So, the HP is my main concern, what was your impression going from the CX7 to the 5? Did it seem to stumble when giving it gas? I know you said it was still snappy..
I did a back to back comparison between the CX-7 (Petrol), CX-5 (Petrol), VW Passat (TDi), Honda Odyssey.
After driving the whole list, we've put money down on the CX-5, with the need though to test drive the CX-5 Diesel in a week.
DRIVING DYNAMICS
Both Mazda's had the Honda and VW cars crying. There was no match. Both felt extremely fun to drive. The Passat was close, particularly because the diesel engine was so powerful in the VW. The Honda Odyssey immediately lost out, feeling like a slow cruising boat .
The CX-5 was the most taut, best steering, wonderful suspension that ironed out the bumps, yet was solid enough it taunted me to push the throttle more. I could only compare it to driving a very large MX-5. They've really engineered this thing wonderfully.
Then there's the one issue - acceleration. It's got real linear power delivery, but most of the torque gets fed slowly from about 2000rpm, coming on full at 4000rpm. Up there it's only decent for overtaking on the highway. From the traffic lights though, it doesn't want to pull punches. It pushes away from the line, rather than sprinting.
The power and torque being mapped this way is probably one of the tricks up Mazda's sleeve that makes fuel economy so good.
Conversely, the CX-7 is brutal with its power delivery. You can tell it's the same powerplant that comes from the Mazda 3 MPS (Mazdaspeed for those in the US). It's on tap from the line all the way up to overtaking. But at the same time, it drinks 2 to 3 times what the CX-5 does (particularly if you push it).
I'm a manual driver, and if this were 4 years ago I would have taken the manual CX-7 we sell here with no question.
But it's 2012 and fuel prices are ridiculous. The CX-5 is kind to the hip pocket when using petrol (gasoline), let alone diesel.
FUEL ECONOMY
The Australian government standardised all fuel economy measurements providing three readings: city/country/mixed - mixed being the average driver. The result for CX-5 GT AT 4WD model (i.e. the thirstiest on sale in US at moment) was 8.2 city/6.2 country/6.9 mixed L/100km. Or in US gallon terms 28.7 city/37.9 country/34.1 mixed mpg.
Extremely good for such a large vehicle.
THAT AUTO TRANSMISSION
The world isn't equal. I am a manual driver, but I live in Australia - which not unlike the US, is an auto dominated country.
We ended up getting two CX-7 engine/transmission selections here. We got the auto/petrol, which was developed for the US and the manual/diesel, which was developed for the UK.
The manual was a sales dud.
I personally hate autos with a passion, but I have no choice in the matter. My wife can't drive MT. I was very keen to get the VW mainly because as a purist, the DSG transmission was the closest I could get to manual performance while also being kind to fuel economy. The issue with the DSG though, is that's is not very kind on passengers who aren't strapped in for it's shift 1 through 3. Giving it a bit of throttle impresses, but be prepared to only impress yourself.... alone. Have any passengers, and the only way to use the DSG is to be kind, gentle - and in doing so, lose all the fun.
The auto in the CX-5 surprised me. It brought back a lot of the fun of the DSG. It feels like a genuine manual shifting inside, but very carefully. The first 3 gears that would be head smacking in a DSG though, are caressed in the CX-5. The engineers have really been working hard. This is probably the best automatic transmission I've driven... well in anything under $70.
I am thinking now, that not having a manual at the high end isn't such a bad thing.
With a car that drives as well as this to the point of disbelieving its an SUV, the auto faded into the background. And I didn't scream at it once (the slow takeoff was the engines fault!)
THE DIESEL
Going back to the CX-7 Manual/Diesel - I thought it was a great idea, but no one else seems in Australia seems to think this way. They were a sales dud.
Diesel sales have skyrocketed in Australia accounting for 35% of all new vehicles. So Mazda Australia pushed for the diesel as soon as possible.
BUT it had to come with an auto transmission to sell.
I spend quite a bit of time in Japan as well visiting my wife's family. It's a petrol/auto country as well. But the new CX-5 has been big news (lots of Japanese videos on You Tube). What the videos basically explain is that diesel is never used in Japan because it has a reputation for being disgusting and underpowered. They're hoping the CX-5 turns this impression on its head with 0.02% soot being produced - VERY CLEAN.
The intercooled, turbo diesels though have just arrived in Australia, and will be available for a test drive next week. 10% more power, 240% more torque, much better fuel economy.
Best thing about the torque is that a large chunk of it is available at 1000rpm to to its dual turbo (second kicks in 4000rpm).
So it is apparently solves the issue of the gutless petrol, but also attains 41.2mpg in mixed.
The other awesome thing is that it's the first production diesel to do without the terribly expensive urea refills, and doesn't require an expensive diesel particulate filter. That should save money at the service stops.
I'll post the diesel review next week.