The all-new 2013 CX-5 marks the dawning of a new era for Mazda. The compact SUV fits into the conventional segment mold of hard working vehicles but with an unconventional twist in its dramatic lines, dynamic liveliness and dramatic lightness. The first of a new generation of Mazda vehicles, CX-5 embodies a balance between the best of all worlds: driving enjoyment, first-class safety and high-impact sustainability, wrapped in a very compelling package.

The CX-5’s 2.0-liter SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine, coupled with either manual or automatic transmission, delivers all the qualities that make a vehicle pleasing to drive and satisfying to own, with more torque, better responsiveness and better fuel economy. The latest edition of "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom," CX-5 is a vehicle that does precisely what the driver wants and reacts exactly as the driver expects.

What you also get is the fruits of Mazda’s "lightweight" strategy. Looking to reduce the weight of its new generation models, engineers exhaustively sought out optimization potential, but always with an eye to improving strength and safety, and safe it is. In addition to the outstanding passive safety afforded by a complete body and chassis redesign as one component of the SKYACTIV program, the CX-5 features an extraordinarily wide field of view for the driver.

With its interior flexibility, responsive handling and class-leading fuel economy, the CX-5 instantly raises the bar for the compact SUV segment.

The all-new CX-5 is the first production model to feature the company’s new KODO design theme. Inspired by the beauty and power of nature along with the concept of motion, the CX-5 beautifully balances style and performance.

KODO was first unveiled in 2010 on the SHINARI concept car, a long and lean four-door sports coupe, and then the MINAGI concept SUV, which the CX-5 is based. Now, starting with the CX-5, KODO will exemplify the design of an entirely new generation of Mazda vehicles: a faster, forceful and more soulful means of transportation.

Brimming with vitality, emotion and agility, KODO’s essence can be found in the movements of animals. Specifically, CX-5 designers studied the athletic movement of cheetahs – the fastest of land animals – observing how they used their entire body as a spring, setting enormous energy into motion with incredible dexterity and grace. Stirred by such beautiful power, the designers set out to push the visual tone of the usually unemotional square-ness of traditional SUVs to another level with KODO.

The result is a sophisticated exterior that, while expressing familiar SUV sturdiness and functionality, boldly projects an unexpected elegant sense of motion and anticipation of driving enjoyment.

The CX-5’s well-planted look begins with the strong presence of the nose and prominence of its wheel arches. Its forward-leaning stance is reminiscent of a sprinter in the starting blocks just before the race begins, and the placement of the cabin to the rear like that of a predator preparing to pounce. The end result is an athletic yet dignified shape that sets the CX-5 distinctly apart from other SUVs.

Extending through the headlamps, the new front grille with "signature wing" is a KODO design language trademark expressing strength and depth. The trapezoidal lower grille, meanwhile, contributes to the vehicle’s solid posture and focuses attention on the front end.

The prominent rear fenders and lift gate surfaces further augment the CX-5’s sturdy, elegant form, again differentiating the vehicle from a typical SUV. The rear spoiler not only looks sporty but also improves aerodynamics. And even the taillights, wing-shaped like the headlamps, add a unique touch, particularly when illuminated at night.

CX-5 designers even managed to achieve outstanding aerodynamics, with a target coefficient of drag of only 0.33, by pushing the boundaries of conventional thinking regarding compact SUVs. These are just some examples of the harmonious blend of form and function on the new Mazda CX-5.

Inside, Mazda created a driver-oriented cabin with solid yet mature styling that reflects the CX-5’s exterior strength and sturdiness. And, unsurprisingly for a Mazda, the look and feel of the interior underscores the car’s sportiness.

The goal was to create a space that makes people want to get in and drive. And the cabin truly says "welcome," incorporating the power of the KODO design language by offering a new level of build quality along with outstanding ergonomics and an excellent view of the road.

The instrument panel, meanwhile, is worthy of a robust SUV but draws its shape from Mazda’s legendary MX-5 Miata roadster. The longitudinal design of the driver’s side, particularly the meter hood, resembles a cockpit and produces a sense of forward momentum, building anticipation for the drive ahead.

As far as the upholstery goes, cloth and leather materials are available for seats and trim. Two colors are available: black (for pure sports appeal) and sand (for a brighter, more vibrant look). The fabric variants, standard on GX and GS models, maximize the CX-5’s sporty, powerful image. GT models feature leather as standard equipment, with stylish dual-coloured stitching and perforations optimally sized to absorb sound.

