The 2019 Mazda CX-5 ranked #1 in Compact SUVs. Currently the Mazda CX-5 has a score of 8.7 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 29 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Agile handling Smooth ride Powerful optional engine Upscale cabin
Cons Below-average cargo space Awkward infotainment controls
For 2019, the CX-5 receives meaningful updates that include newly available features, a new top-of-the-line model, and its first-ever turbocharged engine. The latter announcement is the biggest news as we've previously lamented the Mazda's limited powertrain choices. The CX-5 now has an optional 250-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder that pairs exclusively with all-wheel drive and can only be had on the top two models. This includes the all-new Signature model that has a host of luxurious features, such as additional wood and chrome accents inside, ambient interior lighting, brown leather upholstery, exclusive exterior bits, and a 360-degree camera system with front and rear parking sensors.
Pros Feels more expensive than it is, gorgeous styling inside and out, captivating ride and handling.
Cons Limited storage space, dated infotainment, top engine reserved for priciest models.
Sharp style and sporting performance remain hallmarks of the 2019 Mazda CX-5, a small crossover SUV designed for those who enjoy a spirited drive. Excellent handling and a high-quality interior also help make it one of our top picks for a small SUV.More powerful engine for Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims.Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration added.Newly available ventilated front seats and surround-view parking camera.
PROS Keen handling and steering make the CX-5 enjoyable to drive Attractive and upscale cabin for a premium ownership experience New optional turbocharged engine provides plenty of power Stays quiet at highway speeds
CONS Base engine's lackluster acceleration Ride is a little firm for the class Less rear legroom and cargo room than most competitors
Compact crossovers are seriously hot property right now, and the Mokka should find plenty of happy punters, who’ll appreciate the commanding driving position and rough-and-tumble looks, plus the distinctly un-SUV-like running costs.
But the Mokka isn’t a keen driver’s cup of tea, and its diesel engine, though frugal, is disappointingly coarse when you give it the beans. Still, if you’re after a well-equipped kid-friendly runabout that cuts a dash above simple supermini-dom, the Mokka should suit your daily grind. And look, we only made three coffee-themed jibes about the name in the end.
We’ll let the Mokka moniker lie – no coffee puns here, thank you. Styling-wise, the bluff little Mokka is appealing in the metal, marrying supermini cuteness with an air of chunky pugnaciousness, like a more grown-up Fiat Panda 4x4. Following the shamelessly trendy Adam city car, rakish Astra GTC and new soft-top Cascada, it’s good to see Vauxhall’s designers stringing together a run of handsome cars.
There are many good mini-SUVs on the market. The Mokka isn’t one of them. We advise a trip to a Skoda dealership.
Vauxhall’s first foray into the mini-SUV market, one currently dominated by the Skoda Yeti and Nissan’s Juke and Qashqai. The Mokka falls somewhere between the latter two in terms of size, and serves up a high-riding driving position and styling optimistically described as ‘chunky’.
Like the Qashqai, it’s available in two- and four-wheel drive, the latter offering enough off-road performance to conquer a muddy field or two, which we suspect will be about the extent of the Mokka’s non-tarmac follies. There’s an entry-level 1.6-litre petrol, a fizzier 1.4-litre turbo petrol and a single diesel offering: Vauxhall’s familiar 1.7-litre CDTi developing 130bhp.
A new engine can transform an ageing car, and while the Vauxhall Mokka diesel has improved, it hasn’t received the new lease of life it needed. The 1.6-litre is refined, punchy and efficient, but allied with a rather dull driving experience. It’s a safe and affordable family car, but one you’d choose with your head rather than your heart.
Look as hard as you like at the pictures, but you won’t identify any cosmetic changes to this Vauxhall Mokka from its predecessor. Peek beneath the bonnet, however, and you’ll find a new 135bhp 1.6-litre ‘whisper diesel’ engine borrowed from the Astra.
It replaces the current 1.7 CDTi and joins the two petrol units in the Mokka range, immediately making a strong case for itself as the engine of choice.
Not only is it quicker and more refined than the outgoing 1.7, it’s more flexible and considerably more economical than both petrol versions. Our Limited Edition model came with 19-inch alloy wheels as standard, which emphasise the mini-SUV proportions yet do nothing for ride comfort. They deliver unwelcome thuds through the cabin that could upset passengers. Around town, the light steering is welcome (most owners won’t worry that it relays no information back to the driver), while body roll is evident in slightly faster corners.
