I was provided with a 2017 Mazda CX-5 to test drive to facilitate this review. The opinions in this post are 100% mine. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
We are getting pretty close to actively shopping for a new car. Mine is a 2004 and probably on its way out. For my family of 4, we’re looking for something with enough space, something with practical options, and something safe. A stylish car doesn’t hurt either! To be totally honest with you, I hadn’t really heavily considered Mazdas but I recently had this Mazda CX-5 on loan for a week and totally fell in love with this car.
I’ll show you my favorite features below, but in a nutshell, it’s stylish looking and has all the features I want without being overwhelming. Some newer cars can have so many buttons and switches and dials, you can’t even figure out what’s happening on your dashboard. This one is NOT like that. It has all the fun features of a modern-day vehicle but it’s just completely functional.
I also have had two people tell me that their Mazda saved their life in a wreck, and with two little kids as passengers pretty much everywhere I go, that testimony goes a long way with me.
Stylish and Practical
The Mazda CX-5 is a crossover vehicle, so it’s what I consider a smaller SUV, and I love the size of it. I like a car that feels spacious on the inside and has plenty of room for my family and all of our stuff (groceries, soccer bags, etc) but doesn’t make me feel like I’m driving a huge monsters down the road. I just feel more in control in a vehicle this size, so I immediately felt comfortable behind the wheel.
The interior is gorgeous! I love this new two-tone look. It’s so classy and that leather trimmed upholstery is standard on this vehicle!
I mentioned the functionality of the controls above, and right next to the gear shift is where you’ll find radio controls. It almost operates like a video gaming system and that larger dial in the middle turns as you would expect, but you can also toggle it from side to side like a joy stick.
As you turn and toggle, the display on the dash will show you what station your on or where your GPS is going, etc. This screen is also a touchscreen, so there are a couple of options to use these features.
The steering wheel has some of the car’s controls as well. What I like about the set up is that you’re not reaching here and there and everywhere while you’re driving. My hands are already on the steering wheel, and it’s easy for me to reach the radio dial between the front seats. It’s not a distraction to change the station or put on cruise control. The Mazda CX-5 just has such a smart design!
And let me take a second to point out the little orange light in the lower right corner of this picture: heated seats!! This vehicle comes standard with heated front seats. You can upgrade to the Premium Package for a heated steering wheel (this is NICE in the winter!) and heated rear seats, which my kids really appreciated.
The kids also appreciated this divider in the center console of the backseat. It includes cup holders, and if you look closely you can see the buttons to turn on the heated seats. There are also USB ports for their devices. Parents, this means peace in the backseat. Hallelujah!
The trunk is really spacious, so it’s perfect for all those trips to and from the soccer field or grocery store. We travel a good bit, too, and this easily fits our suitcases.
See the little pulls on the back of the seats? You literally just grab that handle and pull and the back seats fold down! So easy and that comes in handy if you ever need extra cargo space.
Safety Features
I have had two people tell me that they got in a car accident in their Mazdas and the only reason they walked away was because of their car. I honestly didn’t realize this about Mazdas but after already being pretty ‘wowed’ by the car itself, I was even more excited about this brand after hearing that.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: “The 2017 Mazda CX-5 was named a 2017 Top Safety Pick Plus by the IIHS when equipped with available Smart City Brake Support.”
There are tons of standard safety features on the Mazda CX-5. Here are some that make it a stand-out:
- 5-passenger 3-point safety belts
- Airbags in the front and sides throughout the vehicle
- Blind spot monitoring
- Rear cross traffic alert
- 24-hour roadside assistance
We live in a neighborhood with lots of kids, so one of safety features I rely on the most is the rear camera. It will actually beep if something is in the zone.
This feature is SO cool, and I wish I could have gotten a picture while I was driving, but I don’t want to be one of those people taking pictures while they’re driving (I like to think most of us are smarter than that!). See that ‘0mph’ in the window? That is called Active Driving Display and the first time I saw it I was like, WHAT IS THAT??? It took me a day or two to get used to, and then when I returned this car I was missing it in my own vehicle.
With the available intuitive Active Driving Display, vital information such as vehicle status, current speed, and route guidance is projected onto the windshield. Pertinent data is positioned in your line of sight and allows you to better adjust your focus—ultimately minimizing distractions while driving.
Having your speed projected right up onto the windshield makes it so easy to monitor how fast you’re going. You don’t realize how much you take your eyes completely off the road to check your speed. This allows you to see that info without losing sight of the road. So smart!
Learn More
Check out the Mazda site and follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get more info on the CX-5 and their other vehicles. I really am sold on the Mazda, and when it’s time for you to replace what you’re driving, I highly recommend testing out the Mazda CX-5!
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