And Mazda didn’t forget the passenger, who is cushioned in an inviting, secure atmosphere and shares trouble-free access with the driver to non-driving related features, such as operating the all-new 5.8-inch infotainment touch screen.

The new materials and styling incorporated in the cabin mark a step forward, compromising neither form nor function. The interior look radiates high-quality: the most often touched interior components (like the steering wheel spokes and door handles) have a satin chrome finish. The classy soft material adopted for the majority of dash surfaces and door trim, meanwhile, is offset by a central ornamental panel featuring the glossy piano black treatment pioneered by the RX-8.

The all-new 2013 CX-5 offers a highly effective interior that is both comfortable and user-friendly. Space is efficiently utilized and functional features intelligently laid out. The engineers developed a new seat shape and layout, for example, to put driver and passenger alike into ideal positions of comfort and performance (for drivers). The CX-5 also received the utmost in cargo flexibility with available 40/20/40-split rear seats with an industry-first independent remote fold-flat function. It all boiled down to finding the optimal ergonomic design and enhancing what makes people feel good for a purer sense of driving enjoyment.

The CX-5’s compact exterior features a width of 1,840 millimetres (72.4 inches) on a 2,700 millimetre (106.3-inch) wheelbase, but its gait is no measurement of its exceptional interior girth. Typical for an SUV, the driver sits in a commanding position in the CX-5. But Mazda went the extra mile, finding precisely the spot where the driver has the best view of the road yet can still operate pedals and controls in absolute comfort. And the slant of the A-pillars, along with the gap between these and the side mirrors, further enhances the driver’s visibility, whether checking for pedestrians at intersections, looking for oncoming traffic in a curve on a two-lane highway, or speeding down a multi-lane motorway. The CX-5 thus delivers the widest field of vision in the segment. For the driver, that means a safer, less stressful and more comfortable journey.

The center armrests are wide enough for sharing while the lateral distance from center hip point (or middle of the seat) to the door trim provide plenty of hip and elbow room. Legroom, meanwhile, is ample and, at 997 millimetres (39.3 inches) for rear seat passengers, particularly generous for this segment, as is the comfortable rear knee clearance of 66 millimetres (2.6 inches) as well as abundant foot space, owing to the wide cavity under the front seats.

Driver and passengers will feel comfortable and secure in Mazda’s new front seats. These were designed with a lightweight structure, enhancing stiffness as well as cushion comfort, and isolating vibrations for a more refined ride quality. Delivering good lumbar and upper body support, they relieve fatigue while arresting lower body movement during cornering. The driver seat is even available with easy-to-reach six-way power adjustable controls for GS models (six-way manual on GX trims), and an eight-way power adjustable seat for GT models, including power lumbar support.

The HVAC system has been optimized to not only achieve the top level of performance in the class, but to also contribute to fuel efficiency thanks to reductions in weight, electricity and power used. For the heating, an electric pump has been adopted exclusively for this purpose.

As for noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), proactive measures were taken to ensure that the driver receives the necessary feedback to aid driving while at the same time specifically eliminating unpleasant and intrusive noise. By obstructing noise pathways from the CX-5’s engine compartment from the cabin, using new sound absorbing materials and controlling suspension resonance and energy flows through the floor panel, Mazda achieved some of the lowest cabin noise readings in the compact SUV segment.

Easier to use than ever, the CX-5’s new-generation HMI features an available 5.8-inch touch screen monitor located at the top-center of the dash, minimizing the need for drivers to take their eyes off the road. Streamlined steering wheel controls enable a more straightforward operation of the infotainment system, which can also be accessed directly via the touch screen. The all-new infotainment system features the latest technology, including a USB connector, available Bluetooth® audio and phone connectivity and iPod® audio playback.

An available nine-speaker Bose® Centerpoint® Surround Sound System with AudioPilot® was jointly developed with Mazda to delight even the most discerning music enthusiasts. The CX-5 also is available with HD Radio™ Technology, a subscription-free digital AM and FM broadcast radio service crystal clear sound, on-screen information and additional programming choices via HD2 and HD3 channels.

A TomTom® technology-based navigation system also is available and is a first-time partnership with Mazda and offers a top-quality connected service, featuring premium North American maps, advanced lane guidance, intuitive voice recognition and real-time traffic.

Other technology features include the hands-free mobile phone set-up with noise suppression and voice recognition, push-button start with advanced keyless entry, shark fin antenna and, of course, cruise control.

Dynamic performance is key to the evolution of driving enjoyment. Mazda focused, above all, on making the 2013 CX-5 handle predictably and responsively. Engineers concentrated on delivering the vehicle’s performance so that it moves exactly as the driver expects. Featuring the complete range of SKYACTIV technologies developed in-house at Mazda, the CX-5 is the product of a people-centric approach to optimizing the driving environment, and significantly raises the standard in dynamic handling and intuitive responsiveness.

In particular, CX-5 developers made it a priority to remove any behaviour that might impede the enjoyment of the predictable response – the oneness – and eliminate the need for wasteful correction from the driver. To achieve this engineers thoroughly analyzed how the vehicle responds and reacts to the driver’s input and intentions as well as how the driver receives that feedback and takes subsequent action. Mazda was able to achieve the ideal state of predictable and responsive handling by addressing three stages: predictability, synchronization and harmonization.

Driving involves multiple operations happening at the same time. Mazda knew that synchronization was needed to ensure a smooth and swift transition from one operation to the next. The CX-5 had to respond to the driver’s input from the first action with no need for corrective input, truly synchronizing driver input and vehicle response. Here, engineers paid special attention to vehicle feedback. The driver makes a decision based on the quality of this feedback: Is the car is moving in line with the driver’s intent, or is there a need to correct undesirable vehicle behaviour? Mazda focused on dramatically improving feedback quality.

The 2013 CX-5 is the first Mazda designed to incorporate the SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine and new 4-2-1 exhaust system. Fully utilizing the strengths of SKYACTIV Technology, the wealth of torque is evident in all driving situations, even at low engine speeds.

Optimizing the CX-5’s acceleration behaviour to respond exactly as anticipated, Mazda aimed to achieve gratifying linear driving performance together with outstanding fuel efficiency. After all, ultra-efficient fun-to-drive vehicles aren’t a niche market at Mazda – they are Mazda, as the CX-5 perfectly demonstrates.

Developers of the SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine also were aiming for a lightweight design that produces more from less. Compression ratio is a central feature of the CX-5’s SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine, which is an extraordinarily high 13:1. It utilizes a newly-designed 4-2-1 exhaust system and special pistons, among other things, to resolve the challenges associated with high compression (such as knocking). As a result, the SKYACTIV-G is 10 percent lighter with considerably less internal friction than the MZR 2.0-liter gasoline engine it replaces, while delivering more torque, better fuel economy and lower emissions.

The CX-5 delivers a spunky 155 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 150 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm to move its svelte 3,208-pound body (FWD, SKYACTIV-MT models). As for bringing power to the wheels, CX-5 is offered with two new cutting-edge six-speed transmissions to enhance its athletic character: the SKYACTIV-MT manual and the SKYACTIV-Drive automatic. The latter, featuring full-range direct drive, imparts the feeling of a manual transmission while combining the most desirable features of different kinds of automatic transmissions. The SKYACTIV-MT, meanwhile, brings the crisp, tight shifting and direct, sporty feeling of the MX-5 to Mazda’s newest model. Both transmissions enhance the effectiveness and feel of the powertrain as a whole, improving both fuel economy and performance with efficient lightweight designs.

And thanks to the added perk of being paired with either SKYACTIV transmission, fuel economy estimates for CX-5 are best-in-class. Front-wheel drive models are rated with an EPA estimate of 7.8 city/ 5.7 highway (6MT) and 7.7 city/ 6.1 highway (6AT). All-wheel drive models, which have a curb weight of 3,426 pounds, are EPA-rated at 8.0 city/ 6.4 highway (6AT).

Looking to make a distinct leap when it came to controlling the vehicle, engineers completely re-examined suspension and steering systems. As a result, the CX-5’s all-new SKYACTIV-Chassis delivers a level of driving quality unusual for a compact SUV. Its lightweight construction includes a front strut suspension and a multi-link rear format along with an assortment of design changes. At any speed, words like "precise" and "predictable" come to mind, whether the topic is acceleration, cornering, high-speed stability or braking. Drivers feel secure in a vehicle that balances agility and stability without compromising on ride comfort or safety.

For example, the Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) system was given an array of sensors to measure g-force and wheel speed to monitor things like the CX-5’s wheel angle and steering wheel behaviour. The collected data is then utilized to adjust the feel of the steering wheel according to the driving situation.

A description of an SUV chassis wouldn’t be complete without addressing its characteristics in all-wheel-drive mode. By boosting the efficiency of the AWD unit and cutting its weight, designers again found an optimum balance between performance and economy. Mazda had aimed for the top of the segment with the CX-5, advancing its AWD control system to optimize power and minimize energy loss. Rear torque is variably controlled, with a precise slip detection system transmitting the right amount of muscle to where it is needed, which also saves fuel.

The SKYACTIV-Body advances the CX-5’s rewarding, responsive character to support optimum handling and stability while helping reduce fuel consumption and minimize NVH. And in light of its lightweight construction, the compact SUV also was designed to achieve the top ratings in government and third-party crash tests, such as with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

One of the most remarkable features of the CX-5’s all-new body design is its overall rigidity. Rigidity is closer to that of a premium sedan, which tends to be much stiffer than that of a compact SUV. Local rigidity also was greatly enhanced at the engine and suspension mounting points. Confirming just how big a role the rear-end plays in overall stiffness, developers optimized material thickness and enhanced connections at strategic body points, like the rear ring structure, wheel wells and side rails. Meanwhile, the rear damper area was given a dual-brace structure to contain vibrations from the suspension. This enabled improvements to be made to the body’s tensional stiffness and rear rigidity as well as NVH, while at the same time reducing the structure’s weight.

The majority of the weight reduction on the 2013 CX-5 can be attributed to optimized structures. It is, for example, the first-ever vehicle to contain 1,800MPa ultra-high tensile steel. Used in the bumper beams, which fit inside the front and rear bumpers, they are 20 percent stronger yet 4.8 kilograms (10.6 pounds) lighter than previous generation bumpers. Overall, high-tensile steels make up 61 percent of the total used in the CX-5’s SKYACTIV-Body and are therefore vital to its strong, lightweight design and superior handling. Additionally, lighter components improve cornering while also benefiting fuel economy.

To keep the cabin atmosphere quiet and relaxed, road and engine noise were first separated to eliminate unpleasant high frequencies. A new approach to sound insulation sees body and interior materials used to make sure less noise reaches the ear. The pathway for engine noise is blocked at the wheel arches, diverting the sound to the dash area where new material with excellent sound absorption properties has been added. The pathway for tire noise also is blocked at the wheel wells while noise entering from the side sills is concentrated in the floor and dampened by new sound-absorbing floor mats.

Engineers suppressed suspension resonances to dampen vibrations where the front suspension cross-members attach. They also enhanced the rigidity of the floor panel to contain energy flow. Thanks to this and other measures, the CX-5 achieves impressive results in all frequency ranges. The figures – 40.5dB engine noise and 68.6dB road noise (with 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels) – also are among the lowest in its class. And drivers still pick up the audible feedback and vibrations that they do need to help them drive safely.

Out on the open road, a new under floor design directs air upwards, smoothing air flow underneath the vehicle and preventing eddy formation behind it. Together with its upper body shape, this makes the CX-5 one of the most aerodynamic compact SUVs around. The top-class target Cd of 0.33 contributes to the vehicle’s superb fuel efficiency and is thus another essential element of Sustainable Zoom-Zoom.

Featuring a driver-oriented cockpit layout, the CX-5 is designed to help drivers avoid accidents and, if one does occur, to reduce the severity as much as possible. CX-5 comes equipped with the latest active safety technology as well as state-of-the-art passive safety structures. These range from the lightweight yet highly-rigid SKYACTIV-Body and various impact-absorbing structural innovations to an array of interior hood-to-trunk design advancements. Mazda’s goal is no less than top ratings in crash tests around the world.

Active safety takes many forms in the CX-5. It starts with a cockpit that enables accurate recognition and judgment by offering superior visibility. Being a Mazda, it also includes the characteristic refined driving feel and predictably responsive handling.

Mazda optimized the position of the A-pillars as well as the door mirrors to enhance the driver’s front and side field of vision. This newly formed "gap" dissolved a peripheral blind spot commonly caused by large outside mirror assemblies, which tend to block visual contact when turning in either direction. It’s just another example of how active safety empowers the driver, because getting from A to B safely ultimately comes down to the person behind the wheel.

Additional safety features are an available Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system, Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFLS) with auto-levelling bi-xenon headlamps and in-dash rear view camera with distance guide lines.

And passive safety? Well, that’s entirely up to the car. Because this is what matters when an accident occurs. Again, Mazda engineers made no compromises with the CX-5, achieving both weight reduction and top safety performance.

As the first Mazda built with the entire range of SYKACTIV TECHNOLOGY, the 2013 CX-5 comes with the highly rigid yet lightweight SKYACTIV-Body (see Chapter 6). Utilizing a straighter, more continuous frame and an extremely efficient multi-load path structure, the SKYACTIV-Body is designed to achieve top ratings in crash tests around the world.

High-tensile steel sees much greater usage than ever before in a Mazda. In fact, 61 percent of the steel used in the CX-5 is of the high-tensile variety. The B-pillar and roof reinforcement cross sections, for example, have been expanded with high-tensile steel to enhance side impact protection of the cabin. The floor section, door impact beams and side sills also received high-tensile reinforcement. Also, CX-5 is the first vehicle ever with extremely strong and lightweight 1,800MPa ultra-high tensile steel, which is used in the bumpers.

Meanwhile, the SKYACTIV-Body’s multi-load path structure ensures the optimal distribution of frontal impact energy along the various load paths. And on the back of the vehicle, Mazda straightened the rear frame and optimized its shape while also joining the rear frame and B-frame sections. On both sides of the body, the front doors and rear doors are fitted with pipe impact beams in the upper section and W-hat section impact beams in the lower. Both beams join with the B-pillar, hinge pillar and side sills to convey the load to these sections. The upshot is that energy from a crash, whether frontal, side or rear-end impact, is simply absorbed better.

Absorbing impacts was indeed a central focus on the CX-5 development. It was behind the adoption of a new front suspension structure in which the engine breaks away from the suspension cross member during a frontal crash. The aim was to maximize the crashed section of the crushable zone, and thus absorb energy through the vehicle and not the passenger(s). The AWD model also uses the driveshaft structure to absorb the backward movement of the engine. The propeller shaft detaches from the underbody during a crash and contracts, also breaking away from the rear differential.

New passive safety equipment also has been incorporated into the interior. As with all Mazdas, front, side and side-curtain airbags are fitted as standard features in all CX-5 models. For the passenger airbags, unlike the single-bag construction of the previous design, a twin-bag arrangement with high internal pressure is adopted to provide optimal restraint to each part of the passenger seat occupant’s body. For the side airbags, two-chamber airbags have been fitted, each chamber protecting the thorax and head individually. And large full-length side curtain airbags are additional protection for rear-seat passengers.

Front seatbelts are equipped with a load limiter to mitigate impact on the chest. All seatbelts also are fitted with a double pretensioner that retracts the seatbelt from the shoulder and also winds up from the waist. The steering wheel has a tilt and telescopic adjustment function that provides comfortable steering operability. At the same time, during a frontal collision, the steering wheel support section shifts forward, mitigating impact on the driver. The upper and lower sections of the front and rear door trims also incorporate impact absorbing pads.

The front seats (described in Chapter 4) were completely redesigned with a new lightweight structure. With safety in mind, the seat’s side frame was altered to eliminate contact with the occupant’s ribcage during a side collision. Developers also put a strong focus on mitigating neck injuries, using an anti-whiplash design that, during a rear impact, reduces the movement and rotation of the head and torso while at the same time decreasing the load these body areas are subject to on the headrest and seatback. This was achieved by raising and bringing forward the top of the headrest, using stiffer headrest guide holders, making the center section of the seatback less rigid and improving the strength of the seat lifter to restrict backwards tilting. Coincidentally, the seats also are 0.68 kilograms (1.5 pounds) lighter than previous generation seats.

In the back, Mazda gave the seats an internal anti-submarine mechanism, which restrains the lower body during an accident. The seat pan on the available 40/20/40-split rear seats limits the amount of forward movement of the occupant’s pelvis during an accident, while the 60/40-split configuration uses a tough foam material structure for this purpose. The rear seatback frames, mounts and hinges, meanwhile, also were reinforced to better protect rear passengers from luggage and other trunk cargo that may become loose during an impact. And for the smallest passengers, the CX-5 has ISOFIX-compatible connections as well as top-tether anchors delivering maximum child seat safety and installation ease.

All in all, the CX-5 is remarkably safe to be in or around, exhibited outstanding results during Mazda’s own rigorous crash testing under a range of real-world situations, from full and offset frontal and rear collisions to pole collisions and side impacts.