We compare the three engine options offered by Mazda in the CX-5 range. Comprising of two petrol choices and a single diesel offering, there's an engine that will work for you. Just make sure you read the fine print.
The Mazda CX-5 has been a game-changer for Mazda. As the car-buying public shifted their focus to SUVs and away from sedans, the likes of the Mazda6 and Mazda3 sedan came under threat. The CX-5 has become a volume seller for Mazda and it’s easy to see why. It’s an agreeable package with a simple selection of engines and drivetrains in a package that is easy to use, robust and practical. We’d be lying if we said we weren’t fond of it.
Even if the choices are limited, you’ll still be wondering which model derivative is best for you. Should you choose the 2.0 petrol or is the diesel a better alternative?
SKYACTIV-G 2.0 & 2.5 Petrol Engines
Mazda’s SKYACTIV technology has been implemented in their SKYACTIV-G (Gasoline) engines to help create a series of engines that are more efficient bot in terms of their power delivery and their fuel usage. By increasing the compression ratio to a rather high 14.0:1 and introducing high-pressure direct injection, Mazda has been able to increase the specific power output of these engines without the need for additional fuel usage. The result is a responsive, economical, petrol engine.
The SKYACTIV-G 2.0 offering fitted to the Mazda CX-5 offer a few different arrangements. The 2.0-litre is mated either to a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic but both versions power the front wheels. This engine produces 121 kW at 6000 RPM and 213 Nm at 4000 RPM. In manual guise is returns a claimed average fuel consumption of 6.8 l/100km while in automatic trim that figure climbs to 6.9 l/100km.
The SKYACTIV-G 2.5 is only available with a 6-speed automatic gearbox and this is paired with all-wheel drive. This unit produces 143 kW of power at 6000 RPM with 258 Nm on hand from 4000 RPM. As is to be expected, the fuel consumption is a little higher, coming in at a claimed 7.3 l/100km on the combined cycle.
SKYACTIV-D 2.2L Diesel Engine
Mazda’s flagship power plant in the CX-5 range is the 2.2-litre turbodiesel SKYACTIV-D 2.2DE. This unit uses a lower compression ratio than ordinarily found in a diesel engine and employs a dual-stage turbocharger to ensure that power delivery is smooth and maintained across a wider range of revolutions.
This unit is only available in one trim, the Akera, and is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox and an all-wheel drive system. The powerplant is rated at 140 kW at 4500 RPM with a torque output of 450 Nm from as low as 2000 RPM. This provides a wide band of power and is claimed to return a fuel consumption figure of 5.7 l/100km on the combined cycle.
Verdict
Mazda has taken a rather firm stance when it comes to turbocharging and in a day and age where most manufacturers are switching to lower displacement engines with forced induction (turbocharging). They have opted to stick with naturally aspirated petrol engines for a variety of reasons. South Africa is regarded as a high-altitude, hot-climate and this requires careful tuning to avoid damaging the engine. When you factor in that our fuel quality is sub-par and that the additives in our fuel (and the lack of Ethanol content in said fuel) further compounds the problem, Mazda would rather stick to the naturally aspirated approach.
At the coast this works fine but as soon as you climb to Reef altitudes where approximately 18% of our air density is lost, you will find that the automatic gearboxes start to hunt for gears, especially at highway speeds. This is less of a problem with the manual gearbox versions and naturally, the turbocharged diesel offering doesn’t suffer at the Reef altitude.
It’s for this reason that the 2.2DE is our choice. It’s the ideal balance between comfort, driveability and fuel economy. The fact that it makes the most torque is just the cherry on the cake.
Keyword: Which Mazda CX-5 is better: diesel or petrol?