Mazda Teases Redesigned 2017 CX-5
CARS.COM — Mazda released a teaser image of its redesigned 2017 CX-5, set to debut at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show in November. The shaded image shows a profile whose nose seems to follow the redesigned CX-9’s upright motif. Mazda calls the SUV “all-new” and says it will have “new dimensions of driving pleasure” and take the automaker’s Kodo design language to its next iteration. The beltline curves sharply upward at the C-pillar, a similarity to the current CX-5, but it’s hard to tell the SUV’s overall proportions; most of the bottom isn’t shown.
Related: More 2016 L.A. Auto Show Coverage
The announcement comes after just four model years (2013-2016) for the first-generation CX-5. But the outgoing SUV, a replacement for the larger CX-7, placed last among eight SUVs in Cars.com’s $28,000 Compact SUV Challenge in 2015, drawing criticism for its numb steering and firm ride. Compact SUVs still needs their share of utility and practicality – something nailed by the rival Honda CR-V, which won that comparison. CX-5 sales in 2016 have kept roughly abreast of other compact SUVs, but a redesigned CR-V hits dealerships soon. Perhaps for Mazda, this redesign is right on time.
Stay tuned for more photos and details; Mazda plans to debut the new CX-5 at the L.A. auto show’s first press day on Nov. 16.
