
Maxx Sport 2.5-litre AWD 6-speed automatic: $37,870
Maxx Sport 2.2-litre turbo diesel AWD 6-speed automatic: $40,870

Touring 2.5-litre AWD 6-speed automatic: $39,470
Touring 2.2-litre turbo diesel AWD 6-speed automatic: $42,470

GT 2.5-litre AWD 6-speed automatic: $44,470
GT 2.5-litre turbo AWD 6-speed automatic: $46,970
GT 2.2-litre turbo diesel AWD 6-speed automatic: $47,470

Akera 2.5-litre AWD 6-speed automatic: $46,670
Akera 2.5-litre turbo AWD 6-speed automatic: $49,170
Akera 2.2-litre turbo diesel AWD 6-speed automatic: $49,670

Soul Red Crystal or Machine Grey paintwork: $300