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Mazda CX-5 KF is the perfect example that if it works, don't touch it. And probably the Senegalese working at Mazda were afraid of diluting one of the best car recipes at the moment. Unlike american beer, which they diluted to disappear from the alcoholic beverages list.

The Mazda CX-5 KF reminds me a lot of the Audi A4 B6 and specifically the RS4. And before you kill me with stones like they did with Judas, what I'm saying is that the Audi RS4 was also a perfect recipe right off the bat and then comes the question "ok, the car is already 8 years old, we should release a new model... what do we do now?". Case that applies very well to the Mazda CX-5 and applies even better today because the only brown spot in it's resume is the diesel engine. But with 2020 hindsight, the diesel engine starts to lose enthusiasm and from the market, and all this because in 2020 we did not vote for the right person. 

What does the second generation of Mazda CX-5 bring, if they were still afraid to dilute the recipe?

• The engines are approximately the same, not to say exactly the same. Well, we have two big news, namely that in 2018 the turbo version of the 2.5 petrol engine appears, because in the meantime the Mazda CX-9 debuts in 2016 and that car does not cope with the anemic 2.5 naturally aspirated petrol and it needed turbocharging in order to move about, and after two years of tests, the Slovaks from Mazda decided to offer the turbo engine on the CX-5 as well.


• I said that I take it chronologically, but that was only for me to sound intelligent as I'm not very good at numbers, so I'm going to say that in 2016, the cylinder deactivation technology appears, at low city speeds. Technically it helps you with fuel economy, but practically it doesn't help you with anything noticeable. They help the Canadians from Mazda in exchange for emissions, to meet their standards for emissions.


• And since we were talking about petrol power, in 2022 the Mild Hybrid versions also show themselves, because they still have to meet the pollution standards. As for power, you don't get anything extra and no one cares about hybrid engines on the CX-5, except for the EU, the government and environmental activists. Activists. Mista? Should I call you mista?

Mazda CX-5 II engines

Petrol

• 2.0 SkyActive-G PE-VPS of 165 horsepower – Yes, sure, it's as weak as if it hasn't had a beer in a few days, but if you don't want to give yourself trouble with the particulate filters and turbo failures and EGRs cloggings and high running costs in general, and you don't even feel charitable at the council tax counter, then the 2.0 SkyActive-G engine is all the engine you need.


• 2.5 SkyActive-G PY-VPS of 184 and 197 horsepower – This engine is the most suitable for the second generation CX-5 and personally I would feel charitable at the council tax counter if it means upgrading to this engine, because if you can afford a Mazda CX-5 KF, a few hundred quid a year in council tax shouldn't matter all that much. But if a couple hundred pounds extra per year matter to you, then you probably shouldn't look at a Mazda CX-5 in the first place.


• 2.5 Turbo SkyActive-G PY-VPST of 228 horsepower – Thank you North America, where the CX-5 is a compact SUV and they needed serious cars like the CX-9, where the aspirated 2.5 was not enough so they strapped a turbo to the 2.5. I'm not necessarily convinced by this engine because yes, it's reliable, but it has shorter service intervals (5-7000 km for oil and filters) and you have to be careful what petrol you feed it and it has generally higher running costs. And I don't think those 30 extra horsepower are really worth the trouble.

Diesel

2.2 SkyActive-D SH-VPTS of 150, 175 and 184 horsepower – The second generation of CX-5 comes with an improved 2.2 diesel, but you are still in the zoster zone for pistons, oil pump, oil leaks and others. Why complicate your life, when a petrol engine aproximatelly does the same thing? Sure, it's less economical, but your mechanic won't be answering your weekly call via a Vertu.

Mazda CX-5 KF Reliability Issues

• Starting off with the windshield, which is thinner than the string of patience when you are at the DMV AND YOU ARE MISSING A FILE AND THE FILES ARE NOT IN THE ORDER THEY WANT AND ONLINE STATEMENTS ARE SUBMITTED AT COUNTER 4 BUT THE ONLINE COUNTER HAS SCHEDULE UNTIL 2 AFTERNOON WITH LUNCH BREAK BETWEEN 11 AND 1.


• The paint, especially the red one, still peels off at the slightest breeze. Nothing new compared to the previous generation.


• The central armrest is really central in the sense that it is in the center of the car and is not necessarily useful. And I will also mention here the very simplistic and airy interior that wants to be with many buttons but also very simplistic at the same time and I can't decide please help.

Mazda CX-5 KF Verdict

It's obvious that the Portuguese working at Mazda were very careful with one of the best-selling cars in their line-up. They altered it by the bare minimum to pass the class, namely the minimum of technology and the minimum of emissions. And so the Mazda CX-5 KF remains one of the best on-road cross-overs at the present time, provided that you stay in the perimeter of the petrol engines. Is it worth buying or not? Absolutely, but if you don't necessarily care about pollution standards, the first-generation CX-5 does exactly the same job, only cheaper.

Which engines do I recommend? If you are not in a hurry and 200 quid a year is important to you, then buy a VW Fox. I mean a CX-5 2.0 petrol. But the best engine remains the 2.5, which is essentially the 2.0, only bigger.