[Test drive experience] I am a "choice syndrome" sufferer, struggling to face too many choices every day, which clothes to wear, what to eat for breakfast and lunch, what kind of words to use to describe a car… In order to deal with it, I adopt the "no choice" approach – wear whatever clothes you see, eat the same meal every day, and find inspiration when writing articles. Many people also have the same confusion when shopping for a car. The more they see, the more undecided they are, and they are very envious of consumers who swipe their cards directly after taking a fancy. Of course, there is a necessary condition here, that is, the design of the car must be outstanding, and perhaps, the appearance can be achieved.
Maybe you will ask me, there have been so many Mazda CX-5 articles before, why is there another one? Oh, don’t worry about closing the browser, this CX-5 is not another CX-5, this is the first article about the test drive experience of the domestic CX-5, what I test drive is the 2.5L model that was not available in the previous imported version. Can the 2.5L with the maximum 196 horsepower make up for the small regret that the previous 2.0L engine power is slightly weaker? How is the workmanship of the domestic model? These must be your concerns.
The models of Changan Mazda CX-5 are richer than the imported version. Among the 6 models of the whole series, the highest two models are equipped with 2.5L engines, and the entry-level models of the whole series are also matched with a 6-speed engine. Mazda officials revealed that the domestic CX-5 will be officially launched on August 18. At present, we only have the official pre-sale price information: 18-260,000, which is highly coincident with the most competitive price range.
● Fresh 2.5L engine
This engine has made great progress in parameters compared to Mazda’s previous generation 2.5L engine. The maximum power has jumped from 169 horsepower to 196 horsepower, and the maximum has also increased from 224 Nm to 252 Nm (from the old engine parameters). Such great progress is due to the application of the next series of new technologies of Chuangchi Blue Sky, of which the 13:1 high and 4-2-1 exhaust are the biggest contributors.
● Smooth Chuangchi Blue Sky 6AT Transmission
The small serpentine handle has a very short stroke, as well as a crisp feel when changing gears. The handle is just right, and the gear is very clear. As long as you push it lightly, the handle fits into position by itself. You may wonder why I use so many words to describe a manual gearbox to describe a gear. But the truth is, although you don’t have to operate it as often as you operate a manual gearbox, a good feel is also a plus.
● Power output characteristics with insufficient explosive force and smooth addition
When driving on the road, the first thing I do is to take a kick of floor oil, please forgive my rudeness, but I really want to know what kind of push this 2.5L engine can bring. The result is not disappointing, just not surprising. If compared with the imported version of the 2.0L model that has been driven before, the power of the 2.5L model is indeed much stronger, and the acceleration feeling during high rotation is very continuous, but the power is evenly distributed in each speed range, not violent at all.
If the experience stops there, then the conclusion will be that the power of this car is a bit inferior to the engine parameters. However, the truth is that smooth and fast power response is its specialty, and the violent acceleration will only go against it. Whether it is in daily driving or in violent aggressive driving, the power output can always be maintained in a highly linear and very smooth state. The test drive location is in the mountains at an altitude of about 900 meters, and the air pressure is low. When the test car comes to the editorial office, we will test it in Beijing, and then we will know its actual power level.
The throttle is very responsive, a little deep, and the gearbox will downshift very aggressively and quickly, as if anticipating your command. You must be amazed, as I am, how this gearbox can move so gently, like a ballerina tiptoeing past you, you can’t even notice it. That’s all there is to the gearbox.
This gearbox also has the ability to drop 4 gears. When cruising at about 70km/h, quickly press the accelerator to the end, and the gearbox will follow the most aggressive shift logic, jumping directly from 6th to 2nd gear. In manual mode, even if the tachometer pointer reaches the red line and no longer climbs, the gearbox will not automatically lift, fully implementing the driver’s intention. Although it is not as enjoyable to lift and lower gears in manual mode as to directly feed oil, on a curved mountain road, selecting the gear in advance can provide better protection for the power output when exiting the corner. If you want it, it should be better with a set of paddle shifters.
● Steering and handling that evokes driving desire
The steering accuracy of the CX-5 is not as good as that of a single car, but more like that of a sports sedan. Coupled with a well-supported system, it is an SUV that will stimulate your driving desire. Mazda says the suspension of the domestic CX-5 has been adjusted for road conditions in China to make it more comfortable. The current suspension performance feels well-balanced, and the road bumps are partially filtered, which can also convey enough road information to the driver while ensuring basic comfort.
● Low fuel consumption is an important issue of Chuangchi’s blue sky concept, but unfortunately it was not tested this time
When the imported CX-5 arrived at the newsroom, we tested its fuel consumption, and the final results were amazing. Under the premise that most road conditions are very congested, and the average speed is only 18km/h, the 2.0L four-wheel drive CX-5 achieved an amazing fuel consumption of 9.63L/100km. It is not an exaggeration to call it the most fuel-efficient compact SUV.
With the i-ELOOP, the fuel consumption of the top model is even more worth looking forward to. In this test drive session, we spent a lot of time driving in a very intense way along the way, and during still shooting, the vehicle inevitably needs to idle for a long time, so accurate fuel consumption data cannot be obtained. However, I really want to know if this powertrain will have sharp low fuel consumption like the 2.0L model. We all look forward to the test car coming to the editorial department soon.