Mazda’s highly anticipated replacement for the aging CX-7 arrived in the shape of the CX-5 in March 2012, and took almost no time in taking over as the biggest seller in the compact SUV segment.<br /><br />A completely new vehicle when it arrived, the CX-5 was built using Mazda’s SkyActiv architecture which uses chassis, engine and body technologies to improve fuel efficiency and performance.<br /><br />Originally offered with petrol engines only, diesel variants were added to the range a month after release.<br /><br />There was a choice of either a 114kW-producing 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine with an output of 129kW.<br /><br />Fuel economy for the SUV was 6.4L/100km in 2.0-litre mode while the 2.2-litre diesel engine was capable of achieving a respectable 5.7L/100km on the combined cycle.<br /><br />The diesel was mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode while the base-model Maxx FWD was available with a six-speed manual gearbox.<br /><br />The CX-5 was available in Maxx, Maxx Sport and range-topping Grand Touring variants.<br /><br />Although the CX-5 was smaller overall than the CX-7, the Japanese car-maker managed to slightly increase cargo space to 403 litres.<br /><br />Mazda claimed ‘premium sedan’ like levels of rigidity for the CX-5 thanks to a number of measures including stiffening the rear structure and enhancing engine and suspension mounting points.<br /><br />Standard equipment in the Maxx Sport and Grand Touring included dual-zone climate-control, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, USB connectivity, Tom Tom satellite-navigation with 5.8-inch touchscreen, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control, automatic headlights, push-button start and leather-wrapped gear knob, handbrake and steering wheel.<br /><br />The Grand Touring added leather seats with eight-way power adjustment, keyless entry, slide and tilt electric glass sunroof, adaptive bi-Xenon headlights, a premium nine-speaker 231-watt Bose sound system, front and rear parking sensors, and auto-dimming interior mirror.