2017 Mazda CX-5 Preview

CARS.COM

Competes with: Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue

Looks like: Mazda didn’t want to mess with a good thing

Drivetrain: 2.0-liter or 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission; front- or all-wheel drive

Hits dealerships: 2017

Since its launch in 2012, the Mazda CX-5 compact SUV has been a hit for the Japanese brand, accounting for a quarter of Mazda sales around the world. At an event on the eve of the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show, Mazda revealed the second-generation CX-5, which goes on sale first in Japan in February 2017 before arriving in other markets.

More 2016 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

Exterior

The 2017 CX-5’s new styling blends design cues of the prior model with styling touches from newer Mazdas like the CX-9 three-row SUV. The new CX-5’s grille is wider, which gives it a more prominent role in the front-end look, and it meets a bulging hood that looks like it could have been sourced from an American muscle car. The lower edge of the grille is bordered by a chrome bar that sweeps up and under thin headlights.

The taillights are similarly thin and flow into the liftgate, which features a small spoiler. Chrome exhaust tips are tucked under the rear bumper.

Interior

Like its predecessor, the new CX-5 seats up to five people in two rows of seats. The seats can be finished in white or black leather or black fabric, and seat heaters are available for both the front and rear seats. 

The restyled interior features a tablet-style screen that looks like it’s been propped atop the dashboard. As in other Mazdas, the screen is controlled by a knob on the center console. Available features include a head-up display that shows navigation information and a Bose premium stereo.

Under the Hood

Mazda shared few details regarding the CX-5’s available drivetrains, but it did say 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engines will be offered along with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The previous CX-5 offered gas engines of the same displacement. There’s also a diesel version of the CX-5, though it will not be available in the U.S. until the second half of 2017. The 2.2-liter four cylinder engine will be Mazda’s first diesel in the U.S.

Editor’s note: This post was updated on Nov. 16 with more information regarding the diesel engine.