Mazda CX-5 boot space, practicality and safety

Enlarge1videoEnlarge84photo

• Interior will seat four comfortably, five a bit of a squeeze
• Plenty of storage spaces with neatly hidden USB ports
• Larger boot than previous model with 506-1,620 litres on offer

Up front, there’s plenty of room to get comfortable in, although the high centre console makes the cabin a little more snug than some rivals, such as Ford’s Kuga, but it doesn’t make the CX-5 feel cramped or claustrophobic. Opting for the stone-coloured leather will make it feel that bit airier. 

It’s tighter in the back, where two average-sized adults will find plenty of room, but a third is going to have complaints on a longer journey. Not only is the centre-rear seat narrower, there’s less space for feet and legs due to the centre console’s shape and the raised floor in the middle. Having said that, it’s roomy by class standards.

Elsewhere, the CX-5 can accommodate smartphone and tablet charging  – the storage spaces in front of the gearlever and the cubby under the driver’s elbow are both larger than in its predecessor, while the latter features a tray to hold your phone above any tins of travel sweets or loose change.

Enlarge1videoEnlarge84photo

Boot space and storage

The boot is sensibly shaped with 506 litres available up to the cover, which rises when the tailgate is lifted. Usefully, there isn’t much of a lip to lift heavy items over, although it’s not quite flush with the floor. Fold the seats down and pack the car up to the rafters and there is 1,620 litres of space.

Under the floor has an official storage capacity of 30 litres, while cargo net hooks have been added to help tie things down.

Is it easy to park?

Its measurements put it neatly into the midsize SUV category. There is just a few mm between this and the Volkswagen Tiguan for instance. Rear-view cameras are standard on Sport models and above while parking sensors are present on every model.  A 360-degree bird’s eye view camera is available on the GT Sport model too.

With the cameras in place it’s easy to park. Rear visibility isn’t great because of its sloping roofline.

View dimensions in the Mazda CX-5 specs pages

Enlarge1videoEnlarge84photo

Safety

• Front-facing camera boosts safety credentials
• Improved adaptive cruise control plus emergency braking
• Six airbags and new LED headlights complete the mix

Euro NCAP crash-tested the CX-5 in 2017 awarding it a full five-star rating, with an impressive 95% score for adult occupant protection.

Adaptive cruise control can now work down to a stop while adaptive LED headlights are brighter than the norm and automatically dip to avoid dazzling other drivers. Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and traffic sign recognition can also be specified for the first time in a CX-5.

There’s also a lane-keeping assistant/departure warning plus blindspot monitor and rear traffic alert. Other more conventional safety systems include anti-lock brakes, dynamic stability control, traction control and hill start assist – plus six airbags